INEC chairman laments judicial system, calls for special tribunal to tackle electoral crimes

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has renewed calls for the establishment of a dedicated Electoral Offences Tribunal, stressing that Nigeria’s current judicial system is failing to deliver swift justice in cases of electoral malpractice.

Speaking at a media consultative meeting in Abuja on Friday, Yakubu painted a grim picture of the delays plaguing the prosecution of electoral offenders. He cited the recent conviction of a Returning Officer in Akwa Ibom State—an election fraud case that took nearly six years to conclude—as a glaring example of the inefficiencies in the system.

“It took nearly six years to achieve a successful prosecution at the trial court,” he said. “This delay undermines efforts to deter electoral fraud and hold offenders accountable.”

Under the current framework, electoral offences are prosecuted in Magistrate and State High Courts, where they compete for attention alongside other criminal cases. Unlike election petitions, which have strict timelines, electoral offences often drag on for years—sometimes spilling into new election cycles and making justice feel like an afterthought.

“A major obstacle is that electoral offences are not time-bound,” Yakubu explained. “They are carried over from one general election to another, which affects the diligent prosecution of cases.”

The consequences of these delays are severe. Vote-buying, election rigging, and other offences continue to thrive because offenders do not fear swift retribution. For Yakubu, the solution is clear: Nigeria needs a dedicated Electoral Offences Tribunal with exclusive jurisdiction and a fixed timeframe for resolving cases.

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Yakubu urged lawmakers and stakeholders to support this reform, emphasizing that an efficient prosecution system would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy. He also called on the media to champion the cause, arguing that public pressure could help push much-needed legislative changes.

Despite the challenges, INEC has made some progress. In collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Commission is currently prosecuting 774 alleged offenders from the 2023 General Election. So far, convictions have been secured in states like Kebbi, Kogi, Lagos, Kwara, and Gombe, particularly in cases of vote-buying.

Yet, many cases remain stuck in the judicial pipeline—another reason Yakubu insists on urgent reforms.

“It is imperative to renew our call for the creation of an Electoral Offences Tribunal,” he said. “I urge the media to join in this patriotic advocacy for the good of our electoral democracy.”

Beyond electoral offences, Yakubu also highlighted another pressing issue: the increasing number of bye-elections caused by vacancies in legislative seats. Just in the past three weeks, one federal constituency and two state constituencies have become vacant due to the deaths of serving members. In another case, a lawmaker lost his seat due to prolonged absenteeism, in violation of the 1999 Constitution.
Despite these challenges, Yakubu reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to ensuring smooth electoral processes. However, without reforms to address delays in prosecuting electoral crimes, the fight for credible elections in Nigeria remains an uphill battle.

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