Minority leader says drastic measures are needeed to sanitize electoral system

Grace Okon

Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, the minority leader of the House of Representatives State said drastic measures are needed to sanitize the electoral system.

He added that political parties and candidates whose election was annulled for manipulation charges should be sanctioned.

Hon Elumelu stated this during the Class of 84 5th convention of St Pius Grammar School, Onitsha-Ugbo,  in Umunede, Delta State.

He further advocated for a stiffer sanction against any politician or parties involved in electoral fraud, while giving a  lecture titled, The Role of Enhanced Electoral Awareness in improving the quality of leadership in Nigeria.

He added that it is important that the law guiding elections should be firm in recommending punishment for INEC officials, politicians, and political parties found culpable for electoral offences.

“There should be a provision that would make returning officer culpable of Electoral offences in a case where an election is annulled by the court”.

He noted that the national electoral body should accelerate the use of technology to enhance the credibility of the voting process.

” For instance, the declaration of results directly from the polling units will help in the elimination of election collation and related malpractice and alterations of results.

Electoral awareness is a sine qua non to improving the quality of leadership in democracy, and gives the electorate the right to choose their political leaders”.