A former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, has recommended that for Nigeria’s electoral process to be strengthened and improved, all petitions arising from elections should be resolved before the swearing-in of elected officials.
He stated this on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics where the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states were reviewed.
“All petitions must end before swearing in,” he said. “We must make sure that nobody takes advantage of the lacuna in the election. We should scan the results – all the paper ballots, they should appoint election auditors should scan the results.”
“INEC has the power to review results within seven days. I think that mechanism has not been used by INEC. They should be able to review what the BVAS has against what has been entered and make sure they cancel all the appropriate results that need to be cancelled.
“We should ensure that we go back to the Justice Uwais report and the Election Offences Tribunal should be set up.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held off-cycle polls in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States on November 11, 2023, where the outcomes were challenged in courts.
