The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed plans to deploy covert and investigative operatives across the country in preparation for the December 2024 elections.
These operatives will be active before, during, and after the elections to monitor, suppress, and address any election malpractices, ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
In its Half Yearly Report released on July 11, 2024, the OSP issued a stern warning to individuals involved in vote counting at polling stations, collation centres, and during the transmission of results.
The report emphasized the importance of acting with integrity, noting that deliberately falsifying vote counts or making false returns is a serious offense.
The OSP’s mission is rooted in its anti-corruption mandates, aiming to maintain the sanctity of the elections by preventing, controlling, and repressing corruption, fraud, and unfair practices.
This authority is derived from section 79 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), and sections 256 and 258 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The report clearly stated that no individual is allowed to influence the election outcome through corrupt means.
It highlighted that acts of intimidation and impersonation are illegal, cautioning against influencing voter behavior through threats of harm or by impersonating voters or electoral officers.
The public was reminded that anyone found guilty of such acts would face a seven-year voting ban and be barred from holding public office or being eligible for election as President or a Member of Parliament.
