Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) on Wednesday decried the ‘alarming’ level of electoral offences committed during the last general elections.
He added that with the level of electoral malpractices trailing elections in the country that “one can be tempted to say that military government is better than democratic government”.
Adeyemi stated this in reaction to a debate on the second reading of a bill seeking to establish an electoral offences commission in the country.
Adeyemi said: “I want to say without any fear of contradiction that there can not be democracy in any nation where we do not have free and fair election.
“There will be misrepresentation, bad governance, misappropriation of funds and all the shortcomings that we have witnessed over the years of the democratic rule.
“As a result, people of questionable character find their way into elective positions.
“I think the time has come for us not just to look at the possibility of having a tribunal, I think there is a need for special courts for electoral offences.
“One can be tempted to say that military government is better than democratic government.”
However, the Senate President interrupted Adeyemi’s contribution and reminded him that the country operating a democratic government.
“I am not sure if this is a popular position in this chamber,” Lawan said.
