The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on the Nigerian media to support the establishment of an Electoral Offences Tribunal to ensure the swift prosecution of electoral offenders.
Speaking at the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with media stakeholders in Abuja, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stressed that the slow judicial process remains a major challenge in prosecuting offenders.
He noted that electoral cases often linger across multiple election cycles, hindering justice.
Yakubu revealed that INEC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), is currently prosecuting 774 electoral offenders from the 2023 general elections, with some convictions already secured in states like Kebbi and Kogi. However, many cases remain unresolved.
He urged the media to amplify advocacy for the proposed tribunal, while the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) assured INEC of its continued collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.