ABUJA, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has confirmed the receipt of 215 case files related to electoral offenses from the Nigerian Police following the 2023 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this announcement on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at a meeting with states Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, aimed at reviewing the recently concluded general election.
INEC has joined forces with the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to prosecute these electoral offenders.
According to Prof. Yakubu, the NBA has supplied a list of 427 lawyers who have volunteered to provide their services pro bono.
The lawyers will not charge legal fees, and INEC will provide a nominal sum to cover filing fees and expenses.
Prof. Yakubu expressed gratitude to the NBA and its President, Yakubu Maikyau SAN, for this unprecedented collaboration.
Besides the NBA, INEC is also coordinating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, to address cases pertaining to vote buying and related violations.
The Chairman touched on the report received from the police regarding the suspended Adamawa REC, Yunusa Ari, and confirmed that INEC will shortly undertake appropriate action against him.
Additionally, Prof. Yakubu emphasized that INEC is impartial and will not engage in disputes with observer groups or political parties concerning the conduct of elections.
He asserted that a wide array of opinions has been voiced by different parties since the election concluded in February and March.
He acknowledged the value of these opinions, provided they aim to enhance the future conduct of elections and strengthen democracy.
Prof. Yakubu also recognized the thorough preparations that went into ensuring the 2023 General Election was conducted smoothly.
He pointed out that, contrary to concerns, security challenges did not hinder the election process.
Moreover, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, was seen as a significant success with a 98% success rate compared to the Smart Card Reader’s 29.2% during the 2019 General Election.
The election outcomes produced a diverse representation of political parties in various seats, indicating a shift away from single-party dominance in Nigerian politics.
While acknowledging the successes, Prof. Yakubu did not ignore the challenges faced during the election and stated that the commission is committed to addressing structural, infrastructural, and human-related issues in preparation for future elections.
INEC is currently examining evidence of infractions and gearing up for the prosecution of offenders, including investigations into the conduct of some of its high-ranking officials.
Prof. Yakubu assured that Nigerians will be kept informed as appropriate actions are taken in the days to come.
