President Muhammadu Buhari, while speaking at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday after swearing in the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, said it is not enough for tribunals to cancel and order re-run of an election, but that those whose actions or inactions led to such cancellation should be investigated and prosecuted if found culpable.
Buhari said this must be done whether the culprits are individuals as candidates or party agents; institutions as political party or electoral body; public officers as electoral staff or security agents. Adding that perpetrators of electoral violence and thuggery should not be spared.
The new INEC officers are: Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman and as INEC National Commissioners are; Amina Zakari, Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine, Muhammed Mustafa Lecky and Baba Shettima Arfo.
President Buhari also commented on the justice administration of the electoral tribunals, saying: “Another area of concern is the justice administration of the electoral tribunals. It is long overdue that our justice system addresses these shortcomings. It is not just enough for an election to be cancelled and a new one ordered. It would be much better if all whose actions or inactions led to the cancellation of such election to be investigated and if culpable prosecuted whether they are individuals as candidates or party agents, Institutions such as political party, electoral body, or public officers as electoral staff or security agents.