Politics
Count Down To April Polls: Mixed Reactions Greet Voting System
Five days to the commencement of voting, mixed reactions have continued to greet the decision last week by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt the Modified Open Ballot Voting System (MOBVS) for the April 2011 general elections.
Reacting to the development, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and the Progressive Action Congress (PAC) commended INEC for introducing the MOBVS arguing that the pattern would ensure security, accountability and stem electoral malpractices during the elections. In separate interviews, the Aba chapter chairman of CLO, Mr. Ifeanyi Onwuneme and National chairman of PAC, Chief Charles Nwodo said apart from checking irregularities, the system would guarantee the right and independence of voters to secretly make their choice of candidates.
Chief Nwodo, however said that the method could only be successful if INEC officials and other bodies entrusted with conducting the elections did it with integrity and sincerity, noting that the system used in the June 12 , 1993 elections was widely acclaimed the freest election and that the adoption of the modified version would curb election rigging.
The NOA Director in Kaduna, Alhaji Galadima Soba, on Sunday called on Nigerians to ensure a hitch free general elections.
Briefing newsmen in Kaduna, Soba said politics was not a do-or-die affair and that Nigeria should not capitalise on it to express bitterness against one another.
“Political difference is ideal because it brings out the best in us.”
Soba said that political parties were essentially platforms, which people use to achieve political ambitions and “not a licence for violence”.
He called on parents to ensure that their children were not used by “unscrupulous politicians”.
The director said there were institutional mechanism for complaints and redress that politicians were encouraged to explore instead of inciting violence in the society.
Soba said that NOA had embarked on enlightenment campaign to educate Nigerians against violent that could derail the young democracy.
He said the Agency had printed handbills, posters, almanac and flyers containing symbols of the 63 registered political parties to enlighten people on the parties.
He said the materials would enable people to know the party to vote for avoid unnecessary invalidation of ballot papers.
Soba said that the modified open ballot system introduced by INEC would ensure a free and fair election in the country.
He, however, expressed delight at the change of pattern of political campaigns and rallies in some parts of the country, as many candidates had adopted the use of the media.
“Nowadays, many candidates prefer to disseminate their manifestoes through the radio, television and newspapers, and this is a positive development,” he said.
He added that the use of the media had helped immensely in stemming the violence often witnessed during campaigns.
In his view, the chairman of the Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Alhaji Sama’ila Maizare expressed skepticism about the use of the system, describing it as “scary”.
Maizare said that recent developments in the electoral process such as replacement of candidates and the non-registration of some eligible Nigerians due to time constraint, could create hitches for the exercise.
He argued that the system could discourage people from voting because Nigerians often want to keep secret candidates of their choice and that is a negation of democracy.
Meanwhile, INEC has promised to use the Modified Open Ballot System (MOBVS) and streamline security agencies and change any REC found wanting during the elections.
Amieyeofori Ibim
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
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