INEC chair decries delay in electoral offences prosecutions

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has renewed calls for the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal, stressing the need for a dedicated judicial body to handle cases of electoral malpractice.

Speaking at the first regular quarterly consultative meeting with the media in Abuja on Friday, Yakubu stated the challenges facing the prosecution of electoral offenders, noting that delays in the judicial system often result in cases lingering for years.

He cited the recent conviction of a Returning Officer in Akwa Ibom State, which took nearly six years to conclude as an example of the slow pace of justice.

Yakubu explained, “One of these areas of reform is the prosecution of electoral offenders. Judicial and legislative action in the last few days underscored our effort to deal with offences involving officials of the Commission assigned to carry out designated responsibilities.

“However, it also highlights the challenges we face in dealing with electoral offences. The recent successful prosecution of a Returning Officer in Akwa Ibom State is a case in point.

“The Commission has been diligently pursuing the case which arose from the 2019 General Election. In this particular case, it took nearly six years to achieve the successful prosecution at the trial court.”

The INEC Chairman explained that under the current system, electoral offences were prosecuted in magistrate and state high courts alongside other criminal cases, leading to significant delays.

Unlike post-election petitions that have strict timelines, electoral offences can take years to resolve, often extending into subsequent election cycles.

The INEC Chairman argued that this undermines efforts to deter electoral fraud and ensure accountability.

To address the challenge, Yakubu urged lawmakers and stakeholders to support the creation of an electoral offences tribunal with exclusive jurisdiction and a fixed timeframe for resolving cases.

Yakubu also called on the media to advocate the reform, stressing that a more efficient prosecution process would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

Despite challenges, Yakubu noted some progress in prosecuting electoral offenders.

He revealed that through INEC’s collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, cases involving 774 alleged offenders from the 2023 general election were being prosecuted.

The INEC boss said so far, convictions had been secured in Kebbi, Kogi, Lagos, Kwara, and Gombe states in cases of vote-buying.

Yakubu added, “Through our collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association, cases involving 774 alleged offenders from the 2023 general election are being prosecuted.

“So far, successful prosecutions have been recorded in Kebbi and Kogi states while our collaboration with the EFCC on vote-buying has yielded similar results in Lagos, Kwara and Gombe states. Yet, many cases are still pending.

“It is therefore imperative to renew our call for the creation of the electoral offences tribunal that has a specific jurisdiction and limited timeframe for the speedy dispensation of cases. I urge the media to join in this patriotic advocacy for the good of our electoral democracy.”

The National Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Achike Chidi, observed that INEC had often been reluctant to prosecute offenders, not due to a lack of willingness but because of legal and structural constraints.

He emphasised that this was a major reason stakeholders had been pushing for an electoral offences tribunal, which would allow INEC to focus on its core responsibilities while ensuring electoral offenders face justice.

He called on the National Assembly to expedite action on establishing the tribunal, arguing that INEC was burdened with responsibilities that could be better handled by a specialised judicial body.

Regarding electoral reforms, he urged INEC to consider alternative voter identification methods, such as using national identity cards, international passports, or driver’s licenses, to expand voter access and participation.