The Independent National Electoral Commission’s commissioner in charge of Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti states, Prof. Lai Olurode, has called on the incoming administration of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to arrest and punish all prominent Nigerians who committed electoral malpractices and offences in the just-concluded general elections in the country.
Olurode said this on Thursday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in his address at the presentation of certificates of return to the Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and national assembly members-elect in the state.
He said if such electoral offenders had been punished for their offences in past elections, it would have served as a deterrent to others who might be nursing such idea.
He said, “In the past, those who perpetrated electoral fraud, the notable among them have not been brought to book, that is why it continues.
“I will want the incoming government to make examples of some prominent election fraudsters.
“For us in INEC, we feel frustrated by the harassment, intimidation, maiming and the killings that attended the just-concluded general elections in some states.
“We have always canvassed for an election offences commission to deal with election security challenges in Nigeria. We need to make examples of big men who perpetrate electoral crimes.”
Olurode also condemned the philosophy of do-or-die politics in the country, saying the players must work harder to entrench internal democracy in their political parties.
He lamented voter apathy in some states in the South-West, namely Ogun and Oyo, describing the number of voters recorded during the last elections in the two states as unimpressive.
He noted that some African countries like Kenya, Zimbabwe and Ghana had overcome voter apathy, compared to Nigeria.
He said, “All stakeholders, including INEC cannot afford to rest on our oars in aggressive voter education.
“Voter education is needed to combat hate speeches, as well as spur acts of voluntary service in order to bring down the cost of electioneering.”
Shortly after he received his certificate of return from Olurode, Amosun pledged to consolidate on his performance during the first term.
The governor assured the people of the state that he would ensure the completion of all the ongoing projects across the state and initiate new ones if necessary.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Chief Timothy Ibitoye, described the general elections in the state as free, fair and credible.
He said, “We never recorded violence, maiming or killings in Ogun State. The INEC in Ogun State came first in releasing the results of the governorship and House of Assembly elections while we came second in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.”
However, the senator -elect for Ogun East senatorial district, Buruji Kashamu and the House of Representatives member -elect for Remo Federal Constituency , Oladipupo Adebutu, as well as the House of Representatives’ member- elect for Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, Samuel Williams, were absent at the ceremony.
