…SAYS IT WILL LEAD TO IMPUNITY
A group know as The Electoral Forum has warned against the dangers of subjecting the Electoral Offences Commission to the Attorney General of the Federation saying it could lead to impunity at the highest level.
The Forum disclosed this at it’s Seventh Technical Session of The Electoral Forum held on Saturday 3, September 2022, at Rockview Hotel Royale, Abuja.
Electoral Forum is an initiative of The Electoral Hub that pools resource persons from electoral management bodies together with other electoral stakeholders to conceptualise solutions to the unique problems facing electoral governance in Nigeria.
The Forum is supported by MacArthur Foundation and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
The Chairman of the Forum, Professor Adebayo Olukoshi, in his opening remarks, reinterated the objectives of the meeting.
According to him, the agenda of the meeting was the discussion on key points from the policy dialogue, which addresses vote trading in Nigeria; lessons from global comparative experiences.
“It address expectations from campaigns of political parties and candidates, identifies security challenges ahead of the 2023 general election, and recommends strategies to improve the electoral process ahead of the 2023 General Election.” He stated.
During the technical session, Forum members discussed the key points from the policy dialogue on addressing vote trading in Nigeria: Lessons from Global comparative experience, stating that discussions from the meeting were timely and should be adequately addressed.
A statement by the Forum’s Chairman, Professor, Adebayo Olukoshi, said the Forum deliberated on the upcoming campaigns by political parties and candidates, including the need for policy-based and issue-based campaigns, eschewing hate speech in all its ramifications, and the cost of campaigns.
“Also noted, is the fact that politicians have failed to heed the timetable for the commencement of campaigns which is the 28th of September 2022, as campaigns seem to be ongoing, especially on social media.
“The Forum stated that the expectations from political parties and candidates during campaigns are that campaigns should target real issues facing the country with facts and figures, be policy-based and ensure that messages passed during campaigns are violence-free and impact positively on the audience.
“In addition, banks and anti-corruption agencies such as ICPC and EFCC should be fully involved in monitoring campaigns and the electioneering period, and the media should spotlight more on policy-based campaigns by candidates and parties.
“The Forum also expressed concerns about the lack of clear programs and the unhealthy competition among candidates during campaigns.
“The Forum also expressed concerns about “who prosecutes who” in relation to the power of incumbency and the illegal use of state funds for campaigns.
“The Forum also underscored the importance of security in the electoral process.” The statement reads.
He stressed out the it emphasizes that peaceful and credible elections could only be possible through close collaboration between INEC and the Security Agencies in view of the preponderance of numerous challenges which include but are not limited to insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, etc.
He stated that the Forum also appreciated the initiatives of INEC, in it’s establishment of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), identification of high-risk or flashy areas using electoral risk tools like the Election Violence Mitigation And Advocacy Tool (EVMAT).
He praised the electoral body for the creation of Voting Centres for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) to ensure inclusivity for voters in places where there are displaced people due to the aforementioned reasons.
“The Forum also noted that the presence of security is critical in ensuring that elections are conducted peacefully.
In conclusion, and having agreed that consolidation of democracy involves widespread compliance with rule of law to guarantee a level playing field for candidates in elections.” He added.
In it’s deliberation, the Electoral Forum, however, recommends that; “The revival of strategies and alliances by CSOs such as was in operation before and which brought thechanges in the electoral process between 1999 -2010 (the first 10 years of the return to democracy in Nigeria).
“Taskforce by citizens and CSOs should be formed to enable citizens to protect their mandate where necessary.
“Engagement of INEC on the proper placement of voting cubicles during the election to ensure the secrecy of the ballots in line with global integrity standards and best practices.
“INEC should train ad-hoc staff on the proper placement of the voting cubicles to ensure secrecy of the ballot and privacy in relation to the positions of party agents during the voting process.
“The National Electoral Offences Commission should be an independent body and should not be subject to the Attorney General.
“INEC and other anti-graft agencies should ensure that there is compliance with the provisions of the law on campaigns.
“The media should aid in boycotting negative news and hate speech and ensure balanced coverage.
“INEC should publish audit reports of the political party’s accounts.” The statement further reads.
According to the statement of the Forum, political parties should be made to submit audits of their account to INEC as provided for by law.
It added that mainstream and social media should be used to curb misinformation, disinformation, and misuse of media during the electioneering period.
According to the Forum, the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, should blow the whistle where the political class uses state resources for campaigns or personal gain.
“CSOs should also focus on the holistic agenda of good governance and not only on good elections as both are equally critical.” The statement said.
According to the Forum, various outputs from the technical meeting would be released on The Electoral Forum’s website.
Members present at the meeting were; Professor Adele Jinadu, former NEC Federal Commissioner, Hajia Amina Zakari, former INEC National Commissioner and Acting Chairperson, Professor Antonia Taye Simbine, DG, NISER, and former INEC National Commissioner, Kassim Gaidam, former INEC REC Adamawa State, Gloria Ukpong, former Chairperson AKSIEC, HannatuBiniyat Usman, former Chairperson KADSIECOM, Ademola E. Johnson, former INEC Deputy Secretary, Okechukwu Ndeche and Alhaji Lawal Isa Wase, former INEC Directors, Mike Asukwo of Business Day, and Everest Amaefule formerly of The Punch Newspapers as well as Professor Olatunde Babawale, Provost,Anticorruption Academy, and LASIEC Commissioner. The meeting also had in attendance, Professor Mohammad Kuna, Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman.