Sir: The Senate has approved Constitution Alteration Bill No. 58 which makes provision for independent candidacy at all levels of elections in Nigeria. The proposed alteration bill provides that for any Nigerian national to contest the presidential election as an independent candidate, he/she must obtain verified signatures of at least 20 percent of registered voters from each state of the federation, provided that a registered voter shall not sign for more than one independent candidate in respect of the same office.
For governorship poll, the independent candidate must obtain verified signatures of at least 20 percent of registered voters from each of the local government areas of the state; while anyone willing to contest National Assembly, (NASS) elections as an independent must obtain verified signatures of at least 20 percent of registered voters from each of the council areas in the respective senatorial district or federal constituency.
The bill further empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prescribe payment of administrative fees by independent candidates for respective election, and mandates the body to waive 50 percent of the administrative fees for female candidates.
One upside of this bill which has been transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent, is that it will liberalise the political space and allow for wider participation by all political actors. Popular candidates seeking elective offices can avoid falling victims to the vagaries of party politics, by going solo. However, there are numerous downsides to this bill which is largely a result of the peculiarities of Nigerian politics.
One, the cost of conducting elections would be prohibitive. We had 18 registered political parties that contested for elective positions in the just concluded polls which cost tax-payers a whopping N355 billion. With independent candidacy, ballot papers would be more expansive, more ballot boxes would be needed and more instruments for agent accreditation would be required, among other election-related essentials that must be scaled up. All of these would spike the cost of conducting elections.
Similarly, the cost of litigation borne by INEC and funded by the treasury will multiply.
Two, independent candidacy will lead to instability in political parties as those who fail to secure the tickets to fly the flags of their respective political parties at the polls, would become desperate and opt to go alone instead of accepting the verdict of party delegates in the primaries. The unwieldiness of the party system where we have a few actual contenders and numerous pretenders seeking elective positions, would now be transferred to independent candidacy.
Imagine a situation where we have 1000 candidates vying for the office of president. How will the names of 1000 independent and political parties’ candidates be put on a single ballot paper?
Three, it will deepen godfatherism as many independent candidates would have to pay registered voters so as to get the required signature endorsement needed to run. What this portends is that politicians with weak financial muscles would be unable to run as independent candidates unless they get the sponsorship of a godfather.
It is debatable that individual candidacy will make much difference in our electoral climate. A phased and guided implementation should be considered. For example, we can start with independent candidacy for elections into federal and state legislature only. Its success or failure would determine if it should be extended to all elective positions in Nigeria.
•Peter Ovie Akus,
New Jersey, USA.