The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the House of Representatives to pass the Electoral Offenses Commission bill to enable the country deal with cases of electoral violence.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, who made the call in Abuja, said that if the bill was passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law by the President, it will empower the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to concentrate on organizing credible polls.

He noted that responsibility of prosecuting electoral offenders will rest on the proposed National Electoral Offences Commission.

The Executive Secretary of NHRC observed that although Section 145 of the Electoral Act 2022 empowers INEC to prosecute electoral offenders in the 36 states but does not have the capacity to investigate arrest and prosecute electoral offenders.