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Tag: CODER

  • CODER decries high voter apathy

    THE Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) has decried the apathy that characterised the general election, saying the national average of voter turnout was 34 per cent.

    CODER said its data sugggested the problem was more prevalent in urban centres, particularly among the elite.

    The organisation spoke in Lagos yesterday while presenting its Observer Field Report for the 2019 elections.

    Executive Director/Chair Transition Committee Dr. Wunmi Bewaji, who read out the report, linked the development with a number of factors, including the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) failure to develop and enhance its human capital.

    It also identified lack of access to weak and vulnerable groups, such as the aged, the sick, disabled and illiterates, as well as what he described as the growing phenomenon of ‘judicialisation’ of the country’s democracy.

    Bewaji said the data was alarming, with millions of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) at INEC offices nationwide.

    He said: “To safeguard our democracy, there is the need to explore voters’ pre-registration and incentivisation of franchise with the introduction of a Voter Participation Certificate (VPC) with attendant benefits and consequences. For example, possession of a valid VPC could be made a criteria for employment/promotion in the civil service, for postgraduate admissions, participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to obtain drivers’ licence, international passports, for registration of companies etc.”

    The CODER director said “the location of polling stations, haphazard placement of voting materials, self-accreditation etc. all add up to disenfranchise many, especially the aged, the sick, disabled and illiterates,”

    He enjoined the commission to make access and ease of voting a priority to prevent voter apathy and disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

    Read also: Rivers: INEC to resume collation of of March 9 elections results

    CODER decried the reckless and rampant use of fake news by political gladiators.

    “Deliberate and shameless attempts were made by some political actors to destroy …INEC, the Army, the Police and our security agencies … Adequate security arrangements made for the protection of lives and property were demonised as militarisation. Few cases of security breach were exaggerated… to portray the elections as being marred by violence.”

    To curb the development, he called for punishment of persons and organisations involved in the creation and distribution of fake news.

    The report said the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Fourth Republic should be used to amend the constitution, to enshrine democracy as one of the fundamental human rights.

    In spite of the above shortcomings that characterized the 2019 general elections, CODER insists that it was free, fair and credible.

  • CODER urges parties to cooperate with INEC

    THE Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER), an election observer group for the 2019 general election, has urged parties to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free and fair election.

    Speaking in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday, CODER Executive Director, Dr. Wunmi  Bewaji, said the success of the elections should be the concern of all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations.

    He said: “CODER is an accredited election observer group for the 2019 Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections. To achieve this goal, we have trained 380 field observers, who have been deployed in states since February 14. The purpose of this news conference is to present our initial findings on the postponed election of February 16 and make recommendations to stakeholders ahead of the rescheduled dates of February 23 and March 9.

    “INEC was unprepared for the election and must do all within its power to fix the defects in its logistic chain, which eventually led to the postponement of the election. This unpreparedness may not entirely be the fault of INEC, but was perhaps also due to the late approval of its budget by the National Assembly. INEC must, however, review their planning and logistics and ensure that they have fallback plans in case of unforeseen challenges”

    Bewaji said to ensure that every vote must count, CODER has always strived to monitor elections through the various stages of the electoral process, adding: “In each election cycle, many Nigerians have relied on POLLWATCHNG, CODER’s election reporting platform, for up-to-date, verified election reports. NigeriaDecides2019 will not be different.”

    He said: “Our observers noted that voters turned out in many areas despite the postponement. This was not surprising, considering the late hour of the postponement announcement.”

  • CODER deploys 380 election field observers

    The Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) has said it has been granted accreditation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the 2019 Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections.

    It said to fulfill this mandate, it has trained 380 field observers and deployed them to their assigned states since February 14.

    CODER, which was founded in 2009 by a coalition of individuals and organisations committed to supporting the electoral reform process in Nigeria, stated this in a statement to The Nation yesterday.

    The statement explained that the organisation is currently undergoing a restructuring process led by its Executive Director and Chairman of the Transitional Committee Dr. Wunmi Bewaji.

    According to the non-governmental group’s convener, Chief Ayo Opadokun, CODER’s objective is very simple: “to ensure that every vote counts”.

    The letter added: “Since the first phase of the struggle for electoral reform concluded with the enactment of far-reaching reforms initiated by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, following the recommendations of the Uwais Committee, CODER has continued to be in the forefront of safeguarding the electoral process by participating in election observation activities, as well as educating and engaging voters.

    “Each election cycle, many Nigerians have relied on POLLWATCH, the CODER election reporting platform, for up-to-date, verified election reports. #NigeriaDecides2019 will not be different.”

  • CODER to politicians: stop discrediting INEC

    The convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER), Ayo Opadokun, has urged politicians to stop discrediting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Opadokun also warned other security agencies to mind their utterances.

    He said some political parties have started denouncing INEC’s ability to deliver on the coming election, noting that such was not in the interest of the country.

    Opadokun, in a statement explained that the allegations against INEC and security agencies were unverifiable. He added that the unfounded remarks make local, international and developmental partners suspicious of the elections’ credibility.

    He said: “CODER wishes to remind the current political operators to put national interest first before their personal interest so that Nigeria can earn her deserved respect, and dignity as a democratic state in spite of obvious inadequacies yet to be settled by the Nigerian state.

    “CODER would equally ask the genuine international development partners- western powers not to unduly take side in the Nigeria electoral contest by their seeming indication of reading ulterior motive to the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen, who admitted that he forgot to fill the mandatory asset declaration form as and when due.”

    Opadokun urged politicians to play by the rules in making genuine complaints to improve the work of government institutions and not to destroy them for partisan purposes.

    He maintained that most of the political operators were friends, surrogates and loyalists of successive military regimes.

    “Those of us who lost our sweat, liberty and lives for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, are disappointed with the current level of partisan politics that tend to be devoted much more to selfish acquisition of public commonwealth and the neglect of genuine services to Nigeria,” he said.

  • 2019: CODER cautions politicians on election

    The Convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER), Ayo Opadokun has urged politicians discrediting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security agencies to mind their utterances.

    He said some political parties have started denouncing INEC’s ability to deliver on the coming election, noting it was not in the interest of the country to do so.

    Opadokun, in a statement explained that the allegations against INEC and securities were unverifiable. He added that the unfounded remarks make local, international and developmental partners suspicious of the elections’ credibility.

    He said: “CODER wishes to remind the current political operators to put national interest first before their personal interest so that Nigeria can earn her deserved respect, dignity as a democratic state in spite of obvious inadequacies yet to be settled by the Nigerian state.

    “CODER would equally ask the genuine international development partners- western powers not to unduly take side in the Nigeria electoral contest by their seeming indication of reading ulterior motive to the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen, who admitted that he forgot to fill the mandatory asset declaration form as when due.

    “He also confessed to have declared that he had domiciliary account containing huge foreign currencies. Will the Chief Justice of the USA, UK, Germany France etc after such monumental infraction by his No one Judge be allowed in office because of a pending election?

    “America General Prosecutor, Bob Mueller has spent over two years probing the allegation of Russian interference in the United States 2016 election with myriad of conviction of President Donald Trump close aides and friends for false testimonies, criminal conduct even before Mueller finally concluded his work as to whether or not there was collision between Trump, Trump organization and Russian.

    Opadokun urged politicians to play by the rules in making genuine complaints to improve the work of government institutions and not to destroy them for partisan purposes.

    He maintained that most of the political operators were friends, surrogates and loyalists of successive military regimes.

    “Those of us who lost our sweat, liberty and lives for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, are disappointed with the current level of partisan politics that tend to be devoted much more to selfish acquisition of public commonwealth and the neglect of genuine services to Nigeria.”

  • CODER cautions politicians on election

    The Convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER), Ayo Opadokun, has urged politicians discrediting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security agencies to mind their utterances.

    He said some political parties have started denouncing INEC’s ability to deliver on the coming election, noting it was not in the interest of the country to do so.

    Opadokun in a statement explained that the allegations against INEC and securities were unverifiable. He added that the unfounded remarks make local, international and developmental partners suspicious of the elections’ credibility.

    He said: “CODER wishes to remind the current political operators to put national interest first before their personal interest so that Nigeria can earn her deserved respect, dignity as a democratic state in spite of obvious inadequacies yet to be settled by the Nigerian state.

    “CODER would equally ask the genuine international development partners- western powers not to unduly take side in the Nigeria electoral contest by their seeming indication of reading ulterior motive to the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen, who admitted that he forgot to fill the mandatory asset declaration form as when due.”

    Opadokun urged politicians to play by the rules in making genuine complaints to improve the work of government institutions and not to destroy them for partisan purposes.

    He maintained that most of the political operators were friends, surrogates and loyalists of successive military regimes.

    “Those of us who lost our sweat, liberty and lives for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, are disappointed with the current level of partisan politics that tend to be devoted much more to selfish acquisition of public commonwealth and the neglect of genuine services to Nigeria,” he said.

  • CODER, seven other CSOs score Osun guber poll high

    Six reputable civil society organisations have given the recently concluded Osun State gubernatorial election their seal of approval and praised the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “for exhibiting professionalism and neutrality despite threats, intimidation and blackmail before and during the election.”

    The groups and their representatives are Dr. Mrs. Olufunke Adesina of the Centre for Women Agenda (CWA); Comrade Adedapo Ajisegiri of the Campaign Against Social Injustice (CASI); Comrade Onotosho Hakeem of the Centre for Sustainable Dialogue (CSD); Dr. Oyedokun Alli of the Development Advocacy Group (DAG); Comrade Jerry Nwachukwu of the Rights Monitor Agenda (RMA); Comrade Wale Adeoye of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER); Samuel Bakare, Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) and Comrade Ajayi Popoola of the Coalition for Peaceful Election (COPE).

    In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos, the groups said the election was largely peaceful and congratulated the people of Osun State for “their civil, peaceful and orderly conduct in jealously guarding their mandate and proving that the will of the people is supreme in a democracy.” The state ment reads in part, “We, the undersigned civil society organisations, as election observer groups, heartily congratulate the good people of Osun State for trooping out to the polls both on the 22nd of September and on the 27th September, 2018 rerun election, to elect the state’s helmsman whose outcome is a reflection of the will of the people as expressed at the polls.

    “We note with gladness that INEC deployment of its personnel and materials on election day was timely, efficient and has received accolades from all relevant stakeholders for a superlative performance. We equally commend the international and local observers for their high sense of responsibility in observing the process according to global best practices.”

  • Royal blessing for President a ruse, says CODER

    Royal blessing for President a ruse, says CODER

    The Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) yesterday said that the endorsement of President Goodluck for a second term by selected Yoruba monarchs led by the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, was a ruse, stressing that the region has a contrary opinion.

    The group urged Yoruba monarchs to avoid behaviours that may expose them to ridicule before their subjects during the electioneering. It said that the monarchs’ penchant for endorsing the President for a second term in utter insensitivity to the popular yearning for change by their subjects may spell doom for their reputation in their respective domains.

    Its Coordinator, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, condemned the endorsement of the President by Oba Sijuwade and other rulers in his palace, saying that it is despicable

    He said: “By their despicable conduct, they have cheapened the sacred institution, disgraced the otherwise revered traditional values and refrained from protecting the arts, artifacts and culture of Yorubaland.”

    Opadokun lamented that Yoruba monarchs have refused to learn from the lessons of history, adding that they have regressed to the mistakes of the past.

    He added: “We have been unfortunately returned to the inglorious past, which these traditional rulers have taken during the struggle for the return of democracy to Nigeria and the de-annulment of the pan-Nigerian victory of the late Chief Moshood Abiola. It will be recalled, regrettably, that it is still the Ooni of Ife, who went to Abuja to watch chrograghed  and manipulated video clip of the involvement of Gen. Oladipo Diya in the coup attempt.

    “The traditional ruler came back to tell the whole world that Abacha was speaking sense. This same unpleasant and unguided pronouncement of the so-called endorsement of President Jonathan has come to the fore afresh. Even, if he has decided to canvass for votes for President Jonathan against Gen. Buhari, who disciplined him and the late Emir of Kano for their undiplomatic visit to Israel without clearance from the Federal Military Government, he could attach the animosity and grouse to himself and few people.

    “Having served Yorubaland in my adult life, I know that Ooni and his co-travelers are not speaking on behalf of Yoruba nation. Having known Yoruba for what they are, these traditional rulers cannot get votes for President Jonathan. They are after juicy contracts. It is an unpleasant consequence for traditional values when traditional rulers are agents and sponsors of contractors, which are often poorly done.”

    Opadokun urged other monarchs to shun and disown the regression to the past, which Oba Sijuwade has exhibited. He advised them to emulate their northern counterparts, who have refused to endorse the President and advised him to take his message to the people.

    He added: “Traditional rulers in the North have refused to be part of any of these partisan arrangements. They told President Jonathan to go ahead and convince their subjects to vote for him. They said they are not politicians. That is what is expected from decent traditional rulers.”

     

  • CODER: Don’t militarise Osun

    CODER: Don’t militarise Osun

    The Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) has decried the deployment of a large number of security agents to Osun State, ahead of the governorship election.

    The group said that it smacked of militarisation of the election.

    CODER said in a statement by its Coordinator, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, that the presence of soldiers and men of the State Security Services (SSS) may create fear and tension.

    He said: “Elections and voting are civil rights of the people to periodically elect those that will govern them. Elections need not be under great tension, fear, intimidation and violence. Nigerians need not to be under any apprehension during election.

    “CODER therefore, wishes to state with emphasis that the media report about the recent Ekiti governorship election, which witnessed the pursuit and detention of key APC  leaders and stalwarts overnight before the election will not be acceptable this time in the State of Osun.”

    Opadokun noted that President Jonathan has promised to ensure   free, fair and credible elections, urging him to fulfill the promise.

    He added: “He should act the talk. Democracy, its culture and practice has no place for brigandage activities of law enforcement agencies in favour of the political party at the centre whose nominee as per the present constitution has operational control over the coercive agencies of government.

    “CODER wishes to remind the  political operators at every level of government that the current political space, which they are now lavishly enjoying and abusing, was not given to Nigerians on a platter of gold. A few of us lost our sweat, our blood, our liberty, our personal possession while some even paid the supreme sacrifice for the public good.   “Most of the professional politicians as at that time of our democratic campaign for the restoration of democracy were hands in gloves, as confederates, loyalties, and surrogates of the General Abacha’s government and his five political parties of a leprous hand for his transmutation.”

    Opadokun urged the political class to learn from the lessons of the first and second republics. He recalled that the governments fell because of electoral malpractices. He added: “The annulment of the victory of Basorun M.K.O Abiola eventually forced the military out of power.

    “Those who are gloating over their political opponents because they are in the PDP that is controlling all agencies of coercion should re-think of possible people’s reaction particularly in the South West Zone of the country.

    “We have passed through this way before the Northern People Party, NPC, the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, awarded themselves “landslides victory” which on each occasion led to “gunslides”. There is always a limit to political chicanery and shenanigans.

    “CODER wish to advise all observers to ensure that they monitor both urban and rural centres  and collation centres so that the election can be relatively free and fair and meet with international best practices in elections.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • 2015: Can small parties escape INEC’s hammer?

    2015: Can small parties escape INEC’s hammer?

    Apart from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), there are over 25 parties on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) register. But, do they have prospects in 2015? Musa Odoshimokhe examines the fate of the parties on the fringe as the country prepares for the general elections.

    The 2015 elections will be a straight fight between the two dominant parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The minor parties may become spectators during the presidential election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has over 25 political parties on its register.

    The small parties include the Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria (LDPN), the Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ), and the National Conscience Party (NCP). Others are the National Democratic Party(NDP), the National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSDP), the National Movement of Progressive Party (NMPP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the Peoples Progressives Party (PPP), the United Democratic Party (UDP), and the Mega Progress Peoples Party (MPPP).

    The relevance of these parties will depend on their alliance with the two dominant parties. For the PDP and the APC, it is not going to be business as usual. The defections in the political camps point to the fact that a tough contest is imminent.

    The PDP and APC are consolidating their strongholds, ahead of 2015. But, the minor parties are diminishing in strength. Thus, would – be voters are raising eyebrows over the extension of subvention to them by the electoral commission.

    The Labour Party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Accord Party (AP) fielded candidates in the 2011 polls and won some seats in the state and federal parliaments. For instance, the LP won the governorship election in Ondo State and seats in the House of Assembly. APGA has maintained its hold on Anambra State. The Accord Party is struggling for survival in Oyo State. It has some seats in the House of Assemly.

    As the polity prepares for the next elections, are the minor parties in the reckoning? Can they make any difference in 2015? Will they form alliance with major parties?

    The MPPP, which held its national convention in February, has said that it would spring surprise. Its new chairman, Mr. Dare Falade, said the party will fly, despite the resignation of its national chairman, Hon. Rasheed Shitta-Bey, who has defected to the APC. He did not rule out the possibility of going into alliance with any of the major political parties.

    However, the National Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, expressed misgivings about the two major political parties. He said the minor political parties have rejected them and would have nothing to do with them. This position contradicted the views of Falade, a member of the forum.

    Musa said that, if the country is to achieve a breakthrough, the solution does not lie with the APC and the PDP. He urged the minor parties to rise up to the occasion to save the country. He said the manifestoes of the two leading parties have failed to address poverty, insecurity and infrastructural deficiency.

    Musa said: “All the other political parties have rejected any merger with either the APC or the PDP. Therefore, the most logical thing they should do for their own survival and relevance is to form democratic alliance with the strongest among the minor parties.

    “They should forge ahead and prepare against the PDP and the APC. They have to be led by one of the political parties that have structures on ground. The party should control, at least, one state government. If this is done, they will be in a position to give the PDP or the APC a fight during the 2015 election.

    “The political situation in the country today clearly needs such an alliance that will save the country because, if this is not done, the country will not move forward. It is clearly in the body language of the dominant parties that they want to either perpetuate themselves in power to enslave the people or want to take over power for their own selfish interest.”

    The Chairman of the Civic Consciousness Initiative, Prof. Idowu Sobowale, said the lukewarm attitude of Nigerians to election must be addressed. He said political apathy is not the solution.

    Sobowale said: “It is not a subject of assigning role to minor political parties. It is a question of whether they are coming out with new idea. It is a question of whether they are coming out with sincere ideas to move the country forward. If they do, the chances are that they could be invited by one of the major groups or they could come together and in turn form a third major party”.

    The university don said that minor parties could be encouraged, if the electorate live up to their civic responsibilities.

    He added: “The usual attitude that politics is evil and should be left to those people who can play the dirty game has been the bane of the failure of government.”

    A chieftain of the PDP in the Southwest, Chief Ishola Filani, said the relevance of the minor political parties depend on their philosophy.

    He said that parties will attract votes, based on their manifestos.

    “These parties will determine the role they can play in the next electoral dispensation. Under the law, they have the right to contest, except the law says otherwise”, Filani added.

    The party chieftain said the gates of alliances are not closed, adding that, if the smaller parties chose to join the PDP, they are free. “There is no law that bans them from integrating with any of the major political parties of their choice,” he stressed.

    The Coordinator of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Mr. Ayo Opadokun, said that it is still too early to reflect on what the smaller parties will do in 2015. He said that the political landscape is still evolving and re-adjusting to reality.

    Opadokun said: “The year 2015 will open its space to accommodate the minor parties and we will all see the role they will play”.

    A Chieftain of the Pro National Conference Organisation (PRONACO), Linus Okoroji, said available statistics indicate that majority of the eligible voters do not vote, stressing that this vacuum gives opportunity to politicians to enjoy underserved victories at the polls.

    “Any credible Nigerian, who finds it difficult to contest elections on the platforms of big parties, can organise and contest on the platforms of the relatively smaller parties and, with proper mobilisation, they can win.”