Jail Rivers electoral offenders – NHRC

Prof. Chidi Odinkalu

The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said those who were responsible for electoral offences during the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State should be jailed.
The Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal upturned the victory of Nyesom Wike as Rivers State Governor on Saturday and ordered a rerun within 90 days.
Odinkalu, however, noted that the tribunal ruling, that a fresh election be conducted, was not enough.
He maintained that those behind the violence at the polls should be unmasked and prosecuted.
The NHRC boss, in a series of tweets on his official Twitter handle, on Sunday, asked the Federal Government to ensure that those that engaged in electoral offences at the governorship poll, face the wrath of the law.
He said, “In May 2015, the NHRC recommended 117 persons for prosecution over crimes of electoral impunity.
“In one week, Nigerian courts have nullified two governorship election results in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states. We must ensure that those responsible go to jail.
“Electoral fraud doesn’t just happen; people do it. Wherever elections are nullified by the courts, someone should be held accountable.”