Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-05 03:27:30
The rerun and by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the weekend, as ordered by the courts in 80 local government councils across 26 states of the federation, has raised concerns about the credibility of elections in Nigeria. The elections were held to replace members who died or resigned their memberships of the National and State Assemblies, as well as re-run elections at designated constituencies or polling units ordered by the election appeal courts. With 575 registration areas/wards and 8,934 polling units involving 4,904,627 registered voters, it was expected that the process would be credible, but reports of violence, kidnappings, and other abnormalities marred the exercise.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had earlier announced that the elections would specifically fill vacancies in not less than three senatorial zones, 17 federal and 28 state constituencies spread across 80 local governments. The elections were expected to make up for the shortcomings of the 2023 general elections, but reports from different states indicated that there is still much to be done to ensure credible and fair elections in Nigeria.
Complaints of the late arrival of INEC officials and voting materials to the various polling units, allegations of snatching of ballot boxes, violence, as well as missing result sheets, were among the issues reported during the rerun and by-elections. Furthermore, voters’ apathy seriously underlined the process, indicating a lack of confidence in the electoral process.
The party in power in several states showed desperation to retain the election for their party, regardless of the candidates’ acceptance by the people. On the other hand, opposition candidates were also striving to divest from the power of the incumbent party, creating crises in the elections in some areas. These factors, coupled with the activities of hoodlums and electoral officials, led to the suspension of elections in some constituencies by the INEC. The suspension was due to an outbreak of violence and other irregularities that marred the exercise.
In one instance, the rerun election in Enugu South was suspended after the Electoral Officer and his Supervising Presiding Officer disappeared with the original copies of the result sheets for the election. The absence of the officials led to protests and a charged atmosphere, creating an atmosphere of chaos.
Similarly, in the Igboeze north/Udenu federal constituency, a man was beaten after being caught with pre-filled election result sheets. This incident highlights the level of thuggery that characterised the elections, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria.
In response to the irregularities, a Public Affairs Analyst, Eze Duruoha, stated that the blame for the irregularities should not be solely directed at the INEC. He pointed out that the way the courts have handled petitions arising from the 2023 general elections has emboldened certain individuals to violate the laws, contributing to the widespread irregularities observed during the rerun and by-elections.
In conclusion, the outcome of the rerun and by-elections conducted by the INEC has highlighted the need for further electoral reforms in Nigeria to ensure credible and fair elections. Addressing issues such as late arrival of materials, ballot snatching, violence, and judicial handling of electoral petitions will be crucial in restoring public confidence in the electoral process. Only through comprehensive reforms can Nigeria achieve credible and transparent elections that reflect the will and desire of the electorate.
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