11th April, 2011
Nigerians and, indeed, the entire world expect nothing less than the conduct of a free, fair, peaceful and credible elections from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The ugly experience of Saturday 2 April gave the impression that adequate measures were not taken to prevent the process from being thwarted by people who wanted a fraudulent, unreliable and rigged election.
Reports by Observers showed, for instance, that numerous Nigerians who duly registered as voters for the elections in January could not be accredited to participate in the election because their names were not found in the Electoral Register. Again, the absence of materials and INEC staff at the polling units showed that INEC was not prepared to conduct a credible and reliable election. We also observed that materials meant for one state or local government or ward were found in another state or local government or ward as well as the fact that kids who were below 14 years were allowed by INEC to vote in some parts of the country on Saturday 2 April.
Moreover, some politicians complained of the exclusion of their party’s logo in the ballot papers. I do not intend to go into other details of obnoxious practices of INEC to short change the electoral process against the repeated assurances of President Goodluck Jonathan that his administration will bequeath to Nigerians the conduct of a free, fair, peaceful and credible elections this April. Also, theses lapses occurred against the background of all the support and independence that the government (both NASS and Executive council) have given to INEC to which the INEC chair, Professor Attahiru Jega, has attested.
In subsequent polls, I expect that INEC and all other stakeholders: security agencies, politicians, elections observers and the electorate should play the game in accordance with the rules to ensure that not only free, fair and peaceful but, also, credible and acceptable elections are conducted. In this wise, no under aged kids as witnessed in some places during the botched election of Saturday, 2 April should be allowed to come near the polling units let alone vote while all those adults who duly registered according to the rules must be allowed to exercise their franchise.
Voters must be allowed to vote and stay at the voting centres as recommended by the law till the results are declared and pasted to ensure that their votes count. Lastly, all electoral offenders must be apprehended no matter how highly or lowly placed and tried after the elections. Only strict observance of, and respect for the electoral laws, will guarantee the conduct of a credible and generally acceptable election in Nigeria by both Nigerians and the world. INEC must not afford to fail Nigeria.
May the Almighty God bless Nigeria.
•Comrade Ibuchukwu Ohabuenyi Ezikeis the Executive Director, CLO.
