By Charles Azubuike
This writer in one of his captions titled: “Vote-Buying: Another major threat to Democracy” (Sunday Sun, pg 10, July 31, 2022) enthusiastically espoused President Muhammadu Buhari’s laudable step (though reluctantly), by assenting into law, the Electoral Act 2022, which will hopefully usher a credible and transparent 2023 elections.
Succinctly put, that will be an indelible and outstanding legacy Mr. President will be bequeathing to this nation.
But regrettably, that optimism or great expectations seem forlorn, no thanks, to INEC’s unfortunately stirred hornest-nests.
According to Mr Festus Okoye, INEC’s national commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, re-echoed, what his principal, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (INEC chairman), said when addressing a delegation of Media Trust Group, in Abuja, that the commission will transmit election results electronically and collate the same manually.
This latest development has ruffled many well-meaning Nigerians, who became apprehensive, about the sincerity of INEC, to conduct the 2023 elections, devoid of the usual rigging and malfeasance.
Their “sermon or assurance” that Section 60 of the Electoral Act 2022, will be religiously and transparently adhered to, should be taken with a pinch of salt, considering the ugly experiences of the past.
Truth be told, when the Electoral Act, 2022, was signed by Mr. President, many concerned Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief, with great expectations, that a total departure from the ugly past and the emergence of a new order are in the offing.
But how wrong were they! Now, to come back home; how will INEC convince Nigerians, that in the process of collating the results manually, no dirty deals would not be involved? Moreover, which assurances are they giving Nigerians, with the desperate attitude of Nigerian politicians, with their win-at-all costs mentality? These questions are, therefore, germane and require undiluted and holistic answers.
These, therefore, bring to the fore, the urgent need, to establish the Electoral Offences Tribunal, whose jurisdiction, will be to try electoral offenders.
But notwithstanding, INEC should be reminded, that the era of business-as-usual will no longer be tolerated, as Nigerians are now determined like never, to enthrone leaders, irrespective of tribe or religion, with track-records of accountability, competence, visionary and result driven.
Lastly, at this juncture, Nigerians should not rest on their oars, but rather, intensify the pressure on INEC, by sticking to the provision of the extant electoral laws, especially, the electronic upload and transmission of results.
And to Mr. President, he should not fritter this golden opportunity of etching his name in gold by giving room (maybe because of political affiliation) for this much anticipated Electoral Act 2022, be rubbished, just to satisfy the inordinate ambitions of certain clique. So, please, act wisely.
*Azubuike (Snr) writes from Onitsha