Stringent punitive measures for election riggers will improve outcomes - Don

Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy and Development, says there is a need for election riggers to face stringent consequences for their actions, as this will improve election outcomes.

Ibrahim spoke in Lagos on Thursday during a panel session of a seminar organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), an NGO.

The seminar had the theme “National Seminar on Targeted Electoral Reforms and Enhanced Judicial Integrity in Post-Election Litigation."

He spoke on the topic “Reforming Nigeria’s Electoral System for Mandate Protection: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Way Forward."

Also, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, a pro-democracy advocate and former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), said that the Nigerian political situation was beyond mere reforms and required positive changes.

Sowore noted that Nigerian professors of political science were generally not up-to-date.

He said that there was no place in the law that said that professors must be in charge of the electoral system.

According to Sowore, judges are usually not seen, but heard.

Also speaking, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, called on the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to give the country transparent elections.

“The use of technology is to prevent manipulation of election results.

“Just as the Federal High Court Judges are always sponsored to go on judges training and retreat in respect of handling Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) matters, the justices of the appellate court ought to be sponsored to attend international conferences and training on election petition matters.

“I finally urge INEC to help Nigeria by keeping its guidelines, public statements, and undertakings.

“The National Assembly should set up a special committee to scrutinise the judgement of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court for the purpose of amending the Electoral Act 2022,” he said.

Dr. Sam Amadi of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts called for the termination of the present INEC commissioners before 2027.

Amadi said that there should be replacements and appointments in line with a model close to that recommended by the Uwais Committee.

Also, Uche Onyeagocha, a former Federal Lawmaker, said that certain criteria, as presently obtainable, as requirements for contesting elections in Nigeria should be stopped.

Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, a lawyer and daughter of the late Chief Michael Ajasin, former Governor of Old Ondo State, also made her submission.

She called on stakeholders to be on the path of courage to seek truth to power, as, according to her, “not being able to attain political height without going through a godfather makes the Nigerian democratic experience very difficult."