 |
| INEC Chairman |
By Evelyn Okakwu
The ongoing 2015 general elections has seen various faces of
international and national analyses by stake holders putting together the
events that have contributed to the success recorded by Nigeria; as well as the many challenges
surmounted by calculated attempts to maintain peace despite scary prophesies
about the elections paving the way for the dooms day of the nation.
In the words of the Catholic Bishop John Cardinal Onayekan:
“Although the elections are still ongoing; I believe that the worse is over.
The peaceful nature of the elections, as conducted in Nigeria has proven that
the hand of God is upon this nation. Those prophets of doom who had foreseen
that the end would come for Nigeria have joined others in thanking God for his
wonderful work in this nation”.
While Nigerian prayed and hoped that the elections would
come and go, peacefully; international observers like the European Union
arrived Nigeria, as far back as the month of November 2014 to commence election
observation and provide credible information on the process of the election
As observed by the European Union’s Chief observer of the elections
Santiago Fisas: “For the first time since the transition from military rule in
1999, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been challenged by a new
unified opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which formed in
February 2013”.
This challenge indeed had its own consequence for Nigeria.
Again the EU’s Electoral Observation mission (EU EOM) notes that: “There were
increasing violent campaign incidents in all parts of the country resulting in
more than 82 persons reported killed since early January. The escalating
violence and hate speech took place despite the Abuja peace Accord and the
adoption of equivalent peace accords in all 36 states and the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT).”
“Government- controlled broadcast media failed to comply
with legal requirements on equitable coverage, clearly advantaging the
incumbent at federal or state level. Such bias remained essentially
unchallenged by the regulatory body, the National Broadcasting Commission”.
Both parties leading in the campaign attacked each other at
various points where each felt a process was aimed at influencing their
success.
While the ruling PDP vehemently opposed the introduction of
electronic card readers to authenticate the PVCs; the opposition APC received
with cold shoulders the idea of using Military presence at certain places
during elections to avert possible mayhem.
Following the heated nature of the latter debate and
aggravating comments by the Inspector General of Police, seaming to suggest
that the presence of the Military was none negotiable; various stake holders lent
a voice to the topic.
Barrister Godwin Ogboji; a legal
practitioner based in Abuja; for example said “Section 217(2) (c) of the 1999
Nigerian Constitution empowers the military to act in aid of civil power. The
military plays a complementary role in the area of disaster management, hazards
and other emergencies in variety of ways to alleviate socio-economic stress.”
He noted that the President, had
the right to engage the according to the nature of challenges to peace
experienced by the country.
In a similar manner; the Chairman;
National Human Rights Commission Professor Chidi Odinkalu stated that Nigeria
is currently in a state of war which justified the cause for such an action in
accordance with the Geneva intervention act”.
Nonetheless, the various opposition
parties continued to confront each other, even before the law courts in a bid
to prevent a furtherance of their object of contention.
Thus corroborating the EU, above
the commonwealth of nations spoke regarding the elections through the chairperson
of its observer group to Nigeria’s election Dr Bakili Muluzi saying: “The
campaign by the political parties was highly competitive and closest fought
contest since the return of Democracy in 1999.”
As indicated by the
EU EOM: “The highly competitive 2015 elections tested Nigeria’s electoral arrangements”.
“Despite INEC’s strong pronouncements on its readiness to
conduct elections as originally scheduled in February 14th;
international observers like the Common wealth of Nations, Nigeria’s arm of the
International Democratic Institute; as well as the European Union observed that
shortcomings were evident”.
 |
| Santiago Fisas |
“These included extensive under collection of permanent
voter cards (PVCs) incomplete distribution of card readers, no publication at
the final Lists of Poling Units (PUS) apparently incomplete recruitment of
temporary staff, late approval and printing of training manuals, inadequate
training of polling staff and observer accreditation not been distributed.
Following the postponement, however, INEC preparations improved”.
Also as observed by the National Democratic Institute, (NDI):
“The low turn up of women candidates in Nigerian elections constitute a weak
link in the country’s Democratization efforts.” One female candidate ran for
president sponsored by KOWA party”.
The EU observed that positively, INEC attempted to improve
the integrity of voter registration and accreditation by introducing Biometric
measures. Approximately 82 per cent of PVCs collected. Although as observed by
the EU; in eleven states, over 92 percent of collection of PVCs were recorded.
This according to the world body is largely “Implausible” as the number of
deceased was not removed from the list since 2010.
Other shortcoming included the fact that INEC has overly
restricted powers under the law; rendering it week in challenging inappropriate
actions of political contenders.
A notable weakness on
the part of the Nation’s political parties is the inability of candidates to
run independently making the Nigerian system of primaries overly exclusive and
concentrating unchecked powers in the parties. This in effect reduces the choices
available to voters on Election Day.
“Leading parties establish excessive none refundable fees of
between N550, 000 to N27, million for interested aspirants leaving the opportunity
to stand beyond the reach of the vast majority of citizens.”
EU EOM observers however saw no evidence of systematic
manipulations, although generally the process may be characterized as
disordered and prolonged.
This is despite the fact that Nigerian journalist at the
polling stations, and other local observers insisted that underage voters
participated in parts of North Eastern Nigeria
“Reforming the law would strengthen the electoral process
and the full enjoyment of democratic rights. These include inadequate legal provisions
for the right to stand, campaign finance, transparency, and opportunity for
remedy.”
The EU Chief Observer commended INEC’s efforts to work
impartially, despite difficult circumstances, strong tensions and criticisms.
The EU EOM noted positively INEC’s attempts to improve the integrity of voter
registration and identification by introducing biometric measures.
A number of recommendations were made on a short term bases
as lead-up to the April 11 elections, to stake holders.
These include that:
Government should maintain the same level of heightened security
at the forth coming April 11 elections to prevent any disruptions of the
current electoral circle.
That INEC should review and address the causes of wide
spread delays in the opening of polling units observed in the March 28
elections; including better planning for transportation of poll workers and sufficient
distribution of polling materials.
Ensure sufficient distribution of basic resources to
facilitate a smooth and sufficient process; such as food and water chairs,
lightening for poling staff, among others.
Reinforce the importance of publicly posting results at the
individual polling units.
Ensure that poll workers conduct the voting in a way that
guarantees voter privacy, while casting their ballots.
 |
| Dr Muluzi |
More effectively distribute guidelines in contingency
planning in the event of electronic and card reader failure. Distinguish
between overall failure of the card readers and failure of the machines to read
and authenticate voter fingerprints.
Address any instances
of election malfeasance including tampering with the election results.
Address issues of severe overcrowding observed in some
polling units; notably in parts of Kano and Nasarawa states.
Provide more voter information aimed at displaced
populations in the North East to increase voter turnout among IDPs.
Make every effort to ensure the collection of the remaining
voter cards.
To the political parties; the observers urge that they
should openly call on their supporters to maintain a peaceful decorum, while
results are announced
Seek redress through constituted means, if need be.
Civil societies have also been called to continue the effort
towards peaceful electioneering period through the National Peace Committee,
civil society organizations and religious groups.
The Nigerian Police Force is also advised to build and
institutional best practices observed during the March 28 elections.
In the medium to long term bases;
Government and the National assembly is urged to institute electoral
reforms early in the next legislature to focus on issues such as the establishment
of an electoral offences Commission empowered to speedily and impartially
adjudicate electoral disputes as well as measures to ensure transparency and
accountability in campaign financing.
Strengthen electoral process and Democratic institutions by
implementing constitutional provisions such as those that require updating and delimitation
of constituency boundaries every ten years, following the conduct of a national
census.
Extend the time allotted between t5he first and second
rounds of voting beyond seven days in the event of a Presidential run-off.
Actively consider procedures to have polling units transmit
final results directly ti INEC headquarters to simplify the collation process.
INEC is encouraged to ensure; on the long term basis that it:
Conducts of through post action review of the conduct of the
March 28 polls and adopt appropriate recommendations on improvements to be made
to the process.
Embrace principles of open data with respect to the
publication of easily accessible and complete data on election results down to
the polling unit level.
Adopt, measure to allow civil servants and members of
security agencies deployed for election administration purposes to vote on Election
Day.
Implement continues capacity building and improved provision
of training to polling officials to ensure sound knowledge of procedures and election
management process.
Political parties, on a long term bases are advised to
ensure a strengthene3d mechanism for internal Democracy and policy development
with citizen input.
Increase the transparency and credibility of candidate
nomination processes.
Embrace voluntary mechanism for affirmative action that
would increase the voice and representation of women in party leadership.
Civil societies also are enjoined to intensify advocacy for
electoral reforms.
Build on the achievements of the 2015 election to strengthen
citizen involvement in the monitoring of political processes.
The media is also urged to foster and implement best
practices for balanced and unbiased analyses in reporting of facts to ensure equal
access to public media and avoid inflammatory reporting; while the police
should embark on a continues training of security of operatives regarding election
related security
No comments:
Post a Comment