All Election Petitions Should End Before Swearing-In – Chidoka

Former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, has recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should resolve all petitions arising from elections before the swearing-in of elected officials.

Naija News reports that Chidoka stated this on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics where the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states were reviewed.

Recall that INEC held off-cycle polls in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States on November 11, 2023, where the outcomes are still been challenged in courts.

According to Chidoka, INEC has neglected the mechanism of reviewing results within seven days.

He added that elected officials should not be allowed to take advantage of the election, and all results should be scanned.

He said, “All petitions must end before swearing-in. We must make sure that nobody takes advantage of the lacuna in the election. We should scan the results – all the paper ballots, they should appoint election auditors should scan the results.

“INEC has the power to review results within seven days. I think that mechanism has not been used by INEC. They should be able to review what the BVAS has against what has been entered and make sure they cancel all the appropriate results that need to be cancelled.

“We should ensure that we go back to the Justice Uwais report and the Election Offences Tribunal should be set up.”