A former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has demanded stricter penalties to curb electoral malpractice in Nigeria.
She argued that current punishments are too soft to deter politicians from violating electoral laws.
The economic policy expert spoke at the National Electoral Reforms Summit 2025, themed “Critical Constitutional Amendments for Credible Election in 2027,” organised by the National Consultative Front/Labour and Civil Society Front in collaboration with the Movement for Credible Elections in Abuja.
She insisted that introducing sanctions such as jail terms for vote buying and result falsification would keep politicians in check.
“Stronger penalties for electoral offences. Current punishments are too weak to deter violations. Increasing fines and jail terms for vote buying, result falsification, and violence would strengthen deterrence,” she said.
Ezekwesili also urged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be given full legal authority over security agencies during elections.
“Security agencies have become one of the greatest problems of our democracy. INEC should have explicit legal authority to direct security agencies assigned to them during elections, ensuring they respond to electoral needs rather than political pressures,” she added.
She also said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) receives allocations directly without going through the executive branch to ensure independence from political interference, stating that the commission’s budget should be protected and released in full and on time to enable proper election planning.
She stated that, in turn, INEC, which is “one of the institutions bedevilled by corruption, should be mandated to adopt the full principles of open budgeting and spending, working with civil society to track every money sent in order to ensure accountability.
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