The suspects committed various offences during the 2011 voting exercise
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Board of Electoral Institute, Prof. Lai Olurode, has disclosed that at least one million suspects are to be prosecuted over offences arising from the 2011 voter registration and general elections.
According to Olurode, the prosecution had been a big problem because of insufficiency of funds and manpower; however, INEC is collaborating with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to facilitate the prosecution at minimal costs.
He said Bauchi, Zamfara, Gombe and Bayelsa were among states with the highest number of suspects.
“In actual fact, some of those apprehended have been prosecuted and convicted but the number was just too small compared to those remaining,” he said.
“All over the country, there are NBA branches and the branch in each state will take up the case and prosecute for INEC at an agreed fee. NBA is seeing the service as a public service and an effort to sanitise the electoral system in Nigeria.”
Olurode urged the government to work on the report of the Uwais Electoral Reform Panel which recommended that a separate body should be set up to handle electoral offences.
