Coalition asks INEC to clarify constitutional requirements on declaration of winner

A Coalition of civil society organisations, West African Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), has warned that the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country might lead to low voter turnout in next month’s general elections.

This is, as the coalition, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide clarity on the constitutional requirements for a candidate to be declared winner in the presidential poll.

It warned that INEC’s failure to do so ahead of the election could result in disputes and possible violence in the event of a run-off.

The coalition made up of 30 civil societies and other civic organisations in the ECOWAS region, included the Centre for Democratic Development and YIAGA Africa.

Speaking in Abuja, yesterday, after its pre-election solidarity mission to Nigeria ahead of the forthcoming polls, Director of Advocacy and Public Engagement, CDD-Ghana, Kojo Asante, said the mission recognises the importance of the forthcoming elections, considering the strides that Nigeria has made in sustaining democracy over the last 24 years without any unconstitutional interruptions.

He said the group had met with some stakeholders in Nigeria, including ECOWAS, INEC, Human Rights Commission, the National Peace Committee, the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), and a segment of media and CSO representatives.

The coalition warned that the large-scale malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) on election day could cause anxiety and panic among voters.

It stressed the need for INEC to adhere to the contingency measures proposed to provide the necessary safeguards and assurance for citizens.
It said: “Observations have been made about multiple security concerns that could significantly threaten the smooth conduct of the elections. These include the strong undertone of religious and ethnic tensions taking centre-stage in the political discourse and debate among political parties and candidates alike.

Also, the fact of sustained insecurity across the country, as a result of increased incidences of kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, separatist groups creates a high level of uncertainty among the population.
“Another issue of concern is around the deployment of materials and logistics ahead of the election. This fear is exacerbated by the current long-running incidence of fuel scarcity in the country. We strongly note the postponement of previous elections in Nigeria, partly due to logistical concerns.
“Government must also improve availability of fuel to mitigate the effect that the current shortages could have on the polls. This has the tendency of increasing voter apathy and turnout, particularly for voters who will travel long distances to exercise their franchise. Again, it has implication for the movement of security personnel and patrol teams that will be deployed to provide security for the election.
“INEC should provide clarity on the electoral law which stipulates that the winner of the presidential race must attain majority of total votes and 25 per cent of votes in at least two-thirds of states in Nigeria, and the FCT. This is against the backdrop of multiple interpretations assigned to the law and expected competitiveness around the 2023 presidential race.