INEC Sets to Begin Prosecution of Over 1,000 Suspects for 2023 Polls Electoral Offense
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is finalizing arrangements to begin the prosecution of suspected electoral offenders arrested during the 2023 polls.
About 1,500 suspects were being lined up for prosecution in 35 states in collaboration with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).
NBA President Yakubu Maiyaku, in an offer to INEC, lined up 191 lawyers, including sixteen senior advocates, who had indicated readiness to handle the cases free of charge.
INEC chairman and chief press secretary, Rotimi Oyekan, confirmed the deal with the NBA and said a letter of authority would soon be issued to the NBA to begin the prosecution.
According to the list of suspects, Ebonyi State has the highest number of 216, followed by Edo with 80 suspects, Anambra (66), Kaduna (36), and 17 in Adamawa State.
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The charges include culpable homicide, snatching and destroying INEC material, stealing election results, illegal possession of firearms, and misconduct at polling units.
Also, Kano, Rivers, and Osun states share the fifth position, with nine cases involving 74, 68 and 47 suspects, respectively.
Yobe has the least, with just one case file implicating two suspects. The electoral offenses committed range from “culpable homicide and unlawful possession of firearms” to “snatching and destroying INEC items”.
Others included “being in possession of offensive weapons” and “misconduct at polling units and stealing of election results”.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, the chief press secretary to INEC chairman, also confirmed that letters of authority have already been prepared and would be issued to the NBA team to commence proceedings on all the cases.
