Groups proffer solutions to electoral malpractices

By Tayo Ligali - 25.05.2008

FOR as long as the composition of the electoral bodies is the exclusive preserve of the executive arm of the government, elections will continue to be marred with irregularities, violence and malpractices in Nigeria.

This submission was made by political parties, civil societies, non-governmental organisations and other well meaning Nigerians at the public hearing of the Electoral Review Committee, held at the Cultural Centre, Mokola, Ibadan.

The Political Party/Civil Society Party Partnership (CSO/PP), in its memorandum, presented at the hearing noted that: “The first major worry and a fundamental issue has to do with the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It is strongly posited that the independence of INEC is highly called to questioning since at present, the constitution prescribes and gives power of appointment and composition of the electoral body to the president and by extension the dominant political party. By so doing, the president is responsible for the appointment of the chairperson and members of the INEC including all Resident Electoral Commissioners.

“It is considered opinion that Section 154(1) and (3) of the 1999 constitution threatens and undermines the independence of the INEC.”

The group therefore recommended that Section 154 of the 1999 constitution be amended. “The members of the Electoral Management Body should be appointed by the president, subject to confirmation of the Senate, based on recommendation of Electoral Stakeholders Council comprising: political parties, civil societies, organised labour and major professional bodies; in order to guarantee the independence of INEC.”

It also recommended that the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners for the various states should be subjected to competitive recruitment process to be supervised by the INEC board. Just as it advocated for the funding of INEC to be made directly from the consolidated revenue fund of the federation.

Speaking on the conduct of election, the CSO/PP posited that “the timing of all elections should not be earlier than six months or later than five months from the expiration of the incumbent’s tenure so as to ensure the conclusion of all petitions and appeals prior to swearing in.

It also called for the expedient prosecution and punishment for election related crimes. The African Agency for an Enhanced Socio-Ethics and Traditional Order (ASETO), while presenting a paper titled “For A Better Electoral System in Nigeria” at the public hearing, noted that credibility is a key word in any electoral system.

“Where this is missing, the result of such election would be opened to a lot of questions with the danger of engendering social problems as Kenyan and Zimbabwean recent experience demonstrate.

“For this reason, every effort must be made to ensure that any election to be conducted in Nigerian stands the chance of being credible.”

ASETO therefore called for the amendment of the electoral Act or outright passing of another one. Speaking on the ballot system, ASETO stated that “we are aware that electronic voting is a universal phenomenon and that electronic voting is the norm.

“We are, however, convinced that Nigeria’s political climate is presently peculiar and requires something different from the norm especially given our recent experiences.

“In this wise, we like to suggest that the open Ballot System otherwise known as option A4 be institutionalised, by this arrangement all candidates for elective positions naturally emerged from their wards.

“Apart from reducing chances of rigging, it also has the advantage of eliminating the ‘imposition’ and godfatherism syndrome that are the hallmarks of our recent electioneering.”