INEC Chairman Disagrees With Buhari Over ‘Death’ Penalty For Ballot Box Snatchers

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has disagreed with President Muhammadu Buhari over his statement that ballot box snatchers in the forthcoming elections should pay with their lives.

President Buhari had at a national caucus meeting of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, said ballot box snatchers risk losing their lives as he has instructed the military and police to ruthlessly deal with culprits in the coming elections.

But speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu said ballot box snatchers ought to be made to face the law rather than killed in the act as suggested by the President.

He noted that there are prescribed punishments for various election offences in the Electoral Act 2010.

Responding to questions on if ballot box snatchers should be shot at sight, Prof Yakubu said: “You asked, should ballot box snatchers be shot on sight? The position of the commission is that all violators of electoral act, should be punished according to the provisions of the electoral act.”