Reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), cancelled the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) in 205 polling units across Akwa Ibom State, is worrisome, and certainly a damning self-indictment which raises fundamental questions over INEC’s credibility to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2015. The failure to pull through an elementary exercise as voter registration is demoralizing; and can only infuriate Nigerians; who expect and deserve nothing less than free elections. The hiccup has seriously compromised INEC’s image as an institution; and accentuated in no small measure, INEC’s incapacity to conduct next year’s elections. This must serve as a wake-up call to INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega; whose personal reputation for integrity has also been called to question. The general public perception is that, with Jega, the electoral umpire is in good hands. He dare not betray this trust.
The distribution exercise, which was to hold in 10 states under Phase I – Taraba, Gombe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa – was expected to last till Sunday, May 25, 2014. The Commission had called on registered voters in the 10 states to visit the polling units where they registered to confirm their registration status. But the Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Ada announced the stoppage of distribution of the PVC in 205 polling units across 24 local council areas, saying the exercise will only take place in 2779 out of 2982 polling units in the state. Dr. Ada blamed the cancellation on multiple registrations or wrong capture of bio-data of voters during the 2011 voters’ registration across the country. Although the REC said a fresh registration will be conducted in the affected units, this is a shameful indictment of Nigerian leaders, and INEC in particular, that 15 years into the fourth republic, Nigeria cannot organize something as basic as free elections
The bigger issue here is that INEC’s failure goes beyond the challenges and constraints of the actual conduct of the election itself. It translates into a colossal waste of resources, put at the disposal of INEC, and is a shameful example of how, an institution can single handedly derail the course of a nation. If INEC cannot even register voters despite the concentration of resources, both human and financial, it portends serious implication for the nation-wide electoral exercise. The blame lies squarely on the laps of Jega, who has expressed INEC’s readiness to be an unbiased umpire in the 2015 elections and to also ensure that everybody plays by the rules. Judging by the track record of the commission, there is little hope for optimism. INEC has a duty to correct the identified and hidden anomalies because confidence building is critical to its success.
Prior to the commencement of the distribution of the PVCs, the Commission said it learnt “bitter lesson” from the 2011 elections and, came to the realization that credible voter cards are crucial in conducting free and fair elections. It can only be assumed that it entailed the sudden awareness that the temporary voter cards were fraud-prone and susceptible to abuse by unscrupulous persons, who used them to manipulate elections. In 2012, Jega had told Nigerians that INEC would commence the issuance of the permanent voter cards in early 2013. At the beginning of 2013, Jega announced again that the PVCs would be ready by the end of 2013. After nearly two years of continuous shifting of dates, the problem in Akwa Ibom is unacceptable.
While it is understandable that INEC has many logistic challenges Nigerians cannot entertain more excuses for such administrative maladies. INEC is there to produce results, and not to be tolerated. What is the assurance that the problems in Akwa Ibom are not systemic? And that the commission will hand these cards successfully to Nigerians in time for the 2015 general elections? In any case, what is a permanent voter card? What makes it permanent? Does it possess any form of security mark that is consistent with today’s smartcard technology? Or is it just one of those plastic cards with analogue features? It can only make a difference if it will employ advanced smartcard technology.
In response to expressed worries on this issue last year, INEC had responded that the PVCs “are chip-based, with the chip on each card containing all the biometric data of a legitimate holder. “During the election, the PVC will be swiped with a card reader at the polling unit to ensure 100 per cent verification of the voter before he/she is allowed to vote.” By this system, an illegitimate holder of the card will be detected. So how come it that the same problems of multiple registrations and wrong capture of bio-data of voters have resurfaced again? When INEC officials explain the PVCs, they give the impression that it is rocket science or astrology. Why is INEC making it seem so complex?
If it has taken the commission nearly two years to announce (and not distribute) the so-called readily available Permanent Voter Cards of registered Nigerian voters who were issued temporary voter cards in 2011, how long will it take for those who now have to be re-registered to get their PVCs? INEC should wean itself of its weeping boy status, motivate its personnel to understand the enormity of the task and stop giving excuses for failures. The distribution of the PVCs is long overdue. INEC should hand the cards out to voters, and get down to preparing for next year’s crucial elections. Jega should recognize that he is saddled with the task of managing the process of recruiting leaders for Nigeria at a time when leadership has emerged more than ever, as the obstacle to Nigeria’s emancipation. Elections being the avenues through which worthy leaders are recruited cannot be seen to be handled by a body whose integrity is suspect. Sadly the Akwa Ibom debacle not only undermines the optimism of a hitch-free general election next year, it casts a huge pall of illusion on the future of Nigerian democracy.
