INEC restates call for electoral offences tribunal

The Independent National Electoral Commission, ( INEC) has restated its demand for establishing the Electoral Offences Tribunal.

Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made the call on Friday at a session with Media Executives and senior journalists in Abuja.

Professor Yakubu noted that the absence of special courts to try electoral offenders has made speedy and diligent prosecution difficult. He declared that cases relating to prosecution of suspects of electoral offences are not being given priority, leading to long trials of suspects and miscarriage of justice as a result of lack of diligent prosecution.

He appealed to media practitioners to join its advocacy in the call for creation of electoral offences tribunal.

He said: “A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals.

“Furthermore, they are solely prosecuted by the Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are committed. No priority attention is given to such cases as the courts deal with a variety of other cases. Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one General Election to another which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases.

“It is therefore imperative to renew our call for the creation of the Electoral Offences Tribunal which 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.”

National Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya in his remarks promised to sustain the collaboration between the NUJ and INEC.
Comrade Yahaya who was represented by the Union’s Secretary, Achike Chude assured that the NUJ would not abandon the electoral body in its crusade for sanity in the electoral process.

The NUJ specifically called on the National Assembly to collaborate with INEC by setting machinery in motion for electoral reforms through necessary legislation.