Renowned human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Mike Ozekhome, has called for stringent penalties against those involved in corrupt political activities, similar to the treatment of financial crimes.
Ozekhome made this call while presenting a paper at the Midwest Achievers Awards in Benin City, Edo State. His presentation, titled “Has Democracy Led to Good Governance in Nigeria?”, emphasised that severe punishments could serve as a deterrent to election rigging in the country.
He argued that post-election adjudication should go beyond determining winners to include penalties such as imprisonment and fines for politicians and their agents who violate electoral laws.
He said, “Too often, political corruption is overlooked largely because the political elites, who are often guilty of these practices, hold significant power. For instance, Nigeria’s election history is rife with stories of electoral manipulation and voter exploitation by the political class.”
Ozekhome stressed that free and fair elections are the cornerstone of legitimacy, transparency, and accountability, which must be safeguarded to ensure that leaders remain answerable to the people.
Receiving the “Defender of Democracy” award at the event, he condemned political corruption, stating that it undermines democratic principles and should be tackled with the same intensity as financial crimes.
“Political corruption should be aggressively addressed with the same seriousness and penalties as other forms of corruption, such as financial crimes,” he said.
Earlier, Dr. Owen Omo-Ojo, Director of Organisation, Midwest Achievers Awards, highlighted the purpose of the event, stating, “The event is geared to recognise achievers and spotlight super achievers who have dared to dream, navigate turbulent times, and upheld the highest ethical standards while inspiring hope in their communities and beyond.”
