Fresh test for INEC’s capacity to conduct credible election-Edo Governorship

With the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has successfully concluded greater number of the items contained in the timetable and schedule of activities released last year for next month’s Edo State governorship election.

 

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman

Apart from the already concluded primary elections for the 17 political parties that fielded candidates and cleared to contest the poll, various post-primary election litigations that trailed the emergence of certain candidates have equally been resolved in line with the commission’s 2022 new Electoral Act.

Political campaigns have also gradually peaked up weeks after the commission formally lifted ban on it, resulting in the rival political parties expectedly criss-crossing every corner of the state with campaign promises to lobby the Edo electorate.

The commission has equally technically concluded the accreditation of election stakeholders monitoring the poll, ranging from party polling and collation agents, foreign and domestic observers, various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) while only that of the media will end early next month.

Again, as part of its determination to perfect all plans for the poll, the commission has as usual held several consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders like the security agencies under the auspices of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), leaders of political parties, CSOs and the media managers to constantly update Nigerians of its readiness for the poll.

The commission has equally made strenuous efforts to organise various types of training programmes for its main, ad-hoc staff and other election duty personnel on the modus operandi targeted at ensuring possible conduct of a credible, transparent, free and fair governorship election similar to the historic exercise it conducted in the State in 2020.

Statutorily, Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) has been concluded with hundreds of new registrants given the opportunity to exercise their franchise during the poll while those that applied for transfers of locations were granted the requests.

Breaking down the statistics of the registered electorate, the commission through National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, revealed that 2,629,025 registered voters will exercise their franchise for the Edo poll.

According to the statement; “the State now has 2,629,025 registered voters. Of this figure, 1,370,061 (52.11 per cent) are male while 1,258,964 (47.89 per cent) are female. Youths (18 – 35 years) account for 983,133 (37.4 per cent), followed by 914,806 middle aged (36 – 49) persons. Together, they constitute 1,897,939 (72.2 per cent) of registered voters in the state.

“In terms of occupation, 868,764 students constitute the majority of voters (33.05 per cent). There are 4,199 (0.16 per cent) Persons with Disability (PWDs). The new register represents 4.9 per cent increase over the 2023 general election figure of 2,501,081,” the commission compared.

To further underscore its readiness and diligent efforts to guarantee a smooth electoral process, the commission adopted a novelty measure, Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT) designed to assess and reduce potential election-related violent threats.

INEC also recently explained that the tool will allow the commission to identify flash points, areas, historically, prone to election violence, and effectively deploy necessary resources to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

“With previous elections having marred by violence, the implementation of this tool could serve as a critical step towards promoting a fair and secure election environment,” the commission had assured recently-

In coasting to the final lap of the race to determine who occupies the Osadebe Government House, the commission has also concluded arrangements on the configuration and possible deployment of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), in addition to the printing and distribution of non-sensitive election materials.

The final stage of monitoring and preparation by the commission would be the production and distribution of sensitive materials and enforcement of the embargo on the last day of campaigns and rallies.

But, regardless of all the arrangements and measures put in place ahead of the poll, the commission may not be two time lucky to match the bar it raised in delivering similar election in year 2020 adjudged to have relatively convinced the candidates, political parties, and the public that the exercise was, to a large extent, transparently credible, despite facing more daunting task of conducting the poll under harsh COVID-19 health pandemic.

Bearing in mind certain realities, INEC, very much aware that conducting a peaceful election will not be a tea party, has already admitted certain hurdles such as insecurity, accessing difficult terrains, possible logistics, natural disaster, and regrettably the failure of majority of the 17 political parties, participating in the election, to nominate over 35,723 agents for polling units and collation centres.

While enumerating the hurdles ahead of the election, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had urged the leaders of the political parties, at a consultative meeting, to eschew violence, rancorous and acrimonious campaigns ahead of the poll.

He said: “Campaign by political parties and candidates is in full swing in both Edo and Ondo states. This is the time for party leaders to demonstrate compliance with the commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for political parties 2022, especially the aspect dealing with rallies, processions and campaigns already available on our website.

“The campaign period has often been characterised by acrimony and tension. Sadly, it is also a period of verbal abuse and physical confrontation among parties, candidates and their supporters. The commission finds the event in Edo State resulting in the death of a security personnel worrisome. Happily, there has been no incident known to the commission since then.

“We are as concerned about the safety of your candidates, agents and supporters as we are about the security of our own officials, observers, journalists, service providers and, above all, the voters,” he told the political party leaders.

Reading the riot act in his remarks at the recent meeting with the security agencies under ICCES, Yakubu, had handed a marching order to the security personnel on election duty to be ruthless in handling real and potential threats to the poll.

He however appealed to them to abide by the code, conduct and rules of engagement for election security, noting that; “electioneering campaigns by political parties are ongoing. This is usually a time of concern and anxiety about security as political parties canvass for votes. A peaceful campaign often heralds a peaceful election.

“I urge political parties, candidates and their supporters to maintain the peace as we approach the election day and beyond. Party and campaign spokespersons should tone down the negative rhetoric.

“For the security agencies, this is the time to be more vigilant. You should leave no stone unturned in dealing with any real or potential threat to the conduct of peaceful and transparent elections. Already, concerns have been expressed about the possibility of armed state and non-state actors disrupting the processes.

“With just few days to the Edo governorship election, we should continue to work together to ensure that the training of election officials, logistics for the movement of personnel and materials, polling and collation activities are not disrupted in any way.

“I must also add that in doing so, all your personnel should continue to abide by the code, conduct and rules of engagement for security personnel on electoral duty.”

The commission’s chairman was not alone in expressing similar anxiety, and apprehensions over security concerns in Edo during the election.

National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, had, during the ICCES meeting warned that due to the violent antecedents of some politicians and their supporters in the state, any attempt to undermine, interfere with, or disrupt the peaceful conduct of the polls would be viewed as an assault on the very essence of the country’s democratic values.

“We want to reassure you that President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to peaceful election is unwavering. Those planning to disrupt the elections should not mistake the current administration’s commitment to peace for weakness. We will defend the integrity of the polls using every lawful means at our disposal, and anyone attempting to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections will face the full force of the law.

“Law enforcement agencies are on high alert and ready to swiftly and decisively deal with anyone trying to undermine the polls. To the voters in Edo State, you are encouraged to vote confidently, knowing that the government is standing with you and is determined to protect your voice.

“Your role in promptly reporting any suspicious activities or threats to the authorities is crucial. Together, our vigilance and unity will prevent any attempts to undermine the polls. To our security forces and election officials, your dedication and integrity are crucial. As the guardians of our democracy, you must ensure that every ballot is protected, every voter feels safe, and the sanctity of the election is upheld,” the NSA warned ahead of the election.

In his assessment of the situation, National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, had warned that flawed elections that produced incompetent leaders are remotely responsible for economic stagnation, political upheavals and socio-religious disharmony currently ravaging the country.

Dantalle, during a meeting with INEC recently, said: “For the Edo State governorship election, the die is cast. There is no substitute for free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful poll. The success of this election along with Ondo’s will go a long way in restoring trust in the democratic process essential for enduring representative governance.

“Flawed elections that produced incompetent leaders are the remote cause of economic stagnation, political upheavals and socio-religious disharmony in the polity as the imposed leaders seek personal interests in place of national interest.

“Once we get our elections right and credible leaders emerge, there will be drastic reduction in elections petitions and litigations. Leaders will be focused and provide the needed dividends of democracy that will assuage the hunger and anger in the land. INEC will concentrate on its statutory duties. It will no longer dissipate energy and resources on flurry of litigations and distractions,” he observed.

Insecurity, natural disaster like the flood that ravaged election materials in its Edo State office recently, and other hostilities may certainly not be the only constraints confronting the electoral umpire for the poll, as it equally expressed disappointment over the recalcitrant attitude of the 17 political parties that nominated candidates for failing to nominate a whooping number of 35,723 agents for polling units and collation centres.

The furious electoral umpire had revealed that out of the expected cumulative figure of 80,410 agents, the participating political parties only managed to upload 44,687 agents on the commission’s portal.

The commission’s boss further lamented that uploaded details on the portal are made up of 43,043 polling, 1,452 ward, 179 local government and 13 State collation agents, frowning that only three political parties uploaded their agents for all levels of polling and collation while one party has no single agent for any level of voting or collation.

“For the Edo State governorship election, the portal opened July, 17 and automatically shutdown at midnight on July, 30, as indicated on item nine on the timetable and schedule of activities for the election released almost a year ago in September 2023.

“In Edo State, there are 4,519 polling units and 211 collation centres, comprising 192 ward centres, 18 local government centres and the State collation centre in Benin City. A political party fielding candidate in the election is expected to nominate 4,730 agents.

“From the 17 parties participating in the election, the commission expected a cumulative figure of 80,410 agents. However, only 44,687 were uploaded to the portal made up of 43,043 polling, 1,452 ward, 179 local government and 13 State collation agents. Put together, the 17 political parties nominated 55.6 per cent of the expected number of agents.

“Three political parties uploaded the details of their agents for all levels of polling and collation while one party has no single agent for any level of voting or collation. A summary of the submissions by political parties has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” Yakubu lamented further.

However, to most political watchers, there is no significant departure from the usual previous arrangements and preparations the commission has made from the previous elections.

Little wonder a political leader told Daily Sun on conditions of anonymity that he is not expecting any drastic change different from the elections the commission conducted recently.

“From what I have seen so far, the tension may not be too intense in the build-up to the Edo governorship compared to the last poll in 2020, but there are certain election malfeasance and violent related actions that are unavoidable.

“There will still be snatching of BVAS, ballot boxes. Most of the parties will still unleash thugs and miscreants to cause mayhem and wreak havoc capable of disrupting the processes in the opponent’s strongholds. INEC has previously made similar assurances, but when the chips are down, they will still disappoint.

“You asked if the commission can replicate the 2020 Edo governorship feat and my response is simple. It will be practically impossible because of the issues surrounding the use of IREV portal in transferring results directly.

“The technology, which was a novel one then did not only work commendable magic, but also heightened the credibility of that election. However, there has been serious doubt about the reliability and acceptability of IREV since the conduct of the 2023 presidential election and the off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.

“The commission has made it look like it is no longer a full proof technology. I am not expecting anything near perfection or the possibility of INEC conducting a credible election in Edo next month because I know that the commission will not do anything extraordinary to do things differently,” our source argued.

Few days to the Edo governorship election, Nigerians, stakeholders and the international community can only wait in baited breath to see how the commission will prove doubters wrong that it is capable of replicating the feat and standard it set in Edo during the 2020 governorship election.

By From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja