In a couple of weeks from now, the door for campaigns for 2023 general elections will be thrown open by the Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC). Although, there have been underground moves by the respective political parties, without exception to woo voters from across the country as Nigerians await the campaigns to begin officially by the end of this month, according to INEC timetable. However, following the nomination of few Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC), four out of the 19 of them already penciled down by President Muhammadu Buhari for this plum job have continued to attract condemnation from a wide spectrum of the society, especially the civil societies, and other interest groups because of what 2023 election holds for the country. Some Civil Society Organisations have gone ahead to address the press on this matter, saying that, Mr. President, without delay should withdraw the names of the identified yet to be appointed REC officials because of their partisanship as members of one of the political parties that will be on the ballot next year.
As an umpire, the Civil Society Organisations are saying that INEC cannot be a judge in its own case and therefore, these four people with partisan interest already identified should be disqualified and withdrawn immediately. This latest move by the president to appoint card carrying members of a political party as RECs is not what is expected this time, especially when the president promised to leave a legacy of credible elections for the country. The process should be fair without encumbrances. Clearly, 2023 general election will not be like every other election conducted in the past. The stake is very high this time because of what everyone can see going on in the society. Nigerians believe that INEC in the present circumstances being the only institution with the responsibility to deepen the country’s democracy has more jobs to do this time. The process must be guided by the position of the law as clearly stated. It should be fair to all players without preference if truly the commission is independent. It is alarming that we are talking about partisanship of those who are supposed to manage our electoral process, six months to the election.
Anyway, that could be taken as burden of governance, but we expect that this time the National Assembly should screen everyone whose names would be submitted to the Red Chambers and also ensure that those who are not qualified to be appointed as REC officials are disqualified and their positions given to others who are capable and non-partisan. The country may have had lots of distractions from the back and forth moves by some desperate politicians, even when the position of the law is clear on what should be done and how. The usual horse trading normally displayed by the political class may not be the case this time. The deceit of many years is staring on everyone’s face. As we have repeatedly cautioned, government should be circumspect and desist from playing with the intelligence of the people. The debacle of Lauretta Onochie who was nominated as REC official and later withdrawn reluctantly after the civil societies moved against her should not be repeated this time. The crucial nature of next year’s election, which stakes appear higher than other elections in recent times, is a call for concern. No time should be wasted on matters that are unnecessary and diversionary as we move closer to the elections.
Nigerians are looking forward to quality campaign periods where issues based on economy, education, quality health care, security of lives and properties would be properly articulated and marshalled by those presenting themselves for election. The Kenyan elections, where the body language or the face of the president was not looked at should serve as a signpost for our own Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC). This is not the time to play to the gallery by nominating those who would either compromise or jeopardise the electoral process that has recorded some improvement going by what happened in Osun election recently, and few other states whose elections were applauded by the majority of Nigerians. The 2023 general election is dear to the heart of every Nigerian and should not be toyed with. Therefore, we call on the president to withdraw the names of those nominated REC officials whose positions and party leanings run foul of the Electoral Law to avoid mortgaging the future of Nigeria’s democracy and for a credible, fair and inclusive 2023 general elections which was promised by this administration to bequeath to Nigerians as a parting gift.
