INTRODUCTION:
Good
governance based on accountability and transparency has eluded Nigeria since
independence due to the absence or lack of a truly representative system of
government. This is so because a true government which is a result of a true
election that is credible, free and fair has been a mirage in Nigeria. Most of
our efforts at conducting a credible election have been a failure due to so
many reasons.
Beginning
from the first experiment at representative government for Nigeria in 1923 to
the present day as can be seen in what transpired in Anambra State on November
17th 2013, elections in Nigeria have been marred by one irregularity
or the other. There have been discrepancies in all, except the 1993 elections,
no one has been adjudged by local and international observers as free and fair.
This much was even acknowledged by the former president of Nigeria Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua who admitted before the secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki
Moon, that the process through which he became president was faulty.
The
intent of this discourse therefore, is to identify those factors that are
responsible for our failure to conduct free, fair and credible elections in
Nigeria and proffer solutions towards attaining a credible election based on
international standards.
1. Independence
Towards a credible poll, the Independent National
Electoral Commission should not be independent just in name and on paper only.
Presently as it stands, the President of the Federal republic appoints the
chairman of the commission. It is a known fact that he, who pays the piper,
dictates the tune. To avoid meddlesomeness therefore and guarantee absolute
independence to the commission, there should be a body with the powers to
appoint the chairman and directors of INEC and remove that burden from the
executives. We can be assured after this that the commission will discharge
their duties without fear or favour.
2. Cap on Campaign Cost and Finance
The need to put a cap on the cost of running
campaigns is long overdue. It is a known fact that Nigerian elections are
capital intensive. Politicians spend lots in their campaigns because of too
much cash at their disposal. This affects the conduct of elections as voters
are wooed with monetary gifts, thugs are employed, security men are compromised
and they in turn threaten, cajole and intimidate voters, electoral officers are
bribed. All these happen because they have too much cash to throw around. In a
situation where there is a cap on campaign financing, the politicians may not
have much after they must have paid for jingles and other costs. Cap on
campaign finance works in the United States and can work in Nigeria as well.
This will help in reducing malpractices and electoral fraud.
3. Corruption
Most of our problems as a nation are traceable to
corruption. Until this hydra headed problem is removed from our body politic,
free fair and credible elections in Nigeria may remain a mirage. How possibly
can we have an election that is free and fair when the people charged with the
conduct of the election take bribes and compromise their jobs? This happened
recently in Idemili North in Anambra State on November 17th, when
the INEC official who is supposed to deliver electoral materials to the area
was compromised and did not bring the materials until late in the afternoon
after elections have taken place in other areas of the state. To this end
therefore, I advocate that there should be established, an electoral offenses
tribunal to try electoral offenses with stiff penalties for defaulters who are
taking the collective will of the people into play.
4. Poverty
The Nigerian political elite have failed the people
woefully in this regard. What with the attendant income that has accrued to the
nation through oil since independence.
And since, people are hungry and poor; they can
always be wooed with tokens during elections. A hungry man can always be
influenced to vote against his conscience with money. A recent case of what
poverty can do to a people is the recent report by Aljazeera international that
many Greeks who are being affected by economic crisis now inject themselves
with HIV so as to qualify for the government grant of $950 they give to people
who are HIV positive. There is also a recent report by the BBC world news that
sex workers in Kenya opt to use anti HIV drugs instead of condoms so as to
collect higher pays. Such is what poverty can do. Now, come closer home, how
wouldn’t a poor man in Nigeria collect money from a politician to vote against
his will? A credible election in Nigeria is a long term goal and is not
unachievable. Combating poverty will help also in getting there.
5. Apathy and Illiteracy
There is a general apathy amongst Nigerians these in
the partaking in the electoral process. This is due to the fact that many
elections in the past have been hijacked by the politicians and have not
reflected the true intentions of the voters. Many more therefore do not see the
point in participating in elections in which their votes will not count. The
government therefore should embark on a massive education and reorientation of
the electorates. They should create an opportunity for an interactive session
in mass media involving the citizenry and the entire populace regarding
elections and electoral processes. This should not only be done during
elections but should be a continuous activity both during elections and non
election times. The National Orientation Agency should be involved in this and
in educating Nigerians on the need to be a part of the system. Politics should
not be left to politicians alone as their actions affect even non politicians
and politicians alike.
6. Greed and Avaricious Quest for Power
Politics in Nigeria has now become a do or die
affair. Nigerian politicians are ready to do anything; commit any crime, pay
whatever price, kill any opposition in order maintain hold on power.
This continues to happen because offenders in the
past have always found a way of escaping punishment. The establishment of an
electoral crimes tribunal as has been suggested before will help in dealing
with this issue. Judges of impeccable character should be appointed to make
sure that offenders are fished and brought to book to serve as a deterrent to
others.
7.Process and Procedures of
Election
Every conceivable mode of conducting elections in
Nigeria has been tried even with the latest technology. Biometrics data
compilation as well has been tried. Money has been budgeted to get things done
right. The Electoral Act has also covered a wide range of issues to get things
done right as well. So the answer does not lie in the process nor the procedure
but in our sincerity in getting things done right. The answer lies in the above
issues enumerated.
CONCLUSION:
To
counter issues raised in numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 above, there should be a proper
rebranding, reformation and reorganization of the police force to equip and
enable them to do their jobs no matter whose ox is gored,
without fear or favour, let or hindrance and to discharge their duties to
friends and foes alike in the manner prescribed by the law.
Our
educational institutions should also be strengthened and supported so that our
people will know their rights, duties and obligations. Educated populace who
are gainfully employed will not involve in thuggery and electoral malpractices.
Only these will lead to a true reformation of the people.
Ability
to organize a credible, free and fair election in Nigeria may not be achievable
in a day, a month, a year or a decade. But it can be achieved. It is a process
that needs our collective effort. We can do it if we want. Like Cassius told
Brutus in JULIUS CEASER “the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves,
for we are underlings”. It is for us to do it. And YES WE CAN.
Finally,
to counter issue number 1, the commission should be manned by retired civil
servants of unquestionable character and civil society organizations. Training
of officials both permanent and ad hoc should be well planned. The era of quick
fix arrangements should be discarded as regards to training. It is not only
when elections are at hand that the trainings should be organized. It is should
be a process.
We
should not be advocating for more laws in Nigeria. There are relevant and
competent laws already to deal with every conceivable number of issues in the
country. The Electoral Act of 2010 as amended has covered every part of the
problem. We have the laws in place. What we do not have seems to be lacking in
Nigeria is the sincerity of purpose. We will get there only if we want and when
we want.
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