…Says security still an issue in 2023 elections
…Don’t tamper with your timetable, it’s recipe for disaster – Jega
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INE), raised alarm yesterday about how politicians have monetised the country’s electoral process, implying that the country is on the verge of plutocracy.
Despite this, Yakubu stated that security will remain a big problem in the upcoming general elections.
At the same time, Prof. Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the commission who shared Yakubu’s views, advised INEC against changing the election schedule, stating that doing so would be a formula for electoral disaster.
The two spoke at a one-day stakeholders colloquium organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa in Abuja on “Emerging Issues That Will Shape the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria” (OSIWA).
The behavior of politicians using money to influence delegates to their sides during primaries is a source of concern for the commission, according to Yakubu.
The rising instability across the country, as well as the issue of fake news, exacerbated this anxiety, according to Yakubu.
He did, however, reassure the public that INEC would collaborate with anti-corruption authorities to reverse the trend.
“Nigeria is on the verge of becoming a plutocracy. However, there are two aspects to it: when you have willing collectors, controlling the situation becomes much more difficult.
We’ve seen occasions where people have turned down money and voted for their preferred candidate, such as in Anambra, and we’ve also seen scenarios where voters go after vote buys on election day.
“However, right now, it’s more than just a question of buying votes at polling stations.
What political parties do has a significant impact on INEC’s work.
Secondary elections are held by INEC, although they are contested by candidates, and the manner in which money is exchanged is a cause of concern.
“On this matter, however, we have reinforced our collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).”
The commission has finalized the Regulations and Guidelines for the 2023 general election, according to Yakubu, who also stated that around 430 million ballot papers will be printed for the 2023 elections.
Jega, for one, claimed that while INEC has made gradual beneficial adjustments over the years, the political elite has worked hard to undermine election integrity.
While praising INEC for refusing to cave in to political pressure to adjust the election schedule, Jega stated that the schedule was determined after careful consideration and in light of the new electoral law.
“Because once you adjust one timeline, it affects practically all the others,” he said, altering the timetable was a formula for political disaster.
To be honest, I believe the political parties have had ample opportunity to operate within INEC’s timetables.
They had until February to complete all of the necessary preparations for the primaries, but because of their impunity attitude, they always expected that they could compel INEC to capitulate at the last minute, and that is exactly what they did.
And, to be honest, INEC should never give in to such pressure.
“Changing the schedule for primaries will have an impact on everything.” So you have to keep tweaking, adjusting, and you lose trust, and you lose confidence, and it may even effect the election’s real outcome. As a result, I believe that changing it would be a disaster.
“However, if INEC refuses to adjust the timetables due to political pressure, we do not expect INEC to change the timelines in its own favor.” This means that both the Electoral Commission and politicians, as well as all stakeholders, must work together within this timeframe. And I believe that as a result, we will be able to hold the credible elections that we desire in this country.”
Former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, felt that the use of money in Nigerian politics was a major source of concern, and that, rather than improving, Nigeria appeared to be regressing in this area.
According to him, the country was headed in the wrong direction because of the way money was being squandered by politicians.
Plutocracy is essentially a government run by the wealthy for the wealthy.
“Imagine, the National Assembly changed the Electoral Act to increase the bar of how much a candidate can spend for election finance,” he remarked, chastising the National Assembly for raising the campaign funding threshold for political parties. That is something to which we should have all objected. Regrettably, we were so preoccupied with opposing electronic transmission and other issues that we lost sight of the bigger picture.”
Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Senior Fellow at CDD, also condemned what he called the “extensive expansion of banditry inside the political class,” saying that elections in the country would always be hard if a major part of the political class were crooks and criminals. “This is what we’re talking about.”
“What we are seeing in our elections is a widespread expansion of banditry inside the political elite.
If we do not elect people of integrity to the political class, we will continue to have electoral crises.
Elections are simple. It’s a purely technical act. I’ve seen elections in numerous nations that are less developed than Nigeria, but they don’t have the same problems.
“When delegates receive money, they are sabotaging the election’s integrity.” There are so many primaries, and we’re all watching the drama unfold with shock and manipulation. And how those involved have had the chance to steal government monies. As a result, the voting process is controlled by a culture of banditry and lawlessness.”
Yabagi Yusuf Sani, National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), defended the cost of nomination fees collected by parties, claiming that the money was needed to print posters, pay personnel, and organize campaigns.
It was unjust, he said, to blame the rot in the system solely on politicians.
Idayat Hassan, director of the CDD, said Nigeria was confronted with hard realities, with different parts of the country immersed in various forms of conflict.
“When delegates receive money, they are sabotaging the election’s integrity.” There are so many primaries, and we’re all watching the drama unfold with shock and manipulation. And how those involved have had the chance to steal government monies. As a result, the voting process is controlled by a culture of banditry and lawlessness.”
Yabagi Yusuf Sani, National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), defended the cost of nomination fees collected by parties, claiming that the money was needed to print posters, pay personnel, and organize campaigns.
All of the dangers, according to Hassan, have ramifications for the conduct of elections, including the safety of election materials, employees, and even voters, as well as the ability to alter voter turnout.
Cynthia Mbamalu, the director of YIAGA Africa’s programs, bemoaned the fact that ‘political bandits’ had turned elections over to the highest bidder, saying that the exorbitant cost of nomination forms, particularly by the main political parties, had kept brilliant minds away from the political process.
“During the primaries, the system is already rigged.” Younger people want to be a part of the process and to be able to vote. “It’s a struggle if we don’t see younger people and women engaged,” she remarked.
