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