The Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, on Tuesday threatened to prosecute electoral offenders, including some members of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who erred in the just concluded 2019 general elections in the state.
Umahi made this known shortly after receiving his certificate of return from INEC, which took place at the state headquarters of the commission in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital.
The governor who was accompanied by prominent stakeholders of the state to the INEC headquarters, while making his speeches, expressed dismay over some role allegedly played by some erring INEC officers which according to him resulted in a chaotic condition which would have marred the election.
Umahi also advocated immediate amendment of electoral laws to avert the wanton killings of innocent persons and destruction of properties resulting from electoral violence.
He called on the National Assembly to think of amending the laws to pave way for electronic voting in Nigeria, adding that the nation has become so bad that some people would stay in one place and elect somebody that cannot be supported by the masses.
“We need to start on time to amend our electoral laws. In advanced countries, the law allows the serving government to conduct their primaries one year before the election. And the opposition will conduct their primaries two years to the election. This will help us to do away with all electoral violence.
“I am going to prosecute all electoral offenders no matter whose ox is gored. It’s something that I am going to pursue for a better society and for a better Nigeria. I have directed security agencies to give me the details of all the hitches security wise. And if any INEC staff is involved, I will move into their offices and demand for justice,” he stated.
Earlier in a remark, the INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi state, Prof Godswill Obioma applauded the good works of the governor in the state, adding that his reelection was well merited.
He, however, urged him to seize the opportunity of his second tenure to improve on the campaign of voters registration exercise, expressing dissatisfaction over poor voters turnout in the last general election in the state.
