Former Minister of Education and public policy
advocate Obiageli Ezekwesili has called for the introduction of stricter
penalties to tackle electoral malpractice in Nigeria, arguing that current
sanctions are too lenient to serve as an effective deterrent.
Speaking at an ADC Dialogue in Abuja on Tuesday,
Ezekwesili said:
“Stronger penalties for electoral offences. Current
punishments are too weak to deter violations. Increasing fines and jail terms
for vote buying, result falsification, and violence would strengthen
deterrence.”
Ezekwesili, a former World Bank vice president, also
emphasized the need to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) with full legal control over security operations during elections.
“Security agencies have become one of the greatest
problems of our democracy,” she noted. “INEC should have explicit legal
authority to direct security agencies assigned to them during elections,
ensuring they respond to electoral needs rather than political pressures.”
Her comments come amid growing public concerns over
electoral integrity, vote buying, and the role of security forces in recent
polls.
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