“INEC Calls for Media Support in Establishing Electoral Offences Tribunal”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the Nigerian media to lend their support to the call for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Tribunal, emphasizing the need for a specialized legal framework to expedite the prosecution of electoral offenders.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this appeal during the commission’s first regular quarterly consultative meeting with media stakeholders in Abuja on Friday. He stressed that the establishment of the tribunal is crucial to overcoming the challenges the Commission faces in prosecuting electoral offences.
Challenges in Prosecuting Electoral Offenders
Yakubu pointed out that the slow pace of judicial processes has hindered the swift prosecution of electoral offenders. Currently, cases are tried in Magistrate and State High Courts, where they compete with numerous other cases, making it difficult to prioritize electoral matters. He explained that electoral offences are not bound by specific timelines like post-election cases handled by tribunals, leading to delayed justice that often extends from one election cycle to the next.
“As a result, electoral offences are carried over from one general election to another, affecting the diligent prosecution of these cases,” Yakubu explained.
Ongoing Efforts to Address Electoral Offences
Yakubu highlighted that INEC is currently prosecuting 774 electoral offenders from the 2023 general elections in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). While some convictions have been secured in states like Kebbi and Kogi, many cases are still pending, further underscoring the need for a faster and more effective legal framework.
Media’s Crucial Role in Advancing Advocacy
The INEC Chairman called on the media to amplify efforts in advocating for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Tribunal, noting that the media’s influence is key to bringing attention to the need for reform in the justice system.
Responding to the call, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), represented by Secretary Achike Chude, assured INEC of the union’s continued collaboration. Chude emphasized that the success of INEC is vital to Nigeria’s democracy, and the media would continue to support initiatives that strengthen the country’s electoral process.
