The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said through its collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), cases involving 774 electoral offenders from the 2023 general election were being prosecuted in courts.
The electoral umpire said successful prosecutions had been recorded in Kebbi and Kogi States while its collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on vote-buying yielded similar results in Lagos, Kwara and Gombe States, though many cases were still pending.
INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed these at the first regular consultative meeting of the commission with media organisations in Abuja.
Yakubu said the recent successful prosecution of a Returning Officer in Akwa Ibom State was a proof of INEC’s commitment to improving on the electoral process, especially the prosecution of electoral offenders.
He said a major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard was that electoral offences were not time-bound as is the case with post-election cases through the tribunals while the cases were solely prosecuted by the Magistrates and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are committed.
Yakubu said, as a result, electoral offences are carried over from one general election to another, which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases.
He reiterated the call for the creation of the Electoral Offences Tribunal that will have a specific jurisdiction as well as limited timeframe for the speedy dispensation of cases. He urged the media to join in this patriotic advocacy for the good of Nigeria’s electoral democracy.
“I want to reassure you of our commitment to continuously improve on the electoral process. Every election or electoral activity presents its own unique challenge and an opportunity to learn lessons for improvement.
“We will strive harder to ensure the continuous improvement of our elections. However, being a multi-stakeholder responsibility, we appeal for the continuous support of all and sundry, especially in critical areas of reform.
He also reminded the media houses that the commission had released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Anambra State Governorship Election to be held on November 8, 2025, while party primaries are begin next month.
