By Lillian Okenwa
The failure of law enforcement agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to bring purveyors of electoral malpractices and violence to justice has continued to generate discussions on how not to conduct elections.
The height of electoral offences witnessed in the 2023 general elections and during past election years in Nigeria appear to reflect the failure of government and its institutions to ensure free, fair and transparent polls, as well as bring offenders and their malevolent sponsors to justice.
Following the undesirable incidences witnessed during the last elections, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA Nigeria has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to establish an Electoral Offences Commission.
The Commission according to FIDA should facilitate the prosecution of electoral offenders observed to have committed all forms of electoral offences in contravention of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) which will serve as a deterrent to other intending offenders.
The group also advised INEC to institutionalize a multi-stakeholder approach towards encouraging the participation of more female electorates and citizens, in general, to exercise their franchise at subsequent elections.
FIDA also recommended the cleaning up of the voter’s register by the electoral umpire to enable the country to have an accurate number of truly registered voters.
Likewise, they urged security agencies to continually adhere to the principles of impartiality and neutrality toward securing the polls which will help in mitigating electoral violence especially those perpetuated against women in elections.
FIDA equally urged elected leaders across the country to be magnanimous in victory and improve the participation of women at all levels of governance.
Country Vice President/National President, Mrs Amina Agbaje who made this call on behalf of FIDA Nigeria, also commended eligible voters and all women that participated actively in the process for their commitment and belief in the electoral system.
