Rivers APC calls for establishment of elections offences tribunal

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state has called for the setting up of an Elections Offences Tribunal in the country to investigate and recommend punishment for all election-related offences.

In a statement by the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr Darlington Nwauju, the party said interrogating the integrity of election results and voiding the results would not be enough to stop electoral malpractices.

He said electoral offences are crimes against humanity and should, therefore, be discouraged in the society.

Nwauju said: “As the various Elections Petitions Tribunal sittings begin this week, we reason that interrogating the integrity of the results and subsequently affirming or voiding these results is not enough to deter the political class from future electoral malfeasance and crimes against humanity.

“The APC in Rivers State believes that electoral crimes are crimes against humanity and must not be treated with a slap on the wrist punishment.”

The state party publicity secretary urged the 10th National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to strengthen Elections Offences Tribunals to handle subversion of the will of the people by the political class and compromising security agencies.

He said: “Therefore, our thinking is that the 10th National Assembly must as part of its legislative agenda, consider the amendment of the Electoral Act to give life to an Elections Offences Tribunal which will ensure that all established cases of fraudulent subversion of the will of the people through electoral malpractices, voter intimidation, hijack of ballot boxes, physical assault, sponsorship of violence and even compromising election officials are all thoroughly investigated and people serve prison terms without an option of fine.

“This, we believe, will force political parties, aspirants and their supporters from considering the option of democratic coup d’etats that we have been having in the name of elections.

“The electorate must come to the realization that stealing of votes is a very grievous offence against humanity and cannot be considered a source of political strength for any political party or aspirant.

“Our institutions must be made to be more powerful than individuals who at every election cycle, resorts to compromising or intimidating our institutions to impose unelectable persons on us as duly elected.”