INEC Can’t Prosecute Electoral Offenders –Commissioner

With less than one month to the general election in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had no power to prosecute electoral offenders.

The Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hon Aniedi Ikoiwak said this during a one-day colloquium organised by the mass  communication department of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

Hon Ikoiwak said that the situation had underscored the need for the media to bring up pressure on the authorities to create an electoral offences tribunal to try all forms of electoral offenders..

The resident electoral commissioner said there was need for the media to perform its  watchdog roles by educating the public on the forthcoming elections.

According to him, the media as a watch dog would be able to educate and enlighten the public, shape public opinions on issues pointing out flaws in a system or process and consequently offer pragmatic and plausible alternative.

Hon Ikoiwat, however, said that for the press to function effectively, it must be clean free of corruption and devoid of any smear of sundry.

In her paper entitled: “ Incumbency mythic facts and fictions” the state Commissioner for Information and communications, Mrs Ibim Semenetari said that most of those who occupy political offices  used such position to the detriment of the opposition, thereby creating the scenario of the absence of a formidable opposition.

Mrs Semenitari, however said the electorate could use the power of the votes to replace the incumbents who performed poorly.

Declaring the colloquium opened, the vice chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science, Prof B.B.Fakae said that the institution would continue to blaze the trail in the socio-political development of the society.

Prof Fakae said that the university has had all her courses fully accredited, while emphasis is being placed on the information technology and communication sector.