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Group wants electoral reforms, prosecution of offenders

By Segun Olaniyi, Abuja
01 September 2015   |   1:57 am
CIVIL Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for reforms in the electoral system to prevent violence during and after elections in the country.
PHOTO: newsdiaryonline.com

PHOTO: newsdiaryonline.com

CIVIL Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for reforms in the electoral system to prevent violence during and after elections in the country.

CISLAC added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) record shows that there were 66 reported cases of violence targeted against polling units, the commission’s officials, voters and election materials.

The Centre’s Executive Director, Mallam Auwal Ibrahim Musa, while speaking at an event in Abuja, yesterday on the theme ‘Review Session for Issues of Electoral Violence in the 2015 Elections: Charting the Way Forward’, said after the 2015 elections, several reports were presented, post election analysis undertaken and various recommendations made by stakeholders.

Musa added that, “While electoral violence creates fear leading to apathy among the electorate, money politics ensures that the wrong people get nominated and elected into political office.”

“Also, incendiary comments by prominent politicians create worry in the land. Religion and tribal sentiments were also used to further heighten tension and complicate the electoral process,” he said.

In his keynote address, human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) said signing the non-violence accord by presidential candidates of the two leading political parties could not curb political violence in the country due to the violent nature of the electoral system.

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