Political Analyst Urges INEC To Prosecute Election Offenders

A political analyst, Mr Matthew Ozioko, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that all electoral offenders in the just concluded general elections in the country are prosecuted.
Ozioko told journalists in Nsukka on Thursday that such would help to bring offenders to book and serve as a deterrent to check violence in subsequent elections.
“Electoral malpractice and violence have continued to be more pronounced in elections in this country because perpetrators of such crimes go unpunished after election and walked tall in our streets.
“The only way INEC can help stop electoral malpractice and violence in future elections is to ensure that all those involved in electoral crime in the just concluded general elections are prosecuted.
“It is unfortunate that election that supposed to be a peaceful exercise has become a battle field in this country for some politicians who want to win by all means,” he said.
He expressed concern that governorship and state assembly election held in the country on March 9 was only concluded yesterday April 3 by INEC in Rivers state because of electoral violence.
“It is not a good development that governorship and state assembly elections held on Saturday March 9 was concluded on Wednesday April 3, when INEC declared the governorship election in Rivers State.
“The governorship election witnessed inconclusive elections in some states of the federation because of electoral frauds and violence,” he said.
Ozioko said the country by May 29, would clock 20 years of uninterrupted democracy adding that the majority of politicians and their supporters are yet to imbibe democratic ethics and values.
“It is unfortunate that we are practising democracy in Nigeria and have few democrats who play the game of politics according to rules.
“Our politicians should be made to understand that election is not a do or die affair but test of popularity and acceptance of electorates.
“Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or political party affiliation should rise and defend democracy by resisting and saying no to winning of election by all means in this country no matter whose ‘ox is gored’.