For A Credible Electoral Process

By his gesticulations and words in the past few weeks, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan appears committed to delivering credible polls to the nation in 2011. But Dr. Jonathan will have to back his intention with sufficient political will to convince Nigerians that are yet to recover from the trauma of the electoral fraud that passed for election in 2007. To match action with words, the Acting President sent unedited copies of the report of the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee to the National Assembly for debate and review of the 2006 electoral law and the 1999 constitution.

Sometimes last year, the federal government under President Yar’Adua had, against public expectations, rejected two recommendations considered central to credible election; appointment of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by the National Judicial Council to guarantee the commission and the conclusion of litigations arising from election before winners are sworn-in. These two recommendations and others that require the amendment of the constitution and the electoral law were sent to the National Assembly for consideration.

Recently, the Acting President promised Nigerians changes that would deliver credible election in 2011. Here are his words: “The promise I made to you today, is that we will all do all within our power to promote open, fair and transparent election. This government will insist on electoral justice and there is no going back on that.” This promise is far-reaching and offers hope to Nigerians for a change in our electoral system.

In line with Dr. Jonathan’s resolve and in anticipation of the adoption of the Uwais’ report in respect of the commencement of election, INEC released two time tables for the conduct of 2011 polls. This in my view is quite unnecessary. Considerations should have only be given to the January date, which is in anticipation of possible approval of the Uwais committee recommendation that election be conducted six months to the inauguration of winners to give room for the conclusion of election litigations. The April date on the time table is unacceptable as it amounts to a respect of past mistakes.

There is no doubt that the retention of the provisions of the 1999 constitution and 2006 Electoral Act that produced the massively flawed 2007 election cannot midwife the desired credible election. Therefore, as the National Assembly does the amendment of the constitution (even though the senate has concluded it amendment process), it is imperative for the Acting President to use his influence and lobby the legislators to adopt the sound recommendations of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.

The Independence  of INEC is central to free and fair election. Apart from the appointment of INEC Chairman  by an independent body, funding of the electoral body must come from the first line charge of the Consolidated Revenue Fund while the tenure of the chairman and the commissioners has to be insulated from executive interference.

It is no longer a secret that election rigging starts from voter registration, turns through other segments of the electoral process and ends at announcement of results. Foolproof measures should be put in place in these areas to guarantee credible elections. The recent election conducted in Ekiti, Anambra and elsewhere have shown that the nation’s voters’ register is not credible. INEC has to discard the old register and embark on a credible registration. Besides, the register has to be regularly updated.

The modified  open secret ballot should be adopted for elections while announcement of result should be done at the polling booths and in the full glare of the voters and the press to check incidence of ballot box staffing, snatching and falsification of results. The media and voters should be granted unrestricted access to the monitoring of the voting process to guarantee transparency.

The tenure of Prof. Maurice Iwu, the INEC chairman, will expire in June. The agitation to either extend his tenure or not notwithstanding, there is need to place him on pre-retirement leave and allow fresh hands to immediately kick-start preparations for the conduct of the 2011 election. It is indeed shameful that in spite of Iwu’s shortcomings, some Nigerians would clamour for his retention by staging pro Iwu protests. This nation must not reward incompetence by extending the tenure of the current INEC board chairman. Those who failed the nation in 2007 must not be allowed to continue in office.

Our democracy has become very weak because voters were not allowed in previous election in the country. We cannot afford to travel the same old road again.

Arnold Alalibo