With the level of preparedness displayed by Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) at just concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra
State, one can unequivocally assert that the litmus test of what that will be
expected in 2015 general election has just been unveiled.
Instead of improving positively on previous achievement, INEC
clearly showed us that they are incompetent and lack the capability to conduct
a free and fair election. This leaves us to wonder and imagine what that will
become of 2015 general election.
Debate on how to improve the capability of INEC to conduct free and
fair election is ongoing. Civil society organizations, National Assemble and
INEC has been brain storming on how to strengthen INEC and in the light of the
foregoing, I will briefly highlight critical factors that I think that need to
be addressed in order for INEC to be able to give us free and fair election.
·
Electronic voting system- If we are
sincere about supporting INEC to conduct a free and fair election, National
Assemble must approve electronic voting system bill for INEC. Manual system of
voting gives plenty of rooms for rigging. Those parts of the country that do
not have internet facility can continue with manual system of voting while
those that have which are on the majority use electronic system of voting. If
we say we must wait for all parts of the country to have internet facility
before we use electronic voting system, that means we have to wait till another
generation before we do things right. The issue is that the people that will
approve or make this law are the people that benefit from manual system of
voting.
·
Prosecution of corrupt officers- It is
time INEC start to prosecute corrupt INEC officers to serve as deterrance for
intending ones. Like what we experienced in Anambra, if those that are
responsible for tempering with the INEC list of eligible voter that made some
peoples name to disappear from the former distributed list are brought to book,
it will sever as lesson for others. They should explain what actually happened
and while those that saw their names on the former list could not see their
names on the latter list. Some people must be responsible for that and they have
to be punished.
·
Publishing of names of eligible voters- In
order to curb this recurring problem of missing names of eligible voters, is
time INEC consider publishing names of eligible voters on their website for
every Nigerian to login and check their names.
·
Late arrival of materials- One problem
that has been a major cog on the wheel of INEC progress is their inability to
address late arrival of electoral materials to polling booths. This is one of
the major causes while most people don’t vote because when people come to vote,
they can wait for almost the whole day under the sun therefore some may be tire
and go home before voting materials arrive to the polling booth in the evening.
This late arrival of materials also creates room for rigging the election by
unscrupulous politicians.
When all these are addressed, we will begin to experience free and
fair election and consequently development in the country; but before then,
what do you think?
