Democracy and The Spectre Poor Elections in Nigeria (Part 2)

Tue, Jan 12, 2021
By editor
4 MIN READ

Essay

By Mike Ozekhome, SAN

INTRODUCTION

SOME time ago, I took a break from this vexed issue to discuss more urgent national issues. Today, I shall conclude same.

PRESIDENT YAR’ADUA TO THE RESCUE

Following the conduct of the very flawed 2007 election, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory, emerged as Nigeria’s President. In a manner that remains most uncharacteristic of Nigerian politicians, he conceded that the election that brought him to power was tainted by fraud and illegality.

At his inauguration, Yar’Adua surprised the nation when he virtually outrightly condemned the 2007 elections. Though, he liked his victory, he did not cherish the manner of its attainment.

In the second paragraph of his inaugural speech, he said: “We acknowledge that our elections have shortcomings. I also believe that our experiences represent an opportunity to learn from our mistakes.”

 He therefore took decisive steps to pursue electoral reforms in Nigeria. August 28, 2007, he appointed a 22-member Electoral Reform Committee chaired by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, with twelve months to submit its report. The Committee submitted it report in December, 2008.

 SOME CAUSES OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES IN NIGERIA

 Electoral malpractice simply means the illegal interference with the electoral process, either by increasing the votes of the favored candidate, depressing the votes of the rival candidates, intimidation of voters, deployment of violence to force voters to vote against their will; snatching of ballot boxes; etc. Some of the causes of electoral malpractice in Nigeria include:

  • LACK OF A SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRATIC CULTURE: The practice of democracy requires the establishment and effective functioning of democratic institutions within the state and civil society. These include an independent Judiciary, a vibrant Legislature, law abiding Executive, vibrant Political Parties, efficient Security Agencies, public spirited Civil Society Organizations; the entrenchment of the rule of law and respect for citizens’ fundamental rights. The principle of checks and balances which is central to the Presidential System. It has been difficult to practise this in Nigeria, largely because the Executive overshadows the Legislature and the Judiciary, a legacy of the long period of military rule. By 1999, on the return of civilian rule, Nigeria had been ruled by military regimes for 29 of its first 39 years of independence. The years of military rule impeded the cultivation of democratic institutions and leaders; and hampered the emergence of a democratic culture. Corruption and an authoritarian culture resulted in weak political institutions, with decaying infrastructure, feeble and non-diversified economy and an impoverished populace.

Political parties lack internal democracy. They are very weak and unable to effectively carry out political mobilization, political education and discipline.

  • NEGATIVE POLITICAL CULTURE: These negative factors have led to the emergence of a weak political culture characterized by electoral violence, monetized politics, poor and low political accountability, abuse and personalisation of power, zero-sum approach to politics, general apathy towards elections and low participation of critical segments of the society such as women, the disabled and internally displaced persons. This negative political culture leads to electoral violence, election rigging and manipulation, and the entrenchment of do-or-die politics in Nigeria.
  • WEAK CONSTITUTIONAL/LEGAL FRAMEWORK: The prevalence of electoral malpractices can rightly be blamed on the absence of a strong legal framework to check the excesses of desperate and corrupt political actors. Numerous provisions of the 1999 Constitution as well as the Electoral Act, 2010 need to be amended or expunged for the legal framework to maintain a tough stance against electoral corruption.

CONCLUSION

I hereby call on political parties to stop the culture of impunity of enthroning “godfatherism”, imposition and endorsing candidates for an election. INEC should itself up its ante to give Nigeria free, fair and credible elections.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Regardless of who wins, an election should be a time for optimism and fresh approaches.” (Gary Johnson).

– Jan. 12, 2021 @ 10:44 GMT |

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