The amount of vote buying in the nation has reached frightening proportions, according to Professor Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC.
Additionally, he stated that insecurity posed a serious threat to the workers of the commission as well as to critical documents, and he reiterated that the conduct of the general elections in 2023 was still very much in jeopardy.
At a gathering of political parties and stakeholders organized by the National Institute of Strategic Studies, NIPPS, in Abuja on Wednesday to discuss how to host successful elections in 2023, Yakubu brought up the issues while delivering his well-wishes message.
Mrs. Hauwa Habib, a Director in the Commission, attended the occasion on the Chairman’s behalf.
He urged the political parties to adequately inform their supporters of the rules and regulations of the system.
Yakubu said: “It will be recalled that since 1999 when we returned to democratic system of government in Nigeria, electoral laws keep improving.
“The laws are put to test when the electoral process commences. Enforcement of these provisions sometimes becomes impossible because heads of political parties becomes recalcitrant and there are administrative and financial challenges or even lack of knowledge of what the political process entails.
“The Commission, after the 1999 elections till date, made proposed amendment to the Constitution and Electoral Act to the National Assembly for the conduct of free, credible and fair elections.
“Today, we have made a giant stride with the enactment of Electoral Act 2022, which will be put to test during the general election of 2023. We have succeeded in bringing about 83 amendments to the 2010 Electoral Act.
“These improvements are in the area of electoral disputes. The electoral system itself needs improvement. The main task is to implement reforms aimed at incremental and positive changes that are sustaining.
“With the theme of the summit, it is safe to say that there is a visible intention by all stakeholders to consolidate on the gains of democracy in Nigeria by proffering solutions to the challenges by political parties and electioneering to ensure the fundamental objective and democratic objective for the citizens.
“On national security and vote buying, the commission is saddened by the level of electoral insecurity today.
“The trend has gone beyond targeting political opponents to sabotaging efforts of the Commission towards making elections better. The Commission’s electoral materials are in danger and it takes time to reproduce these materials.
“The safety of our ad hoc staff is also of concern. The fresh method employed in vote buying is alarming. Each time INEC takes steps to curb these electoral crises, politicians devise more steps to subvert INEC’s efforts.
“The presentation by the Police, DSS and other security agencies will be welcome by INEC.
“Insecurity’s impact on our physical and psychological force, freedom of fundamental rights, the environment and the territorial integrity. The integrity and sanctity of the election could also be eroded.”
Professor Attahiru Jega, a keynote speaker and former chairman of INEC, expressed disappointment that political parties have decided to use cash-and-carry voting to select their candidates.
Jega added that the political parties who have turned race and religion into weapons have given up on issue-based campaigns.
He said, “I was just reminding them of their obligation so that this country will develop on a democratic trajectory.
“Some of the pillars towards the movement to democratic consolidation are the political parties and the electoral integrity.
“Honestly, there is much to be desired and that is what I told the political parties, especially improvement in their roles the discharge of their responsibility and also their engagement with the electoral process.
“Nigeria’s political parties need to reorganise themselves and their primary responsibility, not only in promoting their interests, but also mobilising the citizens around those interests.”
