A security expert and commentator on national affairs, Dr Goodluck Uguoji, has frowned at the tendency to appoint persons affiliated with some of the political parties to serve as commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Dr Uguoji said in a statement that the idea is a violation of the provision of Section 1561(a) and the Third Schedule, Part 1 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that only persons of unquestionable integrity and who are members of any political party can be appointed to serve as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC).
He said: “Democracy is served not only by laws but also by precedents and conventions. Even if the basic and enabling laws did not expressly forbid card-carrying members of political parties from certain public offices, the constitutional provision that persons appointed should be ‘of unquestionable integrity’ is sufficient to guide the president in choosing persons that are apolitical to that exalted position.
“In matters concerning electoral affairs, INEC and its officials must not only be independent and fair but they also must be seen to be so. The body should inspire trust in most right-thinking members of the public. The independence and impartiality of INEC should never be compromised.”
Uguoji who is the managing director and chief executive officer of Goodfiyeth Security Co. Ltd said the commission has made some appreciable gains in raising confidence in the electoral process with the recent Osun governorship election, where there were marked improvements in the conduct of the commission, compared to past elections. He added: “Therefore, further sanitising of the process and improvement in future elections should be the priority.
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“INEC’s independence is pivotal in this, and its composition is crucial. It is worthy of note that in mature democracies with strong institutions and vibrant civic participation, it would not have mattered. But Nigeria’s democracy is a wobbly democracy with a terrible history of flawed compromised elections; a country where people are looking for the slightest opportunity to embezzle. So, public confidence in INEC’S neutrality is crucial.
“Compromised appointments into INEC could negate the incremental gains made in the electoral process and dampen the rising enthusiasm and optimism for the 2023 election. Therefore, there is a need for a situation whereby the democratic process would be open for all to participate in because the way the commission is presently managing the implementation of the new electoral law is questionable.
“Any law that tends to disenfranchise the populace should be reconsidered, as it cannot be said to be in sync with the constitution. It should be noted that politicians do not own Nigeria. Conversely, power belongs to the electorate, which votes them into the office to serve. Therefore, their defilement of the political space for their egotistic interest is unacceptable. The system should be cleaned up to instil legitimacy and encourage popular participation.”
He said INEC and the security agencies should also implement effective measures against those elements bent on derailing the exercise and that they should also strategise to ensure that all violators of the electoral laws are arrested and prosecuted.