Some staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission and political party members suspected to have committed electoral offence in the 2023 general elections were being prosecuted.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Habeeb Lawal, told The Punch on Friday that 196 suspects, including INEC officials and members of political parties, were being prosecuted by the FG through the NBA.
Lawal said the suspects were being prosecuted on connection with vote-buying, arms possession, and others committed during the 2023 poll.
Lawal noted that the prosecution was being carried out in magistrates’ courts and the high courts of the states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said “196 suspects are being for various offences by volunteering members of the Nigerian Bar Association, who are handling the cases pro bono.
“The offences range from dereliction of duty, criminal conspiracy and disorderly conduct at election venues, unlawful possession of arms on election day, snatching and destroying of INEC materials, electoral malpractices, unlawful possession of election materials, voter inducement and vote-buying, malicious damage and assault, and electoral violence.
“Some of the suspects are INEC officials, while others are political party members and people without determinable political affiliations.
“The magistrates’ courts and the high courts of the states and the FCT have jurisdiction over electoral offences by virtue of the Electoral Act.
“Therefore, the offences are being prosecuted by our members in these different courts all over the country, as there is hardly anyone state of the federation that the prosecution is not ongoing.”
According to Lawal, “We believe that successful prosecution of electoral offenders will deter people desperate to assume political offices.
“We are hopeful that this modest effort will positively impact and sanitise our electoral system and culture.”
The spokesperson to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the commission abhors staff misconduct, adding that any offender in the future would be dealt with according to the law.
Oyekanmi said, “By engaging in the commendable collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association to jointly prosecute electoral offenders, the Independent National Electoral Commission is reinforcing its resolve not to condone bad behaviour.
“It is also our strong message to aspiring offenders that they will be held accountable for their actions.
“While we have achieved some measure of success in prosecuting electoral offenders in the past, the NBA’s offer to assist us pro bono will further widen the scope and serve as a deterrent to others.”
Reacting , the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, said Nigeria would be ride of election violence and corruption if electoral offenders were prosecuted.
He stated, “As a way of sanitising the electoral process, there must be sanctions or penalties for people who break our law.
“Political parties will warn their members and supporters to stay off violence to avoid rubbishing the image of the parties once they are aware of the consequences of committing electoral offences.
“Nigeria will be free from manipulation, election violence, and corruption.”
Electoral offences remain a major threat to credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria, as they often heighten polpitical tension and trigger violence.
Over 700 offenders were arrested by
Police for violating electoral laws in the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections
In view of this, the INEC vowed on May 2, 2023, that it would prosecute 215 handed over to it out of the 774 persons arrested for various electoral offences.
The commission said it was partnering with the NBA, which offered pro bono legal services for the effective prosecution of the electoral offenders.
Out of the 215 case files received by the commission, 196 cases are electoral offences and are being handled by INEC and the NBA.
