Nigeria Election: INEC threatens legal action against false allegations

Nigeria Election: INEC threatens legal action against false allegations

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it might seek legal redress over false allegations leveled against the Commission and security agencies during the conduct of 2019 general elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu, Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, said this during the post-2019 General Elections Media Briefing held on Tuesday in Enugu.

Ononamadu said the commission was investigating wild allegations for possibility of seeking legal redress, adding that it was not only politicians that can take INEC to court as INEC and its staff also have a name to protect.

He said: “We are not going to tolerate reckless allegations that cast aspersions on our democracy and electoral process.

“We are moving toward a direction when nobody will get away with any unsubstantiated allegation that rubs off on the credibility of an election.”

The REC also stated that all elections leading to contestable positions in Enugu State had been successfully completed

“There is no election either at the federal or state level that is outstanding.

“While we had teething logistics challenge during the presidential election, we overcame all of those challenges during the governorship election.

“We also became the first state to have all the 4,145 polling location open before 8 a.m. on the Election Day.” He said.

The REC further commended the residents, traditional rulers, security agencies, National Youth Service Corps, media, civil society organisations, political parties, management and staff of INEC for their support during the elections.