INEC: Nigeria Has Election Challenges

Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola today noted that there are still many formidable challenges to be addressed and obstacles to be scaled on Nigeria’s path to free, fair, peaceful and credible elections.

Dr Ogunmola said this in Ibadan at the Oyo NUJ monthly lecture titled ”INEC and the challenges of Credible elections; The 2011 experience. The lecture was held at the Oyo NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku.

The REC said, ”Conducting free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in a country such as Nigeria, given its size, population, terrain and ethno-religious diversity is a very difficult and challenging assignment even under normal circumstances…There are still many formidable challenges to be addressed and obstacles to be scaled on Nigeria’s path to free, fair, peaceful and credible elections. The electoral process has been allowed to be so bad for so long that it would require determined and sustained reform effort to finally get out of the woods”.

According to him, the circumstances under which the 2011 voters registration and elections were conducted created an impression that credible election in the country is an impossible task.

He was quick to add that INEC was motivated and inspired by the tremendous support given it by stakeholders from within and outside the country resulting in the breaking of the long history of flawed elections in Nigeria thereby making most Nigerian and especially domestic and foreign observers to adjudge the elections as relatively free, fair and credible.

” The achievements are an encouraging sign, indicative of a breaking of the jinx from our long history of terribly flawed elections, even though, there are certainly many imperfections with the 2011 elections”, Dr Ogunmola added.

The REC however emphasized that INEC would continue to be non partisan, impartial as well as continuing to provide a level playing field for all political parties and equally providing a broadly inclusive process, which would fairly accommodate disadvantaged and excluded groups.

Dr. Ogunmola said that INEC is set to embark on aggressive mobilization and sensitization of Nigerians ahead of the next general elections in the country adding, “We know that ultimately success has to be predicated on the total mobilization and participation of all Nigerians as defined by law and accepted moral principles. We will now focus a lot of attention on these. We ask for continuous understanding, support and partnership in the task ahead”.

He stated that the mobilisation would include registration of voters who have come of age and those shut out by error in the last 2011 elections saying elections are an important foundation of democracy stressing that no eligible voter must be denied the right to freely choose the leadership.He then urged Nigerians to join hands with the commission in ensuring perfect elections in Nigeria in the years ahead, pointing out, “Whoever you are, whatever you do, wherever you are as a stakeholder who desires progress and development for Nigeria on the basis of good democratic governance, with competent and credible leaders, you must chip in and play a positive role to bring about the much desired free, fair, credible and rear perfect elections in future”

By Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan