A former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, has recently called the attention of the judiciary to impose a heavy punishments for those who commit electoral fraud compared to any other criminal activity.
Dr. Amadi also emphasized that electoral fraud has a serious treath to the country's democratic system and should be treated with a more heavier punishment than other crimes.
He emphasized the need for measures to be taken urgently in other to ensure that the electoral integrity of the nation rebuilt and citizens/public at larges trust in the voting process.
Dr. Amadi made the call in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of a report entitled, ‘Election without Democracy: Explanatory Notes on the 2023 elections, by The Center for Public Policy and Research, laid emphasis on the growing concerns over the rise of electoral misconduct and suspected fraudulent behaviour during elections in the country.
His words reads “The judiciary must penalise electoral fraud more than any other crime. So, it’s like, don’t put the death penalty on someone stealing money, put the death penalty on someone rigging elections. The elections failed because politicians deliberately rigged with INEC. Nigerians will vote simply and go home.”
He again buttressed that INEC’s failure to uphold democratic norms is responsible for the failure, not political players, observers, or voters.
“If you plan to fail, not the political class, not observers, not the voters, but INEC itself planned to fail by not honouring democratic precepts, values and norms. We are actually building a democratic infrastructure that is devoid of democratic values,” Udenta said.
The urgency of addressing the pervasive issue of electoral fraud, which he said had hindered Nigeria’s democratic progress for years was also underlined. Laying more emphasis on why credible elections is key to upholding democracy. He also urged the judiciary to take a more active role in combating this problem.
He added, “It is those people who want to go to power because they want to steal, so they invest in bribing the court, bribing INEC, bribing security agents, and bribing everybody but if they bribe and the court cancels it and says go back, even if you have spent one billion naira. So, because there is no consequence for breaching the law.”
Also, a pro-democracy activist and scholar, Professor Udenta O. Udenta, maintained that the electoral process and the conduct of elections in the country greatly lacks democratic principles and values.
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