Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu was part of the election observers who monitored the recent general election in Ghana which was widely celebrated for its transparency, fairness and credibility.

There was no report of Ghana?s electoral commission staff manipulating the results of the election. The security personnel were not seen snatching ballot boxes. And there was no glitch whatsoever in the electoral transmission of election results.

The experience in Ghana was a far cry from what happened in Nigeria during the 2023 elections. Nigerians were therefore scandalised and expressed shock when INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu came back home and attributed Ghana?s success at the poll to what they learnt from Nigeria.

Nigerians have passed a vote of no confidence on INEC to emulate Ghana?s transparency. They believed that INEC as it is today is incapable of conducting a seamless and credible election in Nigeria in 2027. They said that the electoral umpire has failed to improve on its performance in off-cycle elections that took place in Edo and Ondo and can therefore not be trusted to conduct a free and fair poll. They called for urgent critical reforms that must be put in place before 2027 and suggested how to make INEC free from the control and influence of politicians.

INEC needs true independence to shield it from manipulations ?Prof. Okaba

President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba said: ?Judging by their recent performance, the Ghanaian Electoral Commission offers a near perfect example and model of a truly dependable, independent and efficient electoral body that Nigeria must emulate, if this nation sincerely desires to take the issues of good governance and development seriously.

For the INEC to conduct a credible and seamless election in 2027, Nigeria must undertake some urgent and critical reforms that would significantly enhance the credibility, fairness, integrity and general acceptability of its electoral system.

These include: Securing INEC?s true independence to shield it from undue political manipulation; Overhauling electoral laws to plug loopholes and ensure transparency; Ensure enforceability of these laws especially as they relate to the mandatory use of BVAS; Immediate transmission of results to the INEC portal after any vote is cast; Fostering internal democracy within political parties to prevent the imposition of candidates; Intensifying voter education and awareness initiatives and Harnessing technology to modernize voter registration, accreditation, and result transmission. We should be working towards total electronic voting and drastic reduction of the number of political parties to a manageable size to reduce operational cost and ensure greater effectiveness.

We need to redefine the role of security agencies during our elections in a manner that they should not be a deciding factor in any election. A special Election Offences Tribunal should be set up to promptly deal with the culprits. However, we must note that the problem of Nigeria is not the lack of laws but purely the lack of the political will and ethical determination to enforce our laws?.

There must be consequence against electoral offenders ? Gbemre

Zik Gbemre, Coordinator, Niger Delta Peace Coalition posited: ?The results from recent off season governorship elections in Edo and Ondo tell you we are not ready yet and we still have a long walk to credible elections.

The feedback from both exercises in which the nation mobilised the entire machinery of INEC and massive security deployment for the elections further affirmed that the problem with our election is not for lack of reforms or adequate laws.

The real challenge is the impunity to compromise the process and rules because the system shies away from enforcing consequence action against election offenders. INEC tried to live up to its commitment to start transmitting results from the field through its Results Viewing Portal, ?IREV? during the Edo and Ondo guber polls.

But the results it fed into the IREV, how credible were they? Many people as well as election observer groups affirmed that vote buying was rampant and even alleged that INEC officials in some instances manipulated the results before uploading into IREV. And all the compromises, stealing of materials, violence during campaigns or voting day, falsifying results, security aiding and abetting, all attract punishment, but how many people were punished to deter others from undermining the rule of law.

Stakeholders should respect the laws we have in the electoral process and offenders should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.?

Having a credible election in 2027 is a mirage ? Kuejubola

A public commentator, Mr. Emmanuel Kuejubola said: ?INEC does not have the will power and capacity to conduct free and credible elections because there is always this interference from the powers that be who believe that it is the destiny of some persons to determine the fate of others across the country and there is too much interference from the executive. All the electoral guidelines and the law guiding the conduct of the election are all good but the problem is the implementation. At the moment, it is near impossible for the executive not to interfere with the process. It is not just INEC, the security apparatus of the country is always tilted towards pleasing those who determine the fate of this country.

However, if Nigerians are determined to have free and credible elections, Nigerians must speak with one voice irrespective of who is contesting, his tribe or religion. It must be a national orientation that it is our desire to have credible elections?.

Political elite denied the electoral umpire autonomy since 1999 ?Adewale

A public analyst and former Ondo state SDP chairman ? Hon Stephen Adewale said, ?INEC?s ability to conduct a seamless and credible election in 2027 is uncertain, given its challenges in the 2023 general elections. Despite efforts to review the Electoral Act, malpractices and electoral disputes marred the process. INEC has also failed to improve its performance in the series of off-cycle elections that have since taken place in Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo, and Ondo.

However, there is still time for INEC to take the proper steps to ensure that it conducts a credible election in 2027, but achieving a credible election is not the sole responsibility of INEC. All hands must be on deck to ensure that INEC organises an election that Nigerians will be proud of. First, the presidency has to ensure that INEC enjoys autonomy and independence, which the political elite has denied the electoral umpire since 1999. This administrative independence will help reduce political interference. In a country where vote-buying has become the order of the day, the security operatives who are notorious for tacitly or openly supporting the ruling party must desist if we want to conduct elections that would not be marred by vote-buying.

?Security at polling units during voting and counting must be enhanced to prevent electoral malpractices. Also, internal democracy must be entrenched in the various political parties and to ensure political parties conduct free and fair primaries to avoid disputes and litigation. The Electoral Act should also be amended to provide clear procedures for party primaries, voter registration, and election dispute resolution which will go a long way in ensuring we have credible elections in Nigeria.

?Lastly, leveraging technology to enhance voter registration, accreditation, and result transmission is imperative if INEC wants to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.

Nigeria must learn from Ghana ?Adekunle Ayoola, Nigeria Diaspora Europe

?As Nigeria gears up for the 2027 general elections, the question of whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can conduct a seamless and credible election looms large. Recent elections in Ghana have set a benchmark for electoral integrity in the region, raising expectations for Nigeria?s electoral body.

However, the challenges faced by INEC, including political influence and operational inefficiencies, necessitate a critical examination of its current state and the reforms required to enhance its credibility. INEC has made strides in improving the electoral process in Nigeria, particularly with the introduction of technology in voter registration and results transmission.

However, lingering issues such as allegations of bias, lack of transparency, and susceptibility to political pressure continue to undermine public confidence in the commission. The question remains: can INEC, in its present form, replicate the success of Ghana?s electoral system in 2027? Ghana?s recent election has been lauded for its transparency and fairness, largely attributed to the independence of its electoral commission.

INEC must take cues from Ghana?s approach, which includes a well-defined legal framework, robust stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to impartiality. These elements have fostered trust among the electorate and political parties alike, resulting in peaceful transitions of power. To ensure that INEC conducts credible elections in 2027, several reforms are essential: INEC must be insulated from political interference.

This can be achieved by establishing a clear, transparent process for appointing commissioners that involve civil society and stakeholders, thereby reducing the influence of political parties; Implementing measures such as open data initiatives, where election-related information is made publicly accessible, can help build trust. Regular audits of the electoral process and results can further enhance transparency; Investing in the training and development of INEC staff is crucial.

This includes not only technical training on electoral processes but also education on ethical standards and the importance of impartiality; INEC should actively involve civil society organizations in the electoral process. Their participation can provide oversight and ensure that the commission remains accountable to the public; Continued investment in technology for voter registration, results transmission, and monitoring can help minimize human error and increase efficiency.

A robust electronic voting system, similar to Ghana?s, could also enhance the credibility of the electoral process; Educating the electorate about their rights and the electoral process can empower citizens to demand accountability from INEC and political parties. By learning from the successes of Ghana and implementing necessary reforms, Nigeria can pave the way for a more transparent and trustworthy electoral process.

The journey towards electoral integrity requires collective effort from all stakeholders, including the government, political parties, civil society, and the electorate. Only through these concerted efforts can Nigeria hope to achieve a seamless and credible election.

INEC can?t guarantee free, fair, seamless poll ?? Comrade Ashaye Wasiu, United Action for Democracy (UAD), Ogun State

?The Independent National Electoral Commissions (INEC), can never guarantee a free, fair and seamless election as it is presently constituted, except the appointments and selection processes of the INEC Chairman, and the RECs are made open and competitive. Selection processes must be handled by professional and credible organizations devoid of political parties and government influence. Funding of INEC must come directly from the federation accounts while the commission must present an annual budget at a roundtable discussion before approval. Government must also collaborate with CSOs, NGOs, pro-democracy activists, media, and other stakeholders on genuine mobilizations for electoral processes, public awareness campaigns on education of the masses of their rights and demand for accountability from INEC and the political parties.

INEC can conduct credible polls but ? Akene

For the chairman of Centre for Environmental Preservation & Development, CEPAD, Surv Furoebi Akene, he said: ?It is not that INEC cannot conduct free, fair and credible elections, but the leadership of the institution, the politicians, the judiciary and the security agencies are the major problems. Financial power is now the determinant factor which is used to compromise the electoral umpire, the judiciary and the security. Remember, officials purportedly take oath of allegiance to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but in the actual sense, the oath of allegiance is to the President, or anybody with strong financial strength.?

INEC should be determined to give Nigerians credible elections ?Tejiri

On his part, Charles Tejiri, an activist, said it may be relatively difficult to have a credible election in Nigeria due to ethnic, religious and several other factors but that Nigerians should continue to demand it. Although I don?t see how there can be a credible election in the country but we should still keep hope alive with suggestions.

The INEC boss should be determined to give Nigerians credible elections in the first instance. But when an INEC boss comes in with the mindset that he or she is out to appease politicians we can never get a positive result. The same should go for those serving as Resident Electoral Commissioners. The entire system is rotten with corruption everywhere, so I don?t see how there can be credible elections from the electoral body. But we will continue to demand it. The literacy level is another problem militating against credible elections. Most of the voters are not enlightened enough to know the weight and power of their votes, so they allow ethnic and religious sentiments to guide voting patterns.?

Nigeria can have more credible election than Ghana ? Akpan

Saviour Akpan, Executive Director, COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peace Building Nigeria, asserted that: ?INEC can conduct a more credible election in Nigeria than what was obtained recently in Ghana if Nigerian citizens want that to happen. Credibility is a product of responsible and patriotic citizenship. If we will take our suffering seriously and live by the rules and speak truth to power no matter who is involved, I believe we can do better and even become the best.

The needed reforms in Nigeria today must start from attitudinal changes. We must be conscious of our responsibilities and be committed to the ideals of participatory democracy which is respect for the rule of law and fundamental freedom.?

Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, former Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Ekiti state:

?INEC?s ability to conduct a seamless and credible election in 2027 is uncertain, given its current structure and challenges. While INEC has made efforts to improve the electoral process, it still faces significant obstacles, including political interference and inadequate funding to be free from the control and influence of politicians. Several reforms are neccessary, INEC should be granted financial autonomy to reduce its dependence on the executive arm of government. This would enable the commission to make independent decisions without any fear.

The appointment process for INEC commissioners should be made more independent and transparent to reduce political interference. The Electoral Act should be strengthened to provide clearer guidelines and penalties for electoral offenders.

?INEC should continue to improve its voter registration process and election technology to reduce the risk of electoral manipulation, They should copy from Ghana such an inclusive drive by adopting voting by proxy for the sick, the diaspora voting, People living with disabilities, PLWD, and possibly early voting. These reforms would help to strengthen INEC?s independence and credibility, enabling it to conduct more seamless and credible elections in the future elections?. (Saturday Vanguard)

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