Bill prescribing 20 year compulsory imprisonment for election violence scales first reading in senate

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Bill Prescribing 20-Year Compulsory Imprisonment for Election Violence Scales First Reading in Senate

The Senate has passed the first reading of a bill that seeks to impose a 20-year compulsory imprisonment on individuals found guilty of election violence. The bill, sponsored by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, aims to curb the increasing cases of violence and intimidation during elections in Nigeria.

The bill, titled "Electoral Offences (Amendment) Bill 2022", seeks to amend the Electoral Offences Act 2016 to include a provision that makes election violence a serious offense punishable by a minimum of 20 years imprisonment.

According to Senator Bamidele, the bill is designed to send a strong signal to would-be perpetrators of election violence that the law will not tolerate such behavior. He emphasized that the bill is not intended to punish political opponents but to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that all citizens can exercise their franchise peacefully.

The bill also proposes to increase the penalties for other electoral offenses, including vote-buying, vote-selling, and the use of fake identities to vote.

The passage of the bill to the second reading is expected to be a significant step towards addressing the growing concern about election violence in Nigeria. The bill will now be sent to a committee for further review and consideration before it is put to a final vote.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

  1. Imposes a minimum of 20 years imprisonment for election violence.
  2. Increases penalties for vote-buying, vote-selling, and the use of fake identities to vote.
  3. Makes election violence a serious offense punishable by law.
  4. Aims to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure peaceful elections.

Reactions:

The bill has received widespread support from civil society organizations and political parties, who have called for stronger measures to curb election violence. However, some critics have raised concerns about the potential for abuse of the law and the need for a more nuanced approach to addressing election-related violence.

Overall, the passage of the bill is seen as a significant step towards addressing the growing concern about election violence in Nigeria and ensuring that all citizens can exercise their franchise peacefully.