The All Progressives Grand Alliance says it supports the recommendation of the Independent National Electoral Commission of 10-year ban on electoral offenders in the country.
The National Secretary of APGA, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
Shinkafi described the idea as a welcome development, adding that would enhance electoral processes of the country.
He recalled that over the years, electoral offenders had not been prosecuted because the electoral body had not been given adequate power to do so.
According to him, if there are electoral offences and INEC is mandated to deal with offenders, there will be no ballot snatching, ballot stuffing and underage registration in elections.
Shinkafi, however, urged INEC to accept the request to strengthen the electoral laws, to ensure “free, fair and credible elections in 2015”.
The acting National Secretary of the Democratic People’s Party, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, said: “If the call is not detrimental to Nigeria’s democracy, it is a welcome development.
“I advise the National Assembly to grant INEC the request in order to curb irregularities in the forthcoming elections.’’
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Tuesday recommended the ban during a retreat organised by the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Abuja.
Jega also canvassed that Nigerians who were 18 years and above, living outside the country, should be allowed to register and vote at elections.
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