INEC seeks 10-yr ban for electoral offenders

INEC seeks 10-yr ban for electoral offenders

ABUJA— The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, asked the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution to enact a clause that would disqualify electoral offenders from contesting any election or holding any party position for a period of 10 years.

The electoral offences to attract similar punishments, according to the commission, include campaign finance breaches and breach of political party finance provisions.

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, who presented the commission’s position during the committee’s one-day retreat on Electoral Act 2010, equally wants the President and other persons to be barred from interfering in INEC’s operational functions.
Jega also canvassed for Diaspora voting, regretting that presently, only Nigerian citizens residing in the country at the time of registration of voters can vote at any election.

He said Nigerian citizens “who are of age, but resident abroad, should be allowed to participate in the governance of their country by being allowed to register and vote at elections.”