Nigeria: Need for credible elections in 2015

It has become imperative for the Independent National Electoral Commission to shift the commencement of the 2015 general elections from February 14, 2015 to a further date following the various lapses and glaring signs of unpreparedness by the commission as glaringly evident in the

processes for the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards. In a nutshell, there were complaints in many of the states where the exercises held.
The need for the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led INEC to deliver credible elections next year cannot be overemphasised and without mincing words, the first step in achieving this is by coming up with an acceptable transparent voter register devoid of the disenfranchisement of any qualified voter regardless of status, religion or ethnic

It is rather unfortunate that unnecessary and flimsy excuses that usually give credence to shoddy preparation in the handling of elections in our country culminating in loss of people’s confidence in polls outcome has continued to pose a problem. It is either the late arrival of election materials from the commission or delay in the reporting of its officials at their duty posts resulting in dampening of the enthusiasm of the electorate in exercising their civic duties.

Since the return of the country to a full-blown democracy in 1999, elections had been held in 2003, 2007 and 2011. The fairest of these past elections was the one held in 2011. The elections conducted in 1999, 2003 and 2007 could best be described as ‘figure distribution exercise’ by the various electoral bodies that handled them. The INEC conducted the 2011 elections for the first time and the results could be adjudged to be free and fair to a certain extent. But so far, there is need for more work to be done by the commission. It must improve on the conduct of the 2011 elections especially when one considers the fact that the electoral body had four years to prepare for the conduct of the 2015 elections.

There are no tenable reasons why it cannot meet the expectations of the people.

There is no doubt that the first step towards any free and fair election is by leaving no stone unturned towards the provision of a credible voter register that will capture all eligible voters and not one designed to deny them in whatever guise. This is the only way through which the confidence of the people, the local and international observers, the international community and other stakeholders will be restored in the commission.

The purported reduction of about 1.4 million registered voters from the 6,247,845 that participated during the 2011 elections is not too healthy.

It is not too late for the commission to live up to the expectations of the people by ensuring transparency in 2011. Firstly, all eligible voters already duly registered and those just attaining the mandatory voting age of 18 years should not be denied voting rights. Secondly, all voters during the last general elections, who for one reason or the other, have relocated from the states where they registered and voted during the 2011 elections should have their voter cards duly issued to enable them cast their vote where they are now residing.

Also, all registered voters who have misplaced their voter cards after the 2011 elections should be allowed to vote during the 2015 elections upon the presentation of their passport photographs which tally with the one already on the INEC register used for the conduct of the last polls.

Now is the time for INEC to block all the loopholes that may expose the conduct of the next elections to doubt, condemnation and unacceptable results that may heat the polity and create further tension in the country. Standard and credible elections have been continually held in more populated countries such as India, China, U.S, Russia among others. It is high time the electoral body in Nigeria took a cue from these countries. In addition, there is need for INEC to provide adequate time of not less than a week for the distribution of the PVC and the issuance of voting cards for the newly eligible voters. Anything short of this will label INEC as an electoral body that has something to hide during the 2015 general elections. There is also the need for the commission to be fully aware that election rigging starts with undue manipulation of the voter register and not only on the day of election.   God will not abandon Nigeria.

--Punch News