From Idu Jude Abuja
The Electoral Forum, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), is concerned about the upcoming off-season gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states. They are urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fully restore electoral processes to prevent election results from being determined by the courts.
The Forum, rising from its technical session held recently on the implications of the Supreme Court verdicts regarding the outcome of governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states, expresses serious concern at the level of decline in electoral processes against democratic process.
A communiqué issued and signed by Professor Adebayo, the forum chairman, outlined that the group did explore the impact of recent Supreme Court judgements on State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and Local Government elections, alongside the significance of the recent changes in the Supreme Court’s leadership.
Discussions also touched on the effect of the current state of the country on elections, such as issues of vote trading, apathy, and democracy.
The Forum further evaluated the influence of political party internal dynamics on electoral integrity and recommended reforms for election petitions, SIEC independence, party accountability, and civil society engagement.
While examining the verdicts of the Supreme Court in recent times, it was noted that the legal threshold for proving substantial non-compliance in election petitions remains a significant challenge for petitioners, making it difficult to overturn questionable election results.
Additionally, the group expressed growing concern about the increasing involvement of the judiciary in electoral outcomes. It was noted that the Supreme Court will keep being embedded in elections as long as politicians refuse to play by electoral rules and evolve a sound political culture.
It emphasised that the political class continues to pose a problem to electoral democracy. Also, opened that judges should uphold their code of conduct of professionalism and stop lobbying for positions in election tribunals, thereby being beholden to godfathers who helped them get these positions rather than focussing on electoral justice and fairness.
While commending the recent Supreme Court judgement on direct funding to Local Government Areas (LGAs), it observed that the landmark ruling marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s fiscal federalism, with far-reaching implications for state/local government relations and the conduct of local elections.
It informed that this judgement aims to strengthen local governance, but it also presents new challenges, noting that some state governments may face substantial reductions in their allocations, potentially up to 77% in some cases.
“This shift in resource allocation necessitates a reimagining of state-local government relationships and calls for innovative approaches to governance at both levels.
Deliberations also focused on the potential role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in local government elections.
“The current electoral system was critically examined, with suggestions for reforms including a possible shift to a mixed electoral system and broadening the scope of acceptable voter identification methods.”
The Forum noted the persistent challenges in the electoral process, including violations of electoral guidelines and issues with result collation and announcement, while calling for enhanced oversight and strict enforcement of electoral rules.
The role of civil society in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy was emphasised, with encouragement for increased civic education and more robust oversight of electoral processes at all levels.
The Forum observed the inseparable connection between democracy and development and stressed that for democracy to be meaningful, it must deliver tangible developmental outcomes for Nigerian citizens.
The internal dynamics of political parties and their impact on electoral outcomes were also highlighted and centred on the role of political parties in either upholding or undermining democratic processes.
It called for stronger regulatory oversight by INEC and the reinforcement of internal democracy within political parties to prevent the manipulation of electoral outcomes.
“After thorough discussions and contributions from our members regarding the raised issues, the proposed significant recommendations aimed at addressing burning issues of electoral governance in Nigeria.
“These recommendations focus on strengthening State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to ensure they effectively contribute to credible elections, among other objectives. These recommendations include:
Implement transparent mechanisms for direct funding to Local Government Areas (LGAs) to enhance local governance and development.
Strengthen the independence and capacity of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) through legislative reforms and standardised operational guidelines.
“Establish a formal framework for collaboration between INEC and SIECs to improve the quality of local elections.
“Reform the judicial system with an emphasis on merit-based appointments and clear timelines for resolving electoral disputes.
“Explore the adoption of a mixed electoral system to enhance representativeness and inclusive politics. In furtherance of proposed reforms, the Forum tasks the INEC to invest in innovative technology for voter registration, voting, and result transmission to enhance transparency and reduce electoral fraud.
“Implement strict campaign finance regulations and anti-vote buying measures to curb electoral malpractices. Enforce internal party democracy and transparent candidate selection processes within political parties. Introduce measures to increase the participation and representation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process. Integrate comprehensive civic education into school curricula and launch nationwide campaigns to foster a stronger democratic culture.”
