INEC Blames Poverty, Insecurity For Voter Apathy

A National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Lai Olorode, has identified poverty and insecurity as a factor militating against voter apathy in elections.

Olorode told newsmen on Thursday in Lagos that there had not been “a thorough battle” against poverty in Nigeria since 2004.

It will be recalled that political observers have said that the turnout of voters in recent elections have been very low, especially when compared with the turnout during the April 2011 elections.

Governorship elections held in Cross River and Bayelsa were characterised by voter apathy, a situation, which a cross section of observer groups attributed to lack of enlightenment and voter education.

“The security situation and the rising level of poverty is a factor that has deprived people from coming out to vote in elections.

“If these issues are not addressed before 2015, it may be difficult to convince voters of the need for them to come out to exercise their franchise,” he said.

According to him, poverty has become more excruciating since 2004.

The commissioner urged the Local, State and Federal Governments to do more in addressing these issues and to impress the average Nigerians, saying “the ball is at the door step of those in government”.

“In the context of poor governance, generally speaking, I am not sure what we have seen since 1999 are really too good or too motivating for the ordinary person on the street to really feel a sense of enthusiasm to troop out to vote,” he said.

He said that it was only good governance that could bring out the electorate out to exercise their civic rights.

“Our role is to make sure we organise a true and fair, credible election which I think we have tried to do.

“Of course there are pit falls, there are holes here and there but we have tried our best,” he said.

He added that the commission had just concluded a study on voter apathy hoping that the trend would be reversed before 2015.

Malam Auawl Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), argued that the reason electorate no longer have interest in elections was because politicians did not allow Nigerians to elect a candidate of their choice.

“The solution to this is for the politicians and political parties to allow Nigerians to elect candidates of their choice and let the true results be reflected.

“They know that the people would be able to participate in the process but if they knew that after they cast their votes other result would be announced, it would further discourage and demoralise them from coming out,” he said.

Rafsanjani, however, said for the country to move forward, political parties and politicians must begin to respect the results of the elections or the votes of the people.

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, National Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), urged those elected to ensure that they satisfied the needs of the people.

“The voters do not think their votes will count because of rigging and they do not see clear and qualitative difference between one candidate and another or between the parties sponsoring the candidates,” he said.