Awori leaders seek stiffer penalties against ballot box snatching, others

The Awori Traditional Council (ATC) and the Awori Natives Coalition (ANC) have called for the review of electoral offences to make punishment for offenders more impactful.

The two bodies said imprisonment for ballot box snatching and other electoral offences were not enough to deter sponsors and perpetrators.

ATC and ANC called for “stiffer penalties” to send a strong signal to those wishing to perpetrate electoral violence.

In a communique jointly signed by the Olota of Ota, Oba (Prof.) Adeyemi Obalanlege on behalf of ATC and the President of ANC, Chief Oye Taiwo, in Ota, the two bodies noted that the three-year imprisonment without any option of fine for electoral malpractices stipulated in Section 123 and Section 5 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, was not a sufficient deterrent to electoral offenders.

They said the tendency towards political intolerance among politicians was anti-progress.

The two bodies urged politicians to shun the politics of do-or-die.

They also threatened to invoke the spirits of their ancestors and unleash them against anyone fomenting trouble in Awori land.

ATC and ANC advised electoral officials, especially National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, against acts that could jeopardise the electoral process or put their future in jeopardy.

Oba Obalanlege stressed the need to ensure that electoral offenders are brought to justice in accordance with the provisions of the law to stop impunity that are often displayed by some politicians and their agents during polls.

Taiwo said: “There is need for traditional rulers to prevail on political gladiators in their domains to ensure peaceful conduct by their supporters, before, during and after the elections.”