Punishing electoral offenders

The ongoing back and forth among the main political parties the two state about which one of them is responsible for heightened tension and reports of fake voter cards in circulation, is not helping matters either.  However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that it is up to the task in discharging its […]

The ongoing back and forth among the main political parties the two state about which one of them is responsible for heightened tension and reports of fake voter cards in circulation, is not helping matters either.  However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that it is up to the task in discharging its functions during the election.  INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega, noted in Lagos recently that the commission has taken measures to frustrate election rigging and other forms of malpractices.
Some of these, according to him, include permanent voter cards that have inbuilt microchips that contain image, fingerprint and other biometric details of each voter. This is aimed to ensure that a voter’s card can be used by only the owner of the card and no one else. Other measures are numbering of ballot papers and result sheets which will be made ‘’polling-unit specific’’, meaning that ballot papers meant for a specific station cannot be used in another, and that when INEC takes delivery of fresh ballot papers, these would be kept in Central Bank vaults for safekeeping, to ensure their integrity.
It is important that the measures INEC has taken to ensure the sanctity of the electoral process succeed, and are not compromised. The Commission needs to ensure also that it stays a step ahead of individuals and organisations seeking to torpedo its effort at holding hitch-free elections. An unblemished poll is the minimum expected of INEC if it must remain a credible umpire in an otherwise hotly contested political space. In an age where the clockwork efficiency brought to bear on election conducts is taken for granted, as have been seen in the just concluded elections in India, South Africa, the European Union (EU) and even Ukraine, credible polls remain the litmus test  to prove that the people’s choices and preferences have been recognised and upheld.
That is why INEC must not dither in stopping cynicism in the conduct of elections in Nigeria. In doing this, it can avail itself of the experiences of other countries where successful elections have become a matter of course.  It should also give detailed attention to logistics and ancillary matters. It cannot be forgotten too soon that the problem of smooth conduct of elections in some parts of the country in 2011 had to do with delay in delivering ballot papers at polling centres. This underscores the necessity that among its measures must include prevailing on its printers to deliver election materials in good time, in order for them to be taken to polling centres to meet polling schedules. A situation where voters dutifully queue up for hours only to be told ballot papers are unavailable can dampen enthusiasm and induce apathy, which in turn, can be exploited for devious ends.
The INEC also has to make contingency plans against electoral violence. The ever-present danger of violence need hardly be stressed; it occurs always where unguarded and provocative electioneering comments engender emotionally charged atmosphere. Since it is part of INEC’s duty to lay the ground rules on political campaigns, it is perfectly within its powers to insist campaigns are conducted in polite and civil manner so as not to cause social unrest and mayhem. In practical terms it would have to work with the police and other security organs to ensure violence is kept out of forthcoming elections, but these must be seen to be even-handed in the manner they handle voter issues.
INEC disclosed recently that it was able to detect multiple registrations in the last elections. It should step up efforts toward making the offenders, no matter their position, face the law in accordance with the Electoral Act. Electoral offenders will continue to break the law as long as they continue to go scot free after committing the offence.  It is about time INEC gave teeth to the provisions of the laws guiding its operations by arraigning perpetrators of electoral malpractices and those who cause violence before the courts so as to dissuade others that may be similarly inclined.