 Thank you for staying with us. It's time for our first hot topic and this day we'll be talking about syrup suing INEC over failure to prosecute electoral offenders. So we know that the off-cycle elections just happened recently and syrup now is saying that there are certain electoral offenders that INEC hasn't prosecuted yet. And so joining us to talk about this is Kola Woli who is the the main person in syrup that we like to talk to Kola Woli Oluwadari, deputy director of syrup. Good morning sir. Thank you for joining us Good morning, you know your main guy in syrup for the conversations that we have We like to speak to you because you give it to us straight. So Getting right into it. There are certain offenders and INEC is yet to prosecute them So why is syrup suing at this point? Just give us a brief overview so we can understand what's going on Thank you very much. What maybe this is one of those things that the game ends up as a public interest litigation and it shouldn't This is perpetrated on the recently got the nuts. So we said actually off-cycle elections in three states That is Kodi by Elza and Imo states and the various reports that's for them are credible Repreformed credible source it is about looking will call them reported because they did not establish a point called of law We put an axon Electron project including violence, violence, snatching and vote buying and natural crime What I next should do is to prosecute people and being Fungal people of this actions. This is situated within the context of what of what we've seen in this country The integrity of our democracy is at stake The integrity of INEC as a key player in the electoral process is at stake So we wrote on it asking INEC to marry out the six That literally for them and don't go down the course that we made and Because we did not get a response to my neck We have come to court and basically the reliefs the prayers that our lawyers are asking the court is simply to compare I like to do what the losses should do That's all the question which I think the general should be asking is that Is I like saying there were no electron and practice to these three elections Or is I like saying that those things that we called that some of them were captured on camera They were caught in the elections in the states that are not electoral offenses Or is I like saying it doesn't have the capacity that to protect you Prosecute that it's just also against the background that the electoral act is only Mr. Street powers Procures electoral offenses. The law says clearly that it is the legal practitioners in the legal department of INEC That will do the prosecution. Of course, it's taking away the right of other than the ages to prosecute people for electoral offenses or squarely these falls within the constitutional mandate or all find it Because I was also going to say that shouldn't that be for Police, you know to prosecute them and maybe as things are happening When these reports are happening, they just get to arrest or prosecute them But you know, I understand what syrup is saying make sure that these people are being prosecuted So now how would you want? INEC to go about this and what's what can INEC do to ensure that this doesn't happen again? Can you hear me? So to look at the electoral act section 145 And I'm very sure that the intention of those who have put this section in the electoral act is also to empower INEC Perhaps from the things that happen historically in our elections Section 145 says that in the prosecution of that of offenses under the electoral act How do you undertake it by INEC or in legal practice and appointed by INEC? We clearly understand that this is prosecution But of course there is the arrest and investigation aspect of things which I next should be able to liaise with the law In the case of all grand elections for the investigative side of things and then INEC can do the prosecution Or we are yet to hear of any wonders be charged to court or be prosecuted by INEC If we have not seen any report of a police charge that they want to court to Or if there are instances where the police that target them want to court That doesn't remove the responsibility of INEC They just included an electoral process to ensure that these individuals are prosecuted So this is not far-fetched INEC's credibility is at stake And what affects INEC's credibility and effectiveness Imputes on the electoral process itself From the experience we've seen from the last election And one of the previous elections that INEC has conducted So it is an interest of INEC In buying public light credibility To ensure that it does not only take the steps But it is taking the steps to ensure that these does not happen again It is not enough for everyone to complain about the things that are wrong and close at all Individuals who have been found prosecuted should be prosecuted And the people will see And that has also been that in the first coming elections, when there are outside elections Or general elections It will detain other people for going through this process Of that prosecution power of INEC There may be political members of political parties Or even close and come in Or if they find coming in the investigative process She will also be made to fend off the law We can't continue to complain And we have institutions of government that are strategically empowered Even if they don't tell them how to do these things Fend it to two people It is just not right And it won't be everyone in the long run So does CERAP have any evidence Because you're saying you've not heard of anyone who has been prosecuted yet I'm sure with your investigations Does CERAP have anyone who they can say for sure As an evidence that this person did this And so therefore we expect that this person should be prosecuted Because you're saying you've not heard of anyone being prosecuted But then what if there's no evidence And you know how our legal system works That says when there's no evidence, sorry That's it I thought you were referring to the evidence I was about to say that You go explain the evidence How evidence abounds I was part of the letter we wrote to INEC We also chronicled some of those media reports It really come down by other organizations For instance CERAP for development CERAP for development and chronicle that These are the reports It's chronically And various instances of electoral practices In BIOSA It mentions for example The CERAP for development that mentioned It mentioned what PU1 What is P1 What is P111 And there are other instances that would be fully Included Which was reported in the media Before TWINEC And again the issue is for INEC To work with law enforcement agencies And investigate it In fact investigation turns out to be Forms of help and prosecution Of course I don't think that would happen And if the investigation finds out That an agreement will be as a case in BIOSA So this is not about Specific individuals It is about incidents Many of them Of electoral processes That are to be called in these three states Investigation Most INEC does job standard process And then show that they are prosecuted For instance the least INEC can do Or tell the agency that's done Is to say that we've got The very first many agencies Who are grounded in elections And we've collected the number of Visitors that have been arrested Or made investments that are done And we're working with them To make sure that they are prosecuted And to pass insurance The people that have been Tacky caught in the process Of the prosecution And do nothing that's been done And that's why INEC Have also asked questions If they have any prosecutions If they have investigations And calling on them to make them public It is If INEC You don't respond To the very last issue Which was submitted before them It's why again We have to end up in court In this instance And really it's really a sad thing To see that such invaders They hold an electoral process That should be seen To be doing its best To be impartial and effective It is really not taking Attitude in this instance Okay Well Nigerians have a way Of saying I have the evidence But if I talk Nigeria will burn And then they sit on it And they don't do anything I hope that will not happen here But I have two concerns First of all Why only off-circle elections? Why Are they Or are you satisfied With what INEC has done With the general elections Because there were still Some incidences That needed People to answer for it And we have not heard anything I don't know If you have that information That INEC did something So good That you're comfortable with it So why did you single out Only the off-circle election? In fact Issues arising from the general elections They are the subject matter Of another litigation And the federal record Two cases actually One of the federal record Legals One of the federal record And also What we have done Is similar to this What we've called upon INEC And so we've fed the leaders That we have found In the media And from organizations That have done Investigation to INEC To ensure that these Incidents are investigated And prosecuted So there are There are two lawsuits In court presently All the general elections That is the Incidents of Electro-Rama practice That will be arrested One of them I might do the same thing We have said Which they did They did not Okay My second concern Which maybe Some people will be asking now I should know better But let me ask you This question If these people are prosecuted Of what benefit will it be For instance If a governor won Because of an electoral malpractice And he has already gone to the Supreme Court And he has won His election What impact will that have Is it just to tell the world That this thing happened Because if there is no use Why go the whole hog? The issues submitted Before the court In the election Petitial trienners They are different From the prosecutor's powers of Electro-Rama practice Under the electoral Petitial trienners Under the election Petitial trienners Acts of electoral malpractice Forms one of the grounds For whatever those parties Wants the court to find But certainly different From the prosecutor's powers Of iNEC Primary The function of that power As inserted in section 1 For the fact that the electorate Is to ensure that It sounds As a deterrent to others Who may want to take some actions And they would also Constructionally empower It would give iNEC That much needed credibility iNEC spends a lot of time And perhaps a lot of resources also Pre-electors are doing elections How it's self-tolerance To electoral malpractices But we've not seen Their query on actions Under elections to show that In the case of electoral malpractice It's not seen that done enough So where Individuals of those In political offices And in offices Subject to the findings Of electoral malpractice Just try to know Otherwise It's totally different From the powers of iNEC To prosecute individuals For electoral office And electoral offices Are still in the electorate Read from what we call Perhaps the independent To be severe Vote by me For instance It's an electoral office Balance matches And electoral malpractice And perhaps in the trial Which is why even In the quantum of punishment For these two offenses The punishment is different So again It is the power of iNEC To do that It doesn't necessarily Affirm the outcome of elections At any rate It would be the election Petitions Tribunal Not sure the time demands Okay So now that you're saying iNEC What if Nothing is being done To prosecute these people And Yeah We just see it as another cycle And next election comes And this is the same thing Is there any effect That this would have on iNEC Maybe weakened the system Or whatever Just Yeah It's not really good What the book is Which is why it's very important To underscore that This suit is not To challenge and educate it Not impure the credibility Of the reputation of iNEC On what grounds it should strengthen it We are calling on iNEC To do what it should do Because the laws it should do it And primarily because It would put iNEC out As a competent Effective Impartial Friendly organization Which is not in last election By the contract There are elections coming in the future Both off-site elections And even the general elections So iNEC is what iNEC Should And can do To show up its credibility And i think he would agree That the credibility of iNEC Is not Is not Is not high For what engineers Are witness to my touch It is an iNEC's interest Not only to do this But to be seen by the people To do this Okay Well We wish you luck We wish Nigeria luck Because it's not for you You know fighting for Sarah You're fighting for Nigerians And we do hope that iNEC Becomes or grows to become That impartial judge in our case I do not know how The ordinary people Can also support in the course That you pursue as Sarah Just what role can the individuals The citizens of Nigeria play When you're fighting these fights For us As we're up Up I would say that In fact what you are doing presently is one of those Credible things Which i most praise The organizations And you individuals In the studio for Is putting those issues Out there for people to Understand And then to talk about them And perhaps if we Mean the context Of these conversations It will bring Much more understanding For people That they need To begin to connect Using social media To engage in discussions Like this also Forms part of that That's trying to give For people to contribute And in those discussions Those who talk perhaps That the center of action Is politically motivated For instance This is not about politics In fact This is the interest Of iNEC This is not about iNEC So citizens need To understand first Before they can engage And so which side Conversations like these Are important They have been educated Right now And people will continue To see the Part they should Play in government By calling on Government And voting To continue This conversation I think there are Kind of actions Including social media Writing to iNEC To compare iNEC To do what the cost is Should do In the interest of iNEC And the interest of Nigerians Alright Alright Well we hope that People join the conversation And drive it And not just for Even the elections For everybody In Nigeria We hope that We're having these Conversations And asking our leaders To do the right thing For the growth Of Nigeria Anyways I want First Kolawele Kolawele Uluwadaire Thank you so much Very much Alright Jovan speaking to Uluwadaire Kolawele He is Deputy Director Of For useless We will go on Another quick break But when we return We will look At our next Hot topic And you want To stay For that one