Towards Credible Rivers LG Polls

All looks set for the conduct of the Rivers State local government elections scheduled to take place tomorrow, April 17, 2021, in the 23 local government areas of the state. A total of 17 political parties will vie for various council positions in the Saturday polls. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had initially listed 18 political parties for the election, but the All Progressives Congress (APC) discontinued the contest.
The political parties cleared for the polls are African Action Congress, Action Democratic Party, Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, Action Alliance, People’s Democratic Party, Labour Party, Zenith Labour Party, Young Progressive Party, Allied Peoples Movement, All Progressives Grand Alliance, African Democratic Congress, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Boot Party, Peoples Redemption Party, and the Action Peoples Party.
Tomorrow’s council polls follow intense preparations by RSIEC. The elections are expected to be conducted in line with the provisions of the Rivers State electoral laws. Speaking at a meeting with stakeholders recently, the RSIEC Chairman, Justice George Omereji (rtd), hinted that the commission had complied with relevant sections of the law in all its preparations for the task. He implored political parties and politicians to ignore acts that could jeopardise the electoral process.
While we wholeheartedly endorse the move to ensure that democratic practice, norms and values always prevail at the local government level, we are, truly, elated by the level of earnestness and commitment exhibited so far by the Justice Omereji-led commission to conduct credible, free and fair elections in the 23 local government councils. Indeed, RSIEC can execute credible election if it resists pressures from different quarters.
The commission’s parley with security agencies, especially with the police, and other stakeholders is, to say the least, heart-warming and reassuring. We expect this co-operation and partnership to continue even after the election. Going by Omereji’s antecedents, we strongly believe that the commission will not fail to provide a level playing ground for political parties and politicians to test their popularity in a free, fair and tension-free contest.
The electoral body must, therefore, strive to adopt an open-door policy where complaints would be entertained on their merit during and after the election. As anticipated, we hope the commission embarked on massive voters education and training of electoral and ad hoc staff that would man the 23 local government areas. It is advised that adequate preparations should be made for the security of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials.
RSIEC is reminded that the success or otherwise of any election depends largely on the authenticity of the updated voter’s register which the commission is expected to obtain ahead of the election from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The news that as many as 17 political parties in the state will participate in the council polls is cheering. The parties are urged to support and co-operate with the commission in ensuring a smooth and credible election.
It is expedient that Governor Nyesom Wike releases all the funds appropriated by the state House of Assembly for the conduct of the local government election to the commission and ensure that he does not interfere in the workings of the RSIEC, or even influence the outcome one way or the other. Members of the commission should work harder to uphold the law without fear or favour; let or hindrance.
Incidents of missing ballot or result sheets, late arrival of materials and other logistics will only serve to discourage the electorate who already entertains a deep mistrust for the electoral process in the country. The lack of confidence in the system is largely responsible for the attitude of most Nigerians refraining from playing an active role of either voting for candidates of their choice or vying for political office. RSIEC must guard against those lapses.
Politicians, on their part, must understand that irrespective of their party affiliations, the common goal is the provision of good governance for the people. An election should never be a ‘‘do or die affair’’ and no aspirant is worth spilling blood for. Political positions are a call to service, not personal enterprises motivated by profits or bloody sports for which violent and fatal competitions are means. Experience has shown that arms provided for political thugs during elections, end up being tools for robberies and kidnappings after the election.
The idea of security agents acting the script of political actors should no longer amount to something in our polity. The nation currently faces perhaps its worst security challenges, and the police as well as other security agencies need the trust of Rivers people to enable them to carry out their duties effectively throughout the polls.
Law enforcement agents must protect both voters and election materials. The recent #EndSARS protest, along with the violence that ensued, is a manifestation of the dissatisfaction of Nigerians with police operations. These security agencies must learn to commit themselves to their constitutional role and oath in the sustenance of democracy, rather than to any government official.
We must realise that ultimate power rests with the people, and the best way to exercise this power is through the electoral process. Hence, Rivers people must own the electoral process, first by acquiring their permanent voters’ card, turn out en mass tomorrow to vote for candidates of their choice, and guarantee that their votes count. They have to elect responsible and responsive persons whose utmost interest will be the security and welfare of the people.