By Dayo Adesulu

Lagos—Professor of Sociology, Lai Olurode has called for empowerment of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to suspend and cancel the certificates of political parties, members and their agents who disrespect electoral rules of engagement.

INEC

Olurode who made this known at the University of Lagos while delivering a public lecture titled: Slaughter’s Slab as a Metaphor said: ‘’Impunity of political actors are unbelievable.’’

He said that some politicians are like a lawless band as they over rule their political parties, make nonsense of internal party democracy and engage in sundry electoral malfeasance.

He lamented that party members often display unbelievable level of timidity that make them to live with being short changed by their parties even when the electoral bureaucracy is willing to support their case with credible evidence.

According to him, some party members are made to sign letters withdrawing their candidature even before primaries elections are held.

Stressing the way out of impunity, he wished computer scientists can collaborate with  Psychology Department to re-mould and recondition the mindset of politicians and their lackeys.

‘’Intensive voter education, especially in the pre-election phase is required being the most violent period in the electoral cycle,’’ he said. This, he explained  may help to reduce intra and inter party crisis which he described was a major contributor to election violence and killings.

He maintained that setting up of an Election Offenders’ Commission was attractive, adding that its effectiveness is what counts.