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In a country like Nigeria, where democracy has not been allowed to flourish freely, the election arbitrator – the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – is regularly treated as a dump when large elections are being prepared.
In addition to its own internal contradictions, the CENI is required to carry the perceived wrongdoings of the political contenders. The two main political parties – the Progressive Congress, APC, and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) – are expected to have accused it of colluding with their opponents to "rig" the general elections.
Some of the accusations range from collusion with evil politicians to reconfigure smart card readers for their opponents, to baseless allegations that CENI officials met with opponents at home and abroad, enabling opponents to provide ad hoc staff, by pre-informing opponents of decisions, manipulating the voters' register to favor opponents, and planning to underfund the fiefdoms of disadvantaged parties and candidates; and what do you have.
But, Nigerians are not deceived. Some of these accusers are the same ones who embark on the night trying to convince INEC officials, ad-hoc staff and security guards to rig elections for them. They accuse the INEC and their opponents of perpetrating the same offenses that they intend to commit. They cry in the day and tiptoe in the night like thieves.
We recognize some of INEC's patriotic efforts to organize free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2019. These include: efforts to pbad the Electoral Amendment Bill of 2018 , which would have allowed the mandatory transmission of the results of the elections of the units to the national headquarters of the Commission, strategies to limit the purchase of votes and last week the decision to move the elections rather than stagger them as it was alleged.
Despite these courageous efforts, the CENI must remain firm and vigilant because of the presence of compromised elements inside and outside, involved in the execution of these elections. If the powers in place had respected the need to completely rid the INEC of the presence of these compromised elements, the true independence of the present Council of the Commission would have been better guaranteed.
Despite the deficiencies of the election referee and desperate politicians, most Nigerians at this stage still hope that the INEC, despite its flaws, is led by men and women of character. Trust in these men and women should not be betrayed. INEC must deliver credibly for Nigerians.
The story draws Professor Yakubu's INEC. Its performance should not be below the standards set by Professor Attahiru Jega's INEC in 2015.
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