Dickson Calls for Electoral Overhaul, Says INEC Must Bear Burden of Proof in Election Disputes

Former Bayelsa State Governor and member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Seriake Dickson, has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s electoral laws to enhance transparency, fairness, and accountability in the nation’s democratic process.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, the lawmaker emphasized that genuine electoral reform is essential to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s elections. He argued that the existing legal framework places an unfair burden on candidates and political parties to prove allegations of malpractice — a responsibility that, in his view, should rest squarely on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The burden of proof in electoral matters must shift to INEC. That is where it rightly and properly belongs. We should not subject it to the normal evidential rule that says, ‘he who alleges must prove,’” Dickson said.

According to the former governor, elections should be moments of national reflection and unity, not periods of violence, manipulation, or disenfranchisement. “Elections should be moments where we rediscover ourselves as a nation and celebrate what is best about us, not moments where people kill, maim, or write non-existent figures to win without the people’s mandate,” he added.

Dickson, who serves on the Senate Committee responsible for reviewing the Electoral Act, disclosed that lawmakers are already discussing key proposals aimed at strengthening institutional accountability and ensuring that INEC can be held responsible for lapses in the electoral process.

He stressed that these reforms are not just about legal technicalities but about rebuilding the moral and institutional foundation of Nigeria’s democracy. “If INEC is the custodian of electoral materials and data, it must also bear the responsibility of defending the integrity of the process when disputes arise,” he said.

The senator’s comments add to growing calls for electoral reform across the country, as stakeholders push for measures that will ensure free, fair, and credible elections ahead of future polls.