The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has reiterated its call for the establishment of a dedicated Electoral Offences Tribunal to address the growing backlog of election-related cases.

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu emphasized the urgent need for a specialized tribunal, citing significant delays in prosecuting electoral offences. Speaking at the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with the media in Abuja on Friday, Yakubu noted that the current system is inefficient in handling electoral violations.

“A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound, unlike post-election disputes, which are handled through tribunals,” Yakubu stated. “Furthermore, these cases are solely prosecuted by Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences occurred. With courts handling a variety of other cases, electoral offences often receive no priority attention, leading to delays that stretch across multiple election cycles.”

The INEC chairman pointed to the conviction of a returning officer in Akwa Ibom State as an example of the sluggish judicial process. The case, which stemmed from the 2019 General Election, took nearly six years to reach a successful prosecution at the trial court.

Yakubu also highlighted ongoing legal actions related to the 2023 General Election. “Through our collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), cases involving 774 alleged offenders from the 2023 General Election are being prosecuted. So far, successful convictions have been recorded in Kebbi and Kogi States, while our collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on vote-buying has yielded results in Lagos, Kwara, and Gombe States. Yet, many cases are still pending.”

Nigeria’s elections, the largest democratic process in Africa, have often been marred by allegations of fraud, vote-buying, and other irregularities. Observers, including the European Union Election Observation Mission and the United Nations, have repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s electoral justice system to ensure credibility and fairness in the democratic process.

By pushing for a dedicated tribunal, INEC aims to create a framework where electoral offences can be swiftly and effectively prosecuted, aligning Nigeria’s election laws with international best practices. 

As Nigeria prepares for future elections, the debate over electoral justice continues to be a critical topic, with policymakers, legal experts, and civil society organizations urging legislative action to establish a tribunal that can expedite the prosecution of electoral crimes. Such a reform could serve as a model for other emerging democracies facing similar electoral challenges.