SAN FRANCISCO, June 17, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has blamed the political class for the spate of inconclusive elections in the country, noting that electoral violence and malpractice instigated by the politicians have greatly affected recently conducted polls.
This was disclosed on Friday by the commission’s chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who pledged the support of INEC for any amendment to the Electoral Act that would seek to disqualify or bar electoral offenders from standing for future elections.
He noted that the desperation by most politicians to win elections at all costs usually lead to massive electoral irregularities and violence which result in the death of innocent citizens and destruction of properties.
Yakubu made this know at a one-day civil society/stakeholders roundtable on INEC and inconclusive elections where he was represented by the Director Voter Education at the Commission, Mr Oluwale Osaze Uzzy,
While enjoining Human Rights activists to promote any cause that would lead to restoration of sanity in the electoral system, he called for a 10-year ban on politicians who are guilty of electoral offences from aspiring to any public office.
This was as the INEC boss declared that the tide of electoral violence and malpractices was making the conduct of elections difficult for the Commission.
