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President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge that he will neither condone rigging in the 2023 elections, nor allow officials use their positions to manipulate the electoral process, is quite commendable and reassuring. Buhari’s commitment to a free and fair poll will come under scrutiny as the preparations for the next year’s elections gather steam.
Buhari’s revealed his stand on the 2023 polls when he received top government officials at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to commemorate his 77th birthday. He also advised that politicians should rather work hard to get the mandate of the electorate instead of circumventing the rules of the game.
He enjoined those who might be planning to use their offices or security agencies to subvert the will of the people to have a rethink because he would not allow them to have their way.
The President’s reassurance on free and credible polls came at a time there are fears in some quarters that his administration is working towards manipulating the elections for his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates. Therefore, his timely refutation of the rigging allegation is in order. However, Buhari should go beyond the rhetoric and put in place logistics to deliver a credible and lawless poll.
Unfortunately, his declaration is at variance with his alleged nomination of suspected members of the APC for confirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). Buhari’s nomination of partisan members as RECs sharply contradicts his stand on free and fair polls. It will also nullify his vow to bequeath to Nigerians a legacy of credible democracy. We state clearly that known sympathisers or card-carrying members of any political party should not be appointed to midwife the 2023 elections, taking into consideration the inherent conflict of interest.
The President owes Nigerians the duty of ensuring that people appointed as officials of the electoral umpire are not members of any political party, the ruling party inclusive. Appointing politicians to such sensible positions is morally wrong and may likely compromise the conduct of the elections. The maxim that one cannot be a judge in one’s own case holds strongly here.
It needs reminding the President that he is on the threshold of history as the end of his administration draws nearer. If there is any area he will like Nigerians to remember him for, it is by handing to them a tradition of credible and transparent election. Let him do the right thing by ensuring that people charged with the task of conducting the elections are those with proven integrity and political neutrality. The nomination of presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, as a member of REC was vehemently opposed by Nigerians. Respite came when the Senate rejected the nomination. We don’t want a repeat of such incident. Aside from politicians, there are other credible Nigerians who can be appointed as members of RECs.
Moving forward, we urge Buhari to withdraw the names of the partisan individuals as RECs and replace them with credible Nigerians who are apolitical before they are forwarded to the National Assembly. But, if the president refuses to do the right thing, we urge the lawmakers to turn down the request for the confirmation.
The President has spoken so much on his desire to make the forthcoming elections credible. He made a similar pledge in a recent Virtual Summit for Democracy organised by President Joe Biden of the United States, where he clearly stated that necessary mechanisms would be strengthened to ensure another peaceful transfer of power by May 29, 2023.
His position is in tandem with the expectations of most Nigerians. Flawed elections have remained the bane of Nigeria’s democracy, leading to the emergence of unpopular candidates and unending litigations by aggrieved parties. In addition, the rigging of elections can elicit violence.
A free and fair poll brings out the beauty of democracy. It allows the electorate to exercise their rights of choosing their leaders. It reduces post-election violence and disputes as losers readily accept defeat. It also makes the victors more accountable to the people. More importantly, a free poll makes for a stable polity and encourages socio-economic development. It minimises rancour among contestants. Having a free and fair poll is the desire of Nigerians. That is the minimum that the citizens expect from the President.
There is also need to ensure that other things that will cast doubt on the credibility of the 2023 elections are nipped in the bud. These include the buying and selling of votes, violence and other electoral infractions. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other organs involved in the conduct of the elections should ensure that the exercise is credible
