A senior Nigerian lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said penalties should be imposed on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if it fails to deliver on its promise to provide Nigerians with credible elections.
Appearing on Channels Television, the lawyer pointed out that the electoral commission, which allegedly failed Nigerians, participated in the election petition process from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court and disagreed with the appellant’s opinion.
He also stated that knowing the consequences of the Election Commission’s failure to fulfill its mandate would encourage the Election Commission to work harder to keep its promises.
Mr. Adegboruwa stated;
That is why I felt that if it was clear that INEC had let Nigerians down and that INEC had reneged on its promises, then there should be some kind of penalty.
‘INEC participated in the election petition process from the Court of Appeals all the way to the Supreme Court, where it disagreed with the appellant’s opinion.
If INEC failed to deliver on its promises to the Nigerian people, what would be the consequences of its failure?”
Adegboruwa also urged President Bola Tinubu to take lessons from the late former president, Musa Yar’Adua. Yaradua, he said, recognized the electoral flaws that brought the president to power and decisively implemented electoral reforms. He added that the president should not play any role in the appointment of the INEC chairman or resident electoral commissioner.
