“*Vote buying and selling contribute to low quality of political leadership-Reps
The House of Representatives and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC have approved the establishment of National Electoral Offences Commission to ensure immediate trial of electoral offenders so that there ‘ll be free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria in 2023 elections.
The Speaker House of Representatives Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila and the Chairman of INEC Prof Mahmud Yakubu gave nod to the proposed establishment of the Commission at a 1-day public hearing organised by the House Committee on Electoral Matters on Tuesday in Abuja
The Speaker who was represented by his deputy Hon Idris Wase said that the establishment of the National Electoral Offences Commission is part of the commitment of the House on its Legislative Agenda for the reform of legal and legislative framework on the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
Gbajabiamila Siad that the amendment of the laws in the ongoing 1999 Constitution amendment excersice is key to the envisaged reform of the nation’s electrol process for free fair and credible polls.
He noted that a review of the nation’s past electoral experiences had revealed a need for the amendment of laws and the legal and legislative framework for the conduct of a free fair and credible election in the country.
The Speaker further stated that the resurgence of vote buying and selling by during elections by politicians no doubt contribute to the low quality of political leadership in Nigeria.
He added experiences of the stakeholders in the nation’s electoral process in the the Ekiti and Osun States gubernatorial elections were critical in the evolution of the nation’s democracy.
Similarly, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC Prof Mahmud Yakubu said that the move to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission is a critical legislative step by the lawmkers.
He noted that the Justice Muhammed Uwais and Senator Ken Nnamani Commissions had previously approved the establishment of Electoral Offences Commission to try election offences as voter intimidation, vote buying, thuggery and balot box snatching amnog others.
He pointed out that there are several Police investigations, court litigations and election observers report on the subjectmater of electoral offences in Nigeria.
He said: “there are 125 cases of electoral offences that have been filed in the law nation’s law courts with only 60 convictions”.
He had started that the core mandate of INEC for the conduct of free fair and credible election in Nigeria is a huge responsibility adding that the addition of role of prosecution of electoral offenders in the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2022 is a distraction to the electoral umpire.
The INEC boss while supporting the establishment of the Commission however pointed out that there are observations raised by the Commission in clauses33(1) and 44 of the legislation
Earlier in an opening speech, Chairman of the House Committee Hon (Dr).Aishatu Dukku said that Electoral (Amendment) Act 2022 gives the InEC the power to prosecute electoral offenders but not the power to investigate or arrest such offenders.
She added that the Commission should be detached from this aspect of election as to enable it concentrate on its core mandate.
Other stakeholders as the Chairman Senate Senate Committee on Electoral Matters Sen.Kabiru Gaya and Inter Party Advisory Council IPAC also supported the establishment of the Commission.
The Bill is titled ‘A Bill for An Act to Establish the National Electoral Offences Commission And For Related Matters’
