2015 polls: We ‘re still compiling list of offences for prosecution — INEC

 THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has begun compilation of all electoral offences recorded in the 2015 general elections with a view to prosecuting those found wanting.

But the commission said the successful prosecution of the electoral offenders would depend on the cooperation of the law enforcement agencies, especially the police, which it noted, had the constitutional mandate of arresting offenders.

INEC also said it was still expecting the police which have the constitutional mandate of arresting perpetrators of electoral violence in the country to inform it of number of arrest made and progress made in prosecuting those implicated.

Speaking to Vanguard on the development, in Abuja, Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said the commission was currently still taking stock of the various offences committed during the polls.

He said the commission would take appropriate measures to ensuring that those believed to have perpetrated or aided the acts were duly prosecuted at the law court.
“You know, INEC, as a commission, does not have the constitutional mandated to make any arrest during elections; it is rather that of the police.

So, in prosecuting all those found wanting during the various exercises, we expect cooperation of the police.

“For now, I can tell you that we are still compiling the list of the offences preparatory to prosecution. As soon as we are through, we will do what is expected by the law,” he reiterated.

The commission had, in the 2011 general elections, recorded a total of 870,000 electoral offences, out of which 200 offenders were successfully prosecuted.

Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega, had while disclosing this at the INEC/civil society dialogue on plans and progress toward the 2015 elections, regretted that prosecuting electoral offenders had been the commission’s “ big problem’’ because of paucity of fund and manpower.

“In actual fact, some of those apprehended have been prosecuted and convicted but the number is just too small compared to those remaining, ”he had lamented.
He said the police was in charge of prosecuting offenders until it was handed over to INEC, adding that the task was beyond the capacity of INEC and should not be left with the commission.

Jega said if INEC was saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting electoral offenders, its major mandate would suffer because the quantum of offenders would be too much for the commission.