INEC Advocates for Special Court to Tackle Electoral Offences

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is pushing for the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal. This move is aimed at addressing the backlog of electoral offence cases and ensuring speedy justice.

According to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, the current system is hindered by the lack of priority attention given to electoral offence cases. These cases are often prosecuted by magistrate and state high courts, which deal with a variety of other cases, leading to delays.

Yakubu emphasized the need for a specialized tribunal with specific jurisdiction and a limited timeframe to handle electoral offences. This would ensure that cases are dealt with promptly and efficiently.

The proposal comes as INEC continues to work towards improving the electoral process in Nigeria.