'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the media to actively support the call for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Tribunal, emphasizing the need for a dedicated legal framework to ensure the swift prosecution of electoral offenders.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal during the commission’s first regular quarterly consultative meeting with media stakeholders in Abuja. He stressed that while the commission remains committed to improving the electoral process, dealing with electoral offences remains a major challenge due to the slow judicial process.
According to Yakubu, electoral offences are currently prosecuted in Magistrate and State High Courts, where they compete for attention with numerous other cases. Unlike post-election disputes handled by tribunals with strict timelines, electoral offences lack a defined timeframe, leading to prolonged trials and delays in justice delivery.
"A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals. Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one general election to another, which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases," Yakubu said.
He cited the recent successful prosecution of a returning officer in Akwa Ibom State, which took nearly six years to conclude. Similarly, INEC is currently prosecuting 774 electoral offenders from the 2023 general elections in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). While some convictions have been secured in Kebbi and Kogi States, many cases remain pending, highlighting the need for an Electoral Offences Tribunal.
Yakubu called on the media to amplify advocacy for the tribunal, stating that its establishment would enhance electoral integrity by ensuring swift prosecution of offenders, particularly those involved in vote-buying and electoral malpractice.
NUJ Pledges Support for INEC
Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the union’s Secretary, Achike Chude conveyed the regrets of NUJ President Hassan Yahaya, who was unable to attend the meeting. He assured INEC of the NUJ’s continued collaboration, emphasizing that the success of the electoral body is crucial to Nigeria’s democracy.
"The President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists expresses his profound regret that he is not able to make it. However, he wishes to reaffirm the NUJ’s commitment to working with INEC to ensure that electoral processes receive the necessary media coverage," the NUJ scribe stated.
He praised the outgoing NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo, for fostering strong ties with INEC and assured that Yahaya would continue in the same vein. "The reality is that our future and our destiny in this country are linked. The success of INEC is the success of the Nigerian state. It is, therefore, our duty to collaborate and cooperate with INEC to ensure their success," he added.
The NUJ representative also acknowledged INEC’s recognition of the press corps as a vibrant and dedicated media body, highlighting the union’s role in advocating for INEC’s needs, including budgetary allocations. He, however, urged the electoral body to consider cost-effective measures in its operations given Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
Addressing the call for an Electoral Offences Tribunal, Chude stressed the need for legislative action, stating that INEC is often constrained in prosecuting offenders. "If there is one thing some of us have noticed, it is the fact that INEC has always been very reluctant when it comes to this pressure on them to prosecute offenders. It is not that they do not want to prosecute offenders, but they are constrained by the legal framework," he explained.
He called on the National Assembly to take the necessary steps to establish the tribunal, allowing INEC to focus on its primary mandate while ensuring that electoral offences are dealt with swiftly.
Beyond the tribunal advocacy, the INEC chairman reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to improving the electoral process, citing notable progress in the recent off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo States, particularly in logistics management and election technology.
The consultative meeting also focused on upcoming elections, including the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections set for February 21, 2026. Yakubu assured media stakeholders of continued collaboration, urging them to maintain professionalism in electoral reporting.
The meeting was attended by media executives, representatives from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the International Press Centre (IPC), and other stakeholders committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy through credible electoral processes.
