INEC A tide for change
ACHO ORABUCHI
Dallas, Texas
Thursday, April 12, 2007
"The ballot is stronger than the bullet." -Abraham Lincoln, speech, May 19, 1856
Equally
strong is the need to have an effective and credible electoral institution whose
responsibility it is to conduct elections-an institution or agency that has all
the effectual contraptions to protect the ballot. Nowhere is the desire to
protect the ballot stronger than in Nigeria where the survival of its democracy
hinges on credible elections. The institution, INEC, charged with conducting
elections engaged in massive innovative reforms, though to the dismay of some
individuals, to ensure that ballots are protected at April polls.
The indiscriminate high-octane disparagement of Prof. Maurice Iwu-led INEC has become a contagious disease that has afflicted some people who are diligently working to save the country from chaos. It appears that detractors of INEC seem to use the media unwittingly to spread this ailment.
Unfortunately, the derision of INEC has no purpose other than to hamstring the implementation of and obscure the innovative reforms of the commission. The innovative and creative programs not only aimed at stopping rigging, but also to ensure that the true winners are announced at the end of voting. Why would some people want the status quo? The answer lies in people's tendency to view the issues through the narrow prism of emotional construct or status quo mentality. Moreover, these people seem to benefit from the unprogressive system; they're threatened by change that would no longer assure their selfish interests.
That notwithstanding, Iwu-led INEC has resolutely assured Nigerians that the commission would do everything within its power to protect the ballot. As a result, it has been meticulously putting in place mechanisms with boldness to accomplish fair, free, and violence-free elections. More importantly, INEC is focused on lasting solutions to our electoral maladies. There is distinct clear evidence, regardless of the encumbrances, of INEC's resolve to help transform democracy through its lasting institutional and administrative reforms.
In an attempt to strengthen democracy in Nigeria, INEC embarked on capacity building in order to have resources and personnel to adequately man 120,000 polling stations, provide voter education, and update and authenticate the voter registers. Because of this enormous task, INEC established Electoral Institute of Nigeria to train people-electoral administrators-versed in electoral process. Additionally, the commission has mobilized 550,000 electoral officers and 8,000 ad-hoc personnel for the April polls.
Interestingly, this is the only time in history that an electoral agency has made voter education a critical component of its job. INEC has worked assiduously to empower the electorate through voter education. It has utilized the Public Forum platform to reach the masses in various states. This is a commendable activity because knowledge is power.
The commission successfully conducted voters' registration utilizing Direct Data Capture (DDC) Machines. This device allowed the process of embedding picture with biometric data-bar-coding-that would prevent rigging. With this system, there will be no ghost voting. Furthermore, the introduction of pictures of candidates on ballot cards would allow the voters vote for individuals they thought credible. It is understood that this reform has inevitably sent the heads unscrupulous politicians spinning in disgust. This is a welcome development because nominated candidates will be known to the electorate.
There will be no carrying of ballot boxes around, especially to and from polling stations. No person would be allowed to carry the ballot box from a polling station after the elections because every vote will be counted and called at the polling stations in full public glare of political party certified representatives and other certified observers. Also there will be instantaneous transmission of results after counting and straight to the center where the results will be announced officially. The result of the governor will be announced at the state level while the results of the Senatorial and House of Representative elections will be announced at Senatorial District and House of Representative District respectively. The only election result that would be announced by the Chairman is that of presidential.
INEC has made it impossible for political parties to substitute names of candidates indiscriminately. Through its reform efforts INEC established various deadlines that it strictly observed without favor. This has eliminated last minute substitutions that were prevalent in 2003 elections. In the same vein, the latest reassignment of INEC commissioners would help upset the entrenched relationship that lends itself to abuse.
Ineffably, the hard work of INEC in preparing for this year's elections is beginning to payoff. The anxiety about credible elections is now starting to taper off.
Surprisingly, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), the ANPP presidential candidate is pleased with the preparation INEC has made for the April polls during his visit to the INEC logistics center. During the visit to the logistics center, THISDAY quoted Buhari as having said he's "impressed with INEC's preparation. We hope that those in the field will be able to perform. The visit has given us a lot of hope".
Engr. Victor Emuakhagbon also lends credence to the work of INEC when he said, "Iwu and INEC are the best few things that had happened to Nigeria in terms of its preparedness for the upcoming election. A focus and firm INEC with its Chairman should be commended for what they have done. In short, INEC and its leadership are very much prepared to prove the critics and doubting "Thomases" wrong come April 14 and 21, 2007. The commission had been very innovative and insightful not only for this coming election but for all future elections in Nigeria."
Well, unabated drumbeats of negative publications attempting to obscure the innovative reforms and effective programs of INEC would be inconsequential at the end of this election cycle because of the tide of change the commission implemented to protect Nigeria's electoral process and its democracy. This is the time to save our democracy from perdition and it's the job of all of us.