CONDUCT OF THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)

My personal observation and comments on the performance of INEC in the just concluded National Assembly and the Presidential elections. I espouse them in the following headings:  #NigeriaDecides2023

• LACK OF UPDATED VOTERS REGISTER

Going into the election INEC failed to have a well scrutinized Voters Register whereby, names of deceased, underage, and multiple registration dotted the roaster posted for accreditation are filled with inadequacies.

• INADEQUATE PLANNING

Designated polling units are mostly public places like schools, fields etc. but there are some private ones used too. These privately owned places are subject to rapid change in ownership or status. My opinion is that INEC make some periodic assessments to ascertain the feasibility of use of these establishments for conduct of election. The failure of this knowledge led to sudden change of polling units and consequent stress for voters on election day as some owners deliberately declined the use of their facilities reason best known to them, the most obvious election violence.

• INADEQUATE ELECTORAL EQUIPMENTS

The voting system in use is open secret balloting meaning some aspect of the voting such as thumbprinting would be done secretly to avoid intimidation or victimization which could bring about rising tension or heating up the polity. Surprisingly, no cubicle provided which in my polling unit resulted into fear voting to escape been lynched by the supporters of party with majority in the given area. A popular example of such unnecessary exposure to danger was the elderly man embarrassed in the eastern part for voting a different party. They have no right to know whom he voted if not for the neglect of voters by INEC.

• LACK OF SUPERVISION OF ELECTION OFFICERS

The election was not properly supervised and electoral officers misinterpreted their roles and duties. The technicalities of the process were lost on them (I think they failed to marry their training with the reality facing them on the field) if there were supervision the mistake wouldn’t have been gross. Errors would have been minimal and where ingenuity is needed the staff wouldn’t have been clueless.

• THE MISDEMEANOR

There were reports on Tv Radio and social media with allegations of the electoral staff misbehavior ranging from, compromise, bribery, intimidation and inputting results under duress. These I considered the lapses on the part of INEC to be proactive and make necessary arrangement for any eventuality.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• STAFF RECRUITMENT: INEC staffs should be recruited strictly on merit basis. While the adhoc staffs should be made voluntary. A call to serve fatherland ”with love, strength and faith” encourage patriotism among the future generation remove the money syndrome. This will guarantee credible election ran by credible and selfless individuals. It will cut down the high cost of running election in Nigeria. Registration of underage persons will be curbed.

. MORE VOTING OPTION BE EXPLORED: deployment of technology and other electioneering apparatus will answer some underlying questions which refuse to go away from our polity i.e. vote buying, ballot snatching or stuffing or arsoning etc. if we replaced them with options like early voting, email voting, vote by proxy, voting through a centralized data system where voting can be done biometrically using national ID cards with secured channels. This will engender safety of staffs and voters alike. Cut down running cost in wages and allowances. Minimize victimization supervision and enhance remote monitoring and intelligence gathering.

. REGULAR AND EFFECTIVE VOTERS REGISTER UPDATE: INEC should device a mechanism (a portal, feedback system etc) where report of deceased persons could be reported or what I termed voters interaction and engagement, whereby voters activities and behaviors can be tracked or monitored (recommendation 2) voters with lesser activities could be contacted physically or telephonically.

. PILOTING OR MOCK EXERCISE: staffs should have adequate time to practice the training received on functionality and the knowhow of gadget deployed before heading to the field to enhance both technical ability of staffs and the respect of the electorates.

CONCLUSION

For a considerable progress in our political and electioneering endeavors, the government should be willing and able to respect the wishes of its people by doing all that is necessary for success. On the part of the people, they should be abreast of happenings and consistently demand equity, transparency, justice and accountability from government, its agencies and institutions.

Thanks for reading.