Over 200 Nigerians to Face Prosecution for Electoral Offences – INEC

Over 200 Nigerians to Face Prosecution by INEC for Electoral Offences

Over 200 individuals who were arrested for electoral offences during the recent general elections will be prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Nigeria Police Force has already handed over more than 50 case files related to electoral offences to INEC.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, gave an update on the number of case files received by INEC offices across the country from the police, and how many electoral offenders had been handed over to them. Oyekanmi stated that INEC has directed its Litigation and Prosecution Department to review the files and advise them on the prosecution process. The department has already begun the necessary action, and will report back to the commission when finished.

On March 13, 2023, Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, instructed commissioners of police to investigate all cases of Electoral Act violation during the February 25, 2023 presidential and National Assembly polls, and to transfer the case files to INEC for prosecution. On March 14, the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, announced that the commission was establishing a legal team to deal with cases of electoral offenders during the February 25 elections.

The Inspector-General of Police directed that all electoral offences case files should be submitted to the Commissioner of Police in charge of the legal unit on March 28. This move was aimed at enabling central collation and coordinated processing to the legal unit of INEC ahead of the commencement of the prosecution process. The police have promised to collaborate with INEC leadership in ensuring that all electoral offenders are prosecuted expeditiously and transparently, not only in the interest of criminal justice but also to promote the police’s vision of cleaning up the electoral space.

Baba made this known at a meeting with strategic police managers of the Nigeria Police Force comprising deputy inspectors-general of police and members of the force management team, assistant inspectors-general of police, commissioners of police, and other tactical commanders in Abuja.