…Reiterates INEC’s commitment to ensure diligent prosecution of Electoral Act violators
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reiterated its commitment to continue to pursue and ensure diligent prosecution of all violators of the Electoral Act.
Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, gave the assurance at the weekend in a statement made available to the press.
Okoye who revealed that the Nigeria Police arrested some individuals found to be in illegal possession of voters’ cards in Sokoto and Kano states, assured that the Commission would ensure that all violators of the Electoral Act are diligently prosecuted.
He said,”In the last couple of weeks, the Nigeria Police has arrested some individuals found to be in illegal possession of voters’ cards in some States of the Federation.
“In one case, the Police has concluded investigation and handed over the case file to the Commission resulting in the successful prosecution of one Nasiru Idris at a Magistrate Court in Sokoto who was found to be in possession 101 PVCs in contravention of Sections 117 and 145 of the Electoral Act 2002. He has been sentenced to a year in prison.
“Similarly, the Police in Kano State has arrested a man who was found to be in possession of 367 PVCs. The suspect has been charged to Court and the Commission is pursuing his prosecution.
“The Commission wishes to reiterate that it will continue to pursue all violators of the Electoral Act and ensure their diligent prosecution,” Okoye stressed.
On the update on PVC collection, Okoye said
the Commission was determined to make the collection of PVCs as seamless as possible.
He revealed that the Commission would release the dates as well as the detailed procedure for the immediate collection of PVCs nationwide.
“Following the end of the statutory period for the display of the register of voters for claims and objections, the Commission is determined to make the collection of PVCs as seamless as possible. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been developed. This will be among the issues to be discussed and finalised at a retreat holding in Lagos from 28th November to 2nd December 2022 involving all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“At the end of the retreat, the Commission will release the dates as well as the detailed procedure for the immediate collection of PVCs nationwide,” he said.
The INEC Commissioner added,”The Commission appreciates the patience and understanding of Nigerians, especially those who registered as voters or applied for transfer/replacement of their cards from January to July 2022. In making the cards available for collection, the Commission is also working to ensure that the process is hitch-free.”
