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2007 Elections and Electoral Reforms: The Challenges Ahead
By: Abdur-Rahman Balogun, News Agency of Nigeria, Abuja.
2007 was a significant year in the history of Nigeria as the country, for the first time,
experienced a transition from a civilian regime that has served two terms to one that will at least
serve one term. Though, this assertion was contestable among stakeholders due to
controversies that trailed the conduct and outcome of 2007 general elections but some
observers believed that such imperfections were not enough to ignore the basic truth.
Another historic moment witnessed by the nation was the series of electoral reforms introduced
by INEC towards 'hitch-free, fair and credible' elections in 2007. The reforms include
computerization of the commission's activities, the use of some aspects of Electronic Voting
System, having rejected Electronic Voting Machine for 2007 polls by the National Assembly and
Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines with which over 61 million Nigerians were registered as
voters.
According to INEC National Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu, the ``hallmark of these reforms is
that for the first time, the commission is determined to ensure that the final outcome of elections
reflect the true intent and wishes of voters. Quite expectedly of an election year, 2007 was full
of electoral activities as INEC, the electoral body responsible for the conduct of election ushered
in the year with lifting of embargo on campaigns by political parties on Jan. 14, 2007 while
collection of nomination forms by the 50 registered parties commenced on January 15.
Tension, however, built up within parties due to substitution of candidates which ended Feb. 13,
and 20, 2007 respectively , which was 60 days before the date of elections, as stipulated in the
Electoral Act 2006. This caused both the parties and INEC some litigation stress as they had to
contend with aggrieved candidates in the court of law. One other thing that Nigerians would not
forget in a hurry was the harrowing experience encountered in the voter registration exercise
which lasted for over four months having spilled over from 2006 to early 2007. With series of
stakeholders meeting, workshops and conferences aimed at
sensitizing Nigerians towards credible and successful elections, the nation went to polls in April
against all odds.
Though mixed reactions greeted the outcome of the elections but credit must be given to
Nigerians for their patience and the Electoral body for the conduct of the elections.
Stakeholders like the International observers, local monitors, civil society groups, opposition
political parties as well as some pressure groups including the umpire, INEC, holds different
views on the credibility or otherwise of the 2007 general elections.
Despite all odds, winners have emerged and sworn in while those aggrieved are already at
various election tribunals, which had decided some cases to the admiration of Nigerians. In all
these, President Umaru Yar'Adua in his inaugural speech acknowledged that there were some
irregularities in the last elections which called for reforms of the electoral sector in the country.
In fulfilling this promise, Yar'Adua in Aug. 2007, inaugurated a 22-member Electoral Reform
committee (ERC) headed by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais with a
one year mandate. The committee which had since commenced work, had so far held two
plenary sessions after several meetings of its various sub-committees.
To date, the committee has called for memoranda from members of the public as well as from
former head of States, chairmen and secretaries of electoral bodies and other strategic
institutions and stakeholders. In spite of all these, mixed reactions have greeted the composition
and functions of the committee as some see them as another exercise in futility.
A member of the House of Representatives, Rep Geoffrey Gaiya, (PDP-Kaduna) said that
constitutional amendment will help in stabilising Nigeria's democracy. Gaiya told News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) that the amendment would redress the injustices suffered by many
communities over the years.
Reviewing the performance of electoral process in 2007, Emmanuel Onwubiko, National
Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, said it recorded very poor
scorecard because of violence that attended elections. Police reports had it that over 50 people
died during the elections in April 2007 while several others were injured. Onwubiko said that
illicit funds still plays strategic roles in the electoral process . ``Nigeria deserves comprehensive
electoral reforms through constitutional amendments and not by ad-hoc measures'', he
submitted.
In his views, the Media Coordinator of the Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE), Odoh
Okenyodo believes that a commission of inquiry with responsibility for punishment of electoral
fraud and recommendation for plugging existing loopholes would have been ideal.
``The challenges of electoral reforms are enormous, and the setting up of mere committee for
reform is only hesitant step out of the numerous sure footed steps required to sanitise the
electoral system'', Okenyodo said.
While recognising the need for reforms of electoral laws, he said the failure of April 2007
elections was not the failure of laws. Chief Ben Obi, the AC vice-presidential candidate in the
April elections, equally believed that the current electoral reform by the federal government was
not necessary. Obi, a former Senator, (2003-2007) from Anambra, said that what needed to be
reviewed was ``the modus operandi behind the appointment of INEC Chairman''.
He said that the appointment of INEC's chairman should not be ceded to the country's president
who might be tempted to appoint his ``lackeys and stooges'' to the post. ``It is unhealthy and
unfavourable for the conduct of free and fair elections,'' he said.
In his contribution, the chairman, House of Representatives committee on Electoral Matters,
Rep Musa Sarki-Adar said his committee was ready to assist the reform committee in its
assignment. Adar, however, canvassed for the revisit of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in
the country, saying the best time to test run it would be during the fresh or by-elections to be
conducted by INEC.
At the fourth All Nigerian Editors Conference in Bauchi recently, INEC Chairman, Prof.
Maurice Iwu gave the commission a pass mark in the conduct of the 2007 general elections
despite all the negative comments by some sections of the public. Iwu who delivered a paper
entitled : ``Assessment of the Nigerian Media and Elections'' rated 2007 elections better than the
most touted freest and fairest 1993 general elections which failed to produced a clear winner.
Chief M.K.O. Abiola, of the defunct SDP was the presumed winner of 1993 annulled elections
by the then Military President, Ibrahim Babangida. Iwu, however, blamed the media for not
highlighting the efforts of the commission in conducting successful general elections. ``that the
media missed the real undercurrent of the high temperature of the period leading to 2007
elections is most amazing'' Iwu said.
Iwu said that ``there seems to be a refusal by the media to appropriately apportion the blames to
the entities responsible for the hitches profusely identified at the polls''.He said that the
environment in which 2007 general elections were conducted was not the best any democratic
election could have been conducted in.
``It would have been expected that the media will partner with the Electoral Commission not just
in prescribing standards and desired codes of conduct, but also in ensuring compliance to the
rules'' he said. The INEC boss equally blamed the politicians who try all their possible best to
frustrate the commission determinations to conduct free, fair and credible general polls.
Iwu expressed the readiness of the commission to work with the Electoral Reform committee
towards ensuring that the nation has a lasting and enduring electoral system. ``Now that we
have overcome the jinx of transiting from one democratically elected government to another, the
prospect for democracy in Nigeria is bright and assured'' Iwu said. Already, the commission has
told Nigerians that it would commence continuos voters registration exercise from Jan. 8 in all
the 774 INEC offices nationwide.
One challenge ahead is that INEC promised Nigerians that the permanent voter cards would be
issued before the April general polls but which up till now, was yet to be issued despite INEC
assurances that it had printed it.
This INEC has reassured, would be made available to Nigerians from January upon the
presentation of temporary voter slip at each of its offices nationwide. Equally of note is the
re-delineation of federal constituencies to be embarked upon by INEC in the first quarter of
2008. At present, the nation has 109 Senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies and 990
state constituencies which was carried out 12 years ago as against constitutional mandate of
periodic review of 10 years.
INEC said this was to redress the injustices of the past by reducing the wide gap between the
minority and majority groups in the country. Another challenge is for the nation to start the
preparation of 2011 elections now, as it will be absurd if the same excuses canvassed for the
failure or otherwise of previous elections would also be advanced for future polls. God forbid.
By: Abdur-Rahman Balogun, News Agency of Nigeria, Abuja.
2007 was a significant year in the history of Nigeria as the country, for the first time,
experienced a transition from a civilian regime that has served two terms to one that will at least
serve one term. Though, this assertion was contestable among stakeholders due to
controversies that trailed the conduct and outcome of 2007 general elections but some
observers believed that such imperfections were not enough to ignore the basic truth.
Another historic moment witnessed by the nation was the series of electoral reforms introduced
by INEC towards 'hitch-free, fair and credible' elections in 2007. The reforms include
computerization of the commission's activities, the use of some aspects of Electronic Voting
System, having rejected Electronic Voting Machine for 2007 polls by the National Assembly and
Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines with which over 61 million Nigerians were registered as
voters.
According to INEC National Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu, the ``hallmark of these reforms is
that for the first time, the commission is determined to ensure that the final outcome of elections
reflect the true intent and wishes of voters. Quite expectedly of an election year, 2007 was full
of electoral activities as INEC, the electoral body responsible for the conduct of election ushered
in the year with lifting of embargo on campaigns by political parties on Jan. 14, 2007 while
collection of nomination forms by the 50 registered parties commenced on January 15.
Tension, however, built up within parties due to substitution of candidates which ended Feb. 13,
and 20, 2007 respectively , which was 60 days before the date of elections, as stipulated in the
Electoral Act 2006. This caused both the parties and INEC some litigation stress as they had to
contend with aggrieved candidates in the court of law. One other thing that Nigerians would not
forget in a hurry was the harrowing experience encountered in the voter registration exercise
which lasted for over four months having spilled over from 2006 to early 2007. With series of
stakeholders meeting, workshops and conferences aimed at
sensitizing Nigerians towards credible and successful elections, the nation went to polls in April
against all odds.
Though mixed reactions greeted the outcome of the elections but credit must be given to
Nigerians for their patience and the Electoral body for the conduct of the elections.
Stakeholders like the International observers, local monitors, civil society groups, opposition
political parties as well as some pressure groups including the umpire, INEC, holds different
views on the credibility or otherwise of the 2007 general elections.
Despite all odds, winners have emerged and sworn in while those aggrieved are already at
various election tribunals, which had decided some cases to the admiration of Nigerians. In all
these, President Umaru Yar'Adua in his inaugural speech acknowledged that there were some
irregularities in the last elections which called for reforms of the electoral sector in the country.
In fulfilling this promise, Yar'Adua in Aug. 2007, inaugurated a 22-member Electoral Reform
committee (ERC) headed by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais with a
one year mandate. The committee which had since commenced work, had so far held two
plenary sessions after several meetings of its various sub-committees.
To date, the committee has called for memoranda from members of the public as well as from
former head of States, chairmen and secretaries of electoral bodies and other strategic
institutions and stakeholders. In spite of all these, mixed reactions have greeted the composition
and functions of the committee as some see them as another exercise in futility.
A member of the House of Representatives, Rep Geoffrey Gaiya, (PDP-Kaduna) said that
constitutional amendment will help in stabilising Nigeria's democracy. Gaiya told News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) that the amendment would redress the injustices suffered by many
communities over the years.
Reviewing the performance of electoral process in 2007, Emmanuel Onwubiko, National
Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, said it recorded very poor
scorecard because of violence that attended elections. Police reports had it that over 50 people
died during the elections in April 2007 while several others were injured. Onwubiko said that
illicit funds still plays strategic roles in the electoral process . ``Nigeria deserves comprehensive
electoral reforms through constitutional amendments and not by ad-hoc measures'', he
submitted.
In his views, the Media Coordinator of the Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE), Odoh
Okenyodo believes that a commission of inquiry with responsibility for punishment of electoral
fraud and recommendation for plugging existing loopholes would have been ideal.
``The challenges of electoral reforms are enormous, and the setting up of mere committee for
reform is only hesitant step out of the numerous sure footed steps required to sanitise the
electoral system'', Okenyodo said.
While recognising the need for reforms of electoral laws, he said the failure of April 2007
elections was not the failure of laws. Chief Ben Obi, the AC vice-presidential candidate in the
April elections, equally believed that the current electoral reform by the federal government was
not necessary. Obi, a former Senator, (2003-2007) from Anambra, said that what needed to be
reviewed was ``the modus operandi behind the appointment of INEC Chairman''.
He said that the appointment of INEC's chairman should not be ceded to the country's president
who might be tempted to appoint his ``lackeys and stooges'' to the post. ``It is unhealthy and
unfavourable for the conduct of free and fair elections,'' he said.
In his contribution, the chairman, House of Representatives committee on Electoral Matters,
Rep Musa Sarki-Adar said his committee was ready to assist the reform committee in its
assignment. Adar, however, canvassed for the revisit of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in
the country, saying the best time to test run it would be during the fresh or by-elections to be
conducted by INEC.
At the fourth All Nigerian Editors Conference in Bauchi recently, INEC Chairman, Prof.
Maurice Iwu gave the commission a pass mark in the conduct of the 2007 general elections
despite all the negative comments by some sections of the public. Iwu who delivered a paper
entitled : ``Assessment of the Nigerian Media and Elections'' rated 2007 elections better than the
most touted freest and fairest 1993 general elections which failed to produced a clear winner.
Chief M.K.O. Abiola, of the defunct SDP was the presumed winner of 1993 annulled elections
by the then Military President, Ibrahim Babangida. Iwu, however, blamed the media for not
highlighting the efforts of the commission in conducting successful general elections. ``that the
media missed the real undercurrent of the high temperature of the period leading to 2007
elections is most amazing'' Iwu said.
Iwu said that ``there seems to be a refusal by the media to appropriately apportion the blames to
the entities responsible for the hitches profusely identified at the polls''.He said that the
environment in which 2007 general elections were conducted was not the best any democratic
election could have been conducted in.
``It would have been expected that the media will partner with the Electoral Commission not just
in prescribing standards and desired codes of conduct, but also in ensuring compliance to the
rules'' he said. The INEC boss equally blamed the politicians who try all their possible best to
frustrate the commission determinations to conduct free, fair and credible general polls.
Iwu expressed the readiness of the commission to work with the Electoral Reform committee
towards ensuring that the nation has a lasting and enduring electoral system. ``Now that we
have overcome the jinx of transiting from one democratically elected government to another, the
prospect for democracy in Nigeria is bright and assured'' Iwu said. Already, the commission has
told Nigerians that it would commence continuos voters registration exercise from Jan. 8 in all
the 774 INEC offices nationwide.
One challenge ahead is that INEC promised Nigerians that the permanent voter cards would be
issued before the April general polls but which up till now, was yet to be issued despite INEC
assurances that it had printed it.
This INEC has reassured, would be made available to Nigerians from January upon the
presentation of temporary voter slip at each of its offices nationwide. Equally of note is the
re-delineation of federal constituencies to be embarked upon by INEC in the first quarter of
2008. At present, the nation has 109 Senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies and 990
state constituencies which was carried out 12 years ago as against constitutional mandate of
periodic review of 10 years.
INEC said this was to redress the injustices of the past by reducing the wide gap between the
minority and majority groups in the country. Another challenge is for the nation to start the
preparation of 2011 elections now, as it will be absurd if the same excuses canvassed for the
failure or otherwise of previous elections would also be advanced for future polls. God forbid.