The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified the reason why individuals arrested for vote-buying during the recent governorship election in Anambra State have not yet been charged in court.

During a stakeholders’ forum on elections held by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room on Thursday in Abuja, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, stated that while INEC has the legal authority to prosecute electoral offenders, the security agencies responsible for the arrests have not yet submitted their investigation reports to the Commission.

Amupitan explained that the electoral body has been working closely with the relevant agencies to obtain these reports.

“I’m pleased to know that you are aware of the arrests, and many are asking, what actions have been taken?”

“We are in contact with the police, the EFCC, and other agencies. We require their reports on the investigations related to those who were arrested.

“INEC's role is to prosecute, not to arrest. Currently, we lack that capacity.

“We are coordinating with law enforcement agencies to ensure that those arrested will have their opportunity to appear in court,” he stated.

He emphasized that to safeguard democracy, technological integrity must be complemented by political accountability.

The INEC chairman lamented that a poor telecommunication network continues to be the Commission’s greatest challenge in achieving real-time uploads of election results from the 176,000 polling units across the country, many of which are situated in remote areas.