Politics
Atiku Roots For Election Fraud Commission
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has suggested the need for the establishment of an Election Fraud Commission (EFC) as a way of curbing electoral malpractices in the country.
Alhaji Abubakar made the recommendation when he and his vice presidential candidate, former Governor Peter Obi appeared on a live TV programme “the candidates” on Tuesday.
The former Nigeria’s vice president opined that checking fraud in elections was key in sanitising the electoral process and ensuring that culprits are punished.
He reasoned that setting up EFC different from EFCC will also fasten the pace of adjudication and trying of electoral offenders rather than trying them in conventional courts.
Besides, the PDP presidential candidate argued that EFC will also complement the EFCC in the fight against corruption.
Abubakar maintained that the current method of fighting corruption was vindictive and selective and does not achieve result because the process is cumbersome, long and smacks of witch hunt on opposition to the present administration.
“President Buhari has abandoned the economy and has led the country to recession, because over N530 billion has been lost in the quest to fight corruption”.
If voted into power, Alhaji Abubakar promised that he will overhaul the anti-corruption agencies with new legislations that will enhance fast and transparent trial of culprits and suspects.
“There must be a time limit for investigation and trial”, Abubakar declared “and this will be backed up with legislation”.
He cited Turkey as one country whose anti-corruption fight has led to quick results, as it granted amnesty to looters and as a result was able to recover stolen public funds from public office holders.