‘Electoral offence’: NHRC indicts Uduaghan, Iwu, Shagari

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has indicted Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governor  of Delta state; Mukhtari Shagari, former minister of water resources; and Maurice Iwu, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for alleged electoral offences.

Also indicted are Senators Hosea Ehinlanwo and Ayo Arise, C. E. Onukogu, a professor and resident electoral commissioner in the 2011 election in Anambra state.

In the final report of past decisions in electoral cases which NHRC released under an exercise termed: ‘Electoral Accountability Project/and Electoral Impunity Project’, Bem Angwe, executive secretary of the commission, said the organisation had over 118 indictments ranging from the political class, individuals and institutions for electoral offences.

He recommended among others, that the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), the inspector-general of police, INEC and other relevant institutions, take necessary steps on the report including prosecuting and ensuring that disciplinary measures were taken against those found wanting.

Angwe said the offences were committed in the 2007 and 2011 elections by the political class, individuals and various institutions that had the responsibility to conduct elections.

He said the report was a follow up to an earlier report presented in 2014 where a list of those indicted was forwarded to the attorney-general of the federation for necessary actions.

“With the finalisation of this report, that list has been upgraded and will also be sent to the AGF and state attorneys-general,” he said.

“We hope necessary steps will be taken to ensure that these people or institutions indicted are held accountable for their infractions during the 2007 and 2011 elections.”

The executive secretary said that holding them accountable would surely curb electoral impunity in the country.

Angwe noted that unless steps were taken to deal with electoral impunity, the right to vote and be voted for and related rights would continued to be infringed upon.

He said that the next step was for the commission to begin a holistic look into the 2015 election as well.

“The commission will soon commence public hearing to investigate those involved in hate speeches and violence in the 2015 election and even the 1999 elections,” he said.