INEC must punish corrupt staff, says Don

A senior lecturer in law at the University of Hull, UK, Dr Lateef Misbau, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to identify and punish its officials who erred in conducting the latest Osun governorship poll on July 16.

Alamu, a resident of Ifon Orolu in Osun State during an exclusive interview with The PUNCH also said on Monday that the commission should be held accountable for the decision of the Election Petition that overturned the poll’s outcome.

The panel led by Judge Tertsea Kume had annulled the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party and Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress declared the winner of the poll after counting overvotes detected in 744 units across 10 local government areas of the state.

However, there was a dissenting opinion from a member of the panel, Judge A. Ogbuli, who rejected Oyetola’s petition, saying that the BVAS report on which the majority opinion was based was the product of controversies.

But the university’s don, who specifically noted that delayed synchronization cited by INEC as the reason for issuing two BVAS reports for the Osun gubernatorial poll, was foreign to the Electoral Act, also said that the manipulation should be investigated of BVAS reports in order to identify and punish the Commission staff involved.

He went on to say: “INEC should be held for what is now a case of a clear compromise in Osun. INEC issued several BVAS reports and clearly defamed the integrity of the election process at different times. It is now clearer that while BVAS itself may not be faulty as a device, there may be unscrupulous officials willing to undermine the process in collusion with dubious politicians.

“So, INEC owes the public some explanation and apology. Above all, those found complicit in manipulating the BVAS reports must be identified and prosecuted.
For example, whoever came up with the idea of ​​synchronization in Osun should be sanctioned. There is nothing like synchronization under the Electoral Act and the Electoral Guidelines.”

Asked whether BVAS machines should not be used in the holding of the 2023 general election, Misbau said since the use of BVAS has been mandated by law, it may be too late to stop using them for the poll.

“I actually don’t think BVAS should be abolished. The problem is not the BVAS. The problem is the corrupt officials who can compromise the system. That is why it is always important to apply the laws against erring officials to deter others,” he concluded.