54 INEC Workers Who Compromised Electoral Process Must Face Prosecution, Not Redeployment, Says Centre

 

The organisation demanded the immediate public disclosure of the identities of the 54 officials and the specific offences they were accused of committing.

The Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) has called on the Nigerian government, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that 54 officials reportedly found to have compromised the electoral process are investigated and prosecuted.

The centre said the officials must face the full wrath of the law, warning that failure to punish those involved in electoral misconduct would further undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday and signed by its Executive Director, Gbenga Soloki, CAIDOV described the revelation involving the 54 officials as a damning indictment of the country’s electoral system.

The organisation said the development confirmed longstanding concerns that some officials entrusted with conducting free, fair and credible elections were allegedly undermining the democratic process for selfish and partisan interests.

CAIDOV argued that identifying, querying or redeploying the affected officials would not be sufficient, insisting that those found culpable must be investigated, prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law.

According to the group, compromised electoral officials pose a serious threat to democracy because they can manipulate election results, disenfranchise voters and undermine the will of the electorate from within the system.

It said the officials must not be shielded by political godfathers, quietly retired or transferred to other states to evade accountability.

“The 54 compromised officials must not be shielded. They must not be protected by political godfathers. They must not be quietly retired or transferred to other states.

“They must be made to face the full wrath of the law. Anything less will be a mockery of democracy and an insult to millions of Nigerians who stood in the sun and rain to vote,” the statement said.

The organisation demanded the immediate public disclosure of the identities of the 54 officials and the specific offences they were accused of committing.

It also called for their immediate suspension pending thorough investigations by the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), followed by prosecution under the Electoral Act where evidence establishes criminal liability.

Beyond the prosecution of the affected officials, CAIDOV called for a comprehensive overhaul of INEC, including a review of its recruitment, training and staff deployment procedures.

The group also demanded adequate protection for whistleblowers who exposed the alleged compromise, saying they should not be subjected to intimidation or victimisation for speaking out.

CAIDOV warned that allowing electoral offenders to escape punishment could deepen voter apathy, erode Nigerians’ confidence in elections and further weaken the country’s democracy.

It urged the National Assembly to strengthen the Electoral Act by introducing stiffer penalties for electoral offences, particularly those committed by INEC officials entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of elections.

The organisation reiterated its commitment to monitoring Nigeria’s electoral process, exposing electoral malpractice and advocating transparency, accountability and good governance.

“Nigeria deserves credible elections. Nigeria deserves an INEC that can be trusted. And for that to happen, electoral criminals in uniform and in offices must be punished,” the statement added.

SOURCE: SAHARA REPORTERS