Global Rights has launched a report on forensic review of documented election atrocities cases.
The report which was launched in Abuja at a national dialogue organised by Global Rights in partnership with Incident Centre for Election Atrocities (ICEA).
The report is titled, “In pursuit of Justice : Forensic Insights into Nigeria’s 2023 Election Atrocities. “
In her remarks, the Executive Director of Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, expressed concern that the occurrence of electoral malpractices, particularly when they persist over time, not only undermines the legitimacy of election results but also diminishes public confidence in the democratic system.
She said the resolution of these concerns extends beyond the mere pursuit of justice within a singular electoral period but rather encompasses the broader objective of strengthening the democratic framework of a country.
She said the primary objective of this comprehensive report is to highlight the obstacles that hindered the 2023 Nigerian general elections, substantiate the credibility of the available evidence, and propose a practical course of action for the future.
“Divesting INEC of the Responsibility of Prosecuting Electoral Offences: Nigeria’s electoral body INEC is in addition to planning and executing elections, charged with the responsibility of ensuring accountability for electoral offences in Nigeria.
“INEC has historically never demonstrated capacity in carrying out this role. This has created a gap as several persons who breach the provisions of the Electoral Act are not held to account, thereby denying their victims justice.
“This informs the need to divest INEC of this enormous responsibility, handing it either to law enforcement or to a newly created body specifically empowered to perform this task,” she said.
Also, in a paper presentation on, “Nigeria is a crime scene: Presentation of Forensic Analysis” by the Executive Director of We The People and Lead Researcher, Ken Henshaw, recommended continuous monitoring on implementing robust systems for the continuous monitoring of the election .
According to him, this can be achieved through a combination of advanced technology and dedicated resources such as real-time surveillance systems and online platforms that can help in tracking development and detecting anomalies early .