A Elderly Law speaker at the University of Hull, United Kingdom, Dr Lateef Misbau, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to identify and discipline its officers set up to have erred in the conduct of the last July 16 Osun governorship poll.A
lamu, an aborigine of Ifon Orolu in Osun State during an exclusive interview with AFLM on Monday, also said the commission should be held responsible over the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal that annulled the outgrowth of the poll.
Justice Tertsea Kume- led panel had annulled the palm of Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party and declared Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressive Congress as the winner of the bean, after abatingover-voting discovered in 744 units spread across 10 original government areas of the state.
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There was still a differing judgement by a member of the panel, JusticeA. Ogbuli, who dismissed Oyetola’s solicitation, saying the BVAS report on which the maturity judgement was grounded was a product of difficulties.
But the university slip , who specifically noted that delayed sychronisation mentioned by INEC as the reason for issuing two BVAS reports for the Osun guardianship bean, was alien to the Electoral Act, also said there should be inquiry into the manipulation of BVAS reports with a view to identify and discipline those staff of the Commission involved.
He further said, “ INEC must be held for what’s now a case of a clear concession in Osun. INEC issuing multiple BVAS reports and at different times easily cast aspersions on the integrity of the electoral process. It’s now clearer that while BVAS itself may not be imperfect as a device, there might be unconscionable officers willing to lessen the process in conspiracy with dubious politicians.
“So, INEC owes the public some explanation and justifications. Above all, whoever is set up complicit for manipulating the BVAS reports must be linked and fulfilled.
For illustration, whoever came up with the idea of synchronisation in Osun must be sanctioned. There’s nothing whatsoever like synchronisation under the Electoral Act and the Electoral Guidelines. ”
Asked if BVAS machines shouldn’t be used in the conduct of the 2023 general choices, Misbau said since the use of BVAS had been made obligatory by the law, it may be too late to stop its deployment for the poll.
“In fact, I don’t suppose BVAS should be cancelled. The problem isn’t the BVAS. The problem is the loose officers who may compromise the system. This is why it’s always important to apply the laws against erring officers in order to serve as deterrence for others, ”he concluded.
