• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Monday, September 25, 2023
Leadership News
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sports
    • Betting
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • 2023 Elections
  • Others
    • How-to
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sports
    • Betting
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • 2023 Elections
  • Others
    • How-to
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership News
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Needed: Electoral Offences Commission

by Editorial
1 year ago
in Editorial
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Electoral Offences Commission
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegram

Recent happenings arising from the just concluded governorship election in Ekiti state and, before it, the party primaries, especially those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where there were widespread allegations of financial inducement, brings to the fore, the urgent need to conclude all legislative actions on the Electoral Offences Commission Bill.

We recall that the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate, has passed the bill and forwarded it to the lower chamber for concurrence way back in July 2021. Almost one year after, the House of Representatives is yet to pass the bill so that President Muhammadu Buhari can sign it into law.

The bill, when it becomes law, will empower the commission to investigate electoral offences, prosecute electoral offenders and maintain records of all persons investigated and prosecuted. It also prescribes a 20-year jail term for persons found guilty of snatching ballot boxes during elections.

The legislation also proposes that any candidate or agent who damages or snatches ballot boxes, ballot papers or election materials before, during and after an election without the permission of the election official in charge of the polling station, shall be jailed for 20 years or fined N40 million.

The bill, in the considered opinion of this newspaper, has become imperative in view of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) inability to prosecute electoral offenders in accordance with the provisions of section 149 and 150(2) of the Electoral Act (as Amended).

There is no contesting the fact that electoral offences remain a major threat to credible, free and fair elections. It is sad that electoral offences including vote buying and ballot box snatching among others are being committed with impunity for the simple reason that the law is blind to them.

RELATED

Mohbad: We ‘ll Carry Out Diligent Investigation — Police

Mohbad: How Not To Die Too Soon

6 hours ago
JUST-IN: Kaduna Govt Confirms Diphtheria Disease Outbreak In Kafanchan

Diphtheria And Global Health Security

1 day ago
Still On NBS’ Unemployment Controversy

Still On NBS’ Unemployment Controversy

2 days ago
The Era Of Lame Duck Is Here

Needed Electoral Reforms

3 days ago

Based on this lacuna in the nation’s statute books, experts, including politicians themselves, have raised issues on the urgency of having one in place. It is this understanding that informed the decision of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais- led committee to recommend the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to deal with the prosecution and punishment of any electoral infraction.

In our view, having the Commission in place and functional, will no doubt enhance the credibility of the electoral process and contribute immensely to the nation’s drive to have free, fair and credible polls since the provision in the enabling law will serve as a disincentive to those wishing to perpetrate electoral offences. Conscious of this and mindful of the need to put in place the necessary legal machineries, the senate, passed the bill into law.

We are, however, worried that the bill has been at the House of Representatives for almost one year now, without the lawmakers doing the needful as far as its passage is concerned. The lower chamber needs to be reminded that it cannot continue to dilly-dally on a matter that is as important as legislation intended to add value to the democratic endeavour. The continued delay in passing this important legislation could jeopardise the 2023 polls judging by the current trend as witnessed during the party primaries.

We are compelled by the expected impetus that the law will add to the effort to streamline the democratic procedures to urge the House not to trifle with its passage. It may appear, based on the lethargy the House finds fascinating, that its members are not sufficiently attuned to that fact that the time is ripe for it to act and very fast too, on this piece of legislation!

With activities leading to the 2023 polls reaching a crescendo, this newspaper is saddened by the House of Representatives’ seeming lacklustre attitude towards the passage of this important legislation, which without doubt, has the tendency to change the narrative of election in the country.

However, while the House of Representatives continue to foot drag, it is soothing to note that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, recently announced the establishment of the Electoral Offences Desk (EOD) at the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID).

The office is to be supervised from the Force Headquarters in Abuja, with the Commissioner of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), as the Desk Officer, with units at state commands nationwide. While the efforts by the IGP may not be adequate, it is, nevertheless, a step in the right direction and we hope that the police will not abuse it but do all that is necessary to make it work.

The Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has, on several occasions, spoken on the need to offload the burden of prosecuting electoral offences from his commission’s shoulders. It is clear that for electoral offenders to be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of sections 149 and 150(2) of the Electoral Act (as Amended), the Electoral Offences Commission is indispensable.

Tags: Electoral Offences
SendShareTweetShare
HOW CHINESE DOCTOR RECOMMEND THIS MAGIC DRUGS THAT HELP WOMEN PREVENT AND TREAT BREAST CANCER AND ALSO HELP MEN PREVENT AND CURE PROSTATE ISSUE PERMANENTLY
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Nigeria’s Human Rights Record Worse Than Average In Sub-Saharan Africa – Report

Next Post

How Students Can Be Resourceful In Spite Of ASUU Strike (2)

YOU MAY LIKE

Mohbad: We ‘ll Carry Out Diligent Investigation — Police
Editorial

Mohbad: How Not To Die Too Soon

6 hours ago
JUST-IN: Kaduna Govt Confirms Diphtheria Disease Outbreak In Kafanchan
Editorial

Diphtheria And Global Health Security

1 day ago
Still On NBS’ Unemployment Controversy
Editorial

Still On NBS’ Unemployment Controversy

2 days ago
The Era Of Lame Duck Is Here
Editorial

Needed Electoral Reforms

3 days ago
Next Post
students

How Students Can Be Resourceful In Spite Of ASUU Strike (2)

TRENDING

  • Meet 13 Popular Korean Actors, Actresses That Speak English Fluently

    Meet 13 Popular Korean Actors, Actresses That Speak English Fluently

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mohbad: My Mother Against Me Returning To Nigeria Now — Bella Shmurda

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • JJC Skillz Teases New Project With Ex-wife, Funke Akindele

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • UK Releases New Entry Requirement

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Meet 8 Artistes Signed By Marlian Records

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RECENT UPDATE

Kogi Govt Warns Against Rejection Of Old Naira Notes
Politics

Stop Killings, Kogi East Stakeholders Tell Kinsmen

by Sunday Isuwa
30 seconds ago

Read more
Obi Wins In David Mark’s Polling Unit 
Politics

Mark Tasks 10th NASS On Legislative Agenda To End Inconclusive Elections

by Chibuzo Ukaibe
49 seconds ago

Read more
Ekiti Warns Kingmakers Against Ridiculing Traditional Institutions
Sports

Oyebanji Recalls GM Sports From NYG Over Poor Kitting Of Team Ekiti

by Alo Abiola
3 mins ago

Read more

© 2023 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sports
    • Betting
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • 2023 Elections
  • Others
    • How-to
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In