Certainly, the signs do not portend positive signals for future elections as Nigeria’s renascent democracy now faces existential threats besides the electoral malpractices and sundry abuses including ballot box snatching and violence that has transforming the simple exercise of voting to a “do-or-die” affair. The scandalous and shameful electoral backslide got the most devastating advertisement after federal lawmakers smuggled a clause into the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill specifically banning electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electronic Commission (INEC) even as the bill makes provision for electronic voting. Speaking on Arise TV, Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah, (PDP-Benue), alleged that the Senate made 20 illegal insertions into the bill under consideration in Parliament. Gbillah said the insertions were part of a larger scheme to rig the 2023 general election. In the circumstances, pointing accusing fingers to the lawmakers would be diversionary. President Muhammadu Buhari who is a direct beneficiary of free and fair elections must ensure that, elections ultimately and fully reflect the genuine will of the people. He should veto any bill that bans electronic transmission of election results.
So contentious has been the issue that a group of five foreign envoys, including the EU, USA, UK and France met with the National Assembly leadership last week. The foreign envoys expressed concerns over the electoral law review and urged the lawmakers to do their best to ensure that the gains of over two decades of democratic experience were not wasted. To further register their concern and readiness to assist in the Nigerian democratic process, the diplomats allegedly, followed up with a letter, where some of their concerns expressed at the meeting were put in writing. Specifically, the controversy is over Clause 50 (2) of the bill which states that: “Voting at an election under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission (INEC), which may include electronic voting, PROVIDED that the Commission shall not transmit results of elections by electronic means.”
The proposed use of technology by the nation’s electoral umpire has been extolled by both government and diverse stakeholders as an important avenue towards enhancing transparency and credibility in the electoral process. This proposal was initially made in 2019 before the general election. However, its assent was delayed by Mr. President, who claimed it was too close to the election to manage potential possible associated disruptions. Last year, INEC started working with the National Assembly to reboot the process. INEC even experimented with the electronic transmission of results, particularly in the September 2020 Edo State governorship polls, to the admiration of many stakeholders. However, on the verge of passing the amended bill submitted by the Senate Committee on INEC last week, some new additions that differed from the 2019 bill were detected. The specific barring of electronic transmission of results raised red flags. Curiously, while permitting electronic voting, Clause 50 (2) foreclosed any electronic diffusion of results by INEC; and this is raising fear, and justifiably so, that future elections, including the 2023 presidential elections will be threatened.
The brains behind this adroit of quirky clandestine move are certainly not rookie lawmakers. Their intent is clearly antithetical to the yearnings of Nigerians for free, fair and transparent elections. Worse, they maybe fronting for ambitious crooked presidential aspirants, who believe they cannot win a free, fair and credible election, but want to gain power at all cost. Those behind this electoral brigandage have understood that manual methods of tallying and transmitting election results open many avenues for malpractices which new electronic system will certainly not allow possible. With electronic collation and transmission of results in real time, INEC has virtually eliminated the shenanigans of returning officers to doctor and influence results after vote-counting at the various polling stations. Elections can be monitored from anywhere, removing the sole responsibility of credibility from the presiding electoral officer and allowing him even less opportunity to fake results and defeats the well-known practice of bribing election officials at polling stations to circumvent the will of the people. This is unacceptable.
This assault on the sensibilities of weary Nigerians, who already bear the heavy burden of poor leadership and bad governance, should not stand and all associated with it ought to know that they are in the wrong place and should be identified and made to face the wrath of voters. It reeks of self-serving impunity when federal lawmakers enact and pass legislation that is clearly not in the public interest. While the conduct of the two main political parties is disturbing, INEC, which has a responsibility to regulate all electoral activities, has been pathetic by throwing up its hands in helplessness over this open assault on Nigeria’s democracy by elected lawmakers.
It is saddening that after the 2020 Edo and Ondo gubernatorial elections adjudged to have been free, fair and credible; and the high bar set by INEC in its conduct of those polls, elected lawmakers are trying to hamstring the electoral umpire by directly undermining whatever social capital and public trust it may have acquired in recent times. Moreover, it sends the wrong signal to Nigerians and the international community that INEC may not be capable of securing and guaranteeing a level playing field for all players in future general elections. Worse even, President Buhari seems to have become passive and disinterested, to intervene and remedy this blight on the toga of Nigerian democracy, which calls to question, the integrity of those leading Nigeria today.
The standing view is that the presidency has opted to suffocate the political space through the excessive deployment of incumbency power. Recourse to the abuse of power to secure electoral victories is not a sign of political strength. Rather, it is a manifestation of an embarrassingly low level of political maturity as much as a sign of desperation by so-called lawmakers who want to use foul means to win elections. This invitation to anarchy can only breed violence. Election violence is one of the absurdities which make a mockery of Nigerian democracy. The situation is bewildering because it is happening under a supposedly democratic system that was supposed to engender change. Unfortunately, the present dispensation even under a much touted change president remains addicted to garrison politics.
A return to do-or-die politics is unacceptable and those who submit to such egregious anti-democratic antics betray their lacking in vital attributes of political contests and democratic engagement, and are unfit to hold any public office. It puts into question the real intention of these lawmakers. This escalating sequence of entropic political violence has turned political thuggery into instruments of electioneering and this should worry the president. Buhari cannot pretend to extricate himself from this invitation to election violence involving his party. If he says he has no hands in the things happening in the Senate, nobody will believe him! He should come out to publicly denounce the proposal and tell Nigerians that he would not assent to the bill. His deafening silence confers tacit endorsement.
It is indeed regrettable that politicians, whether in the opposition or the ruling party, seem all ganged up against the people, constantly pursuing only their self-interests. Nigerians are generally unhappy, but cannot express their displeasure, because they have been pauperized to a state of helplessness. The audacious impunity by Nigerian politicians comes down to the leadership question. Nigerian leaders are not setting good examples, so everything else falls in line with the rot, abuse and corruption which characterize the government. If Nigeria’s claim to democracy will ever stand the test of time, the country must begin to play politics by the rules.
True, Nigeria’s internet penetration is still low in many regions as the NCC confirmed that Nigerian broadband penetrations still stand at 39.6%, well below average. Also currently, it is uncertain what kind of transmission technology INEC wants to deploy. Ghana and South Africa use ballot-based voting processes and also transmit their election results electronically. If there are compelling reasons to ban electronic transmission of results, the federal lawmakers ought to have articulated and communicated it publicly. Nigerians deserve leaders elected on merit, not on their ability to hire thugs to intimidate voters or buy polling officials, and public office should not be a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder. This only hurts our democracy.
Nigerians are apprehensive of the Gestapo tactics being employed by politicians to win elections; fearing the country is gradually receding to the transmutation trajectory of military dictatorship which stifled Nigeria, claimed the lives of many patriots and brought shame upon the country. The consequences of banning electronic transmission of results and the potential to ignite electoral violence are frightening. This macabre dance in the national assembly must therefore stop in the interest of peace and stability. Whenever democracy is under assault, all well-meaning Nigerians of conscience must stand up and defend it. The time to rise in defence of democracy is now!
