In view of some electoral malpractices recorded in the governorship elections conducted on the 11th of November 2023, the League for Social Justice, a civil society organisation has, through its Chief Legal Officer, Maduabuchi O. Idam, Esq., petitioned the office of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector General of Police, demanding among others, the investigation of the INEC officials who were caught with pre-thumb-printed ballot papers in Kogi State before accreditation of voters on the election day, and other electoral fraudsters in Imo and Balyelsa States.
League for Social Justice condemned in strong terms the acts perpetrated by the suspected INEC officers, “as we term it a breach of public confidence and public trust, we vow to follow up and pursue the petition to ensure that same is investigated and the suspects are prosecuted to a logical conclusion.
“We believe that a corrupt-free Nigeria is achievable. Hence, we shall not be deterred in our resolve to fight corruption and corrupt public officers in Nigeria.”
Part of the petition reads: “Similar allegations such as vote buying and voter inducement in the three States were also reported to have been aided by some staff of the Commission, deployed to Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States for the conduct of the governorship elections in those States.
“In light of the foregoing, we frown at the allegations as we consider it a breach of public trust. Hence we raise this petition, seeking a discreet investigation and consequent prosecution of those involved in the act.
“It is important that this petition be duly investigated and the culprits diligently prosecuted in order to discourage a repeat of such inglorious acts by State officials, as by so doing, it will help in rebuilding the already shattered confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.”
