Fake results: Jail INEC officials for life - Nnamani

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 29.02.2008

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has advocated the amendment of the 2006 electoral law to ensure life jail or a minimum of 20 years imprisonment for electoral officials who declare phantom results after elections.

He said that the legislation would help the nation arrest the spate of frauds and malpractices that characterised the 2007 election.

The former Senate President was speaking at a media forum on electoral reform organised by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Abuja.

“The National Assembly should amend the 2006 Electoral Act to provide for minimum of 20 years and, possibly, life imprisonment, for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who engage in announcing phantom results.

“The nation and the candidates cannot continue to bear the brunt all alone, while the perpetrators not only go scot free, but are allowed to continue polluting the system the more,” he said.

He also called for the establishment of a truth commission to investigate the 2007 election.

Nnamani declared that INEC led the nation to an electoral crossroads with its conduct of the 2007 election.

He added that the electoral body spent so much money both budgeted for by the National Assembly and funds from foreign donors, but that the commission led Nigeria into untoward national embarrassment.

“I, therefore, think that for Nigerians and the international community to take our electoral reforms seriously, the Federal Government should, in addition to the Uwais panel, also set up a truth commission to investigate the 2007 general election,” he said.