IN preparation to ensuring a free and fair election in 2019, the European Centre for Electoral Support, ECES, has commenced training of legal officers of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the police in the South-East region on prosecution of electoral offences.
The project co-ordinator of ECES in Nigeria, Mr Rudolf Elbling said in Enugu yesterday that the training was to equip the legal officers on the need to strengthen the electoral process through due and diligent prosecution of electoral offenders. Elbling, who was represented by Maria Mauro, Senior Election Expert (Legal) of ECES, noted that violence in election can be attributed to electoral malpractices which are unchecked and unquestioned.
“Electoral offences not checked lead to destruction of electoral materials, harming of electoral officers and death. In some countries as we have seen, it led to monumental destruction and wanton killings. “This is why the ECES and the European Union are concerned that eliminating electoral malpractices and fraud starts with having a solid legal prosecution team. It is highly necessary in the electoral development of any country,” he said.
