Sir: As all focus of Nigeria’s politicians are now centred on 2027, it is necessary to emphasise that only electoral reforms remain the only guarantee and remedy towards free and fair elections, and no further elections must be held without first of all crossing that all-important hurdle.
At this juncture, there must be an intentional drive at all the processes necessary for indubitably credible elections unless Nigeria wishes to continue making itself a laughing stock among the comity of nations whose members, however, expect much from the most populous black nation on the entire planet earth.
The onus is therefore on the national assembly to put necessary machineries in place to ensure that Nigeria’s electoral processes undergo a much desirable radical transformation that would restore the people’s confidence in the entire process and prevent the continued hijack of power by those who ordinarily would never win any credibly keenly contested elections.
Right now, there are confounding insinuations about Nigeria’s past elections and how some candidates were outsmarted and shortchanged by obviously dubious politicians. Such anomalies should never be allowed to continue if Nigeria hopes to move forward as a country.
Elections are supposed to reflect the wishes of the citizens and it is only when that happens the people can hope to enjoy the real dividends of democracy. The reason is never farfetched. While those truly elected would naturally strive towards the general happiness of the masses as a form of appreciation, hijackers who know the clandestine processes that launched them to power would only satisfy the cronies who assisted their unjustified ascension to power.
If Nigeria’s Independent National Election Commission is to be truly independent, the process of choosing its chairman should never be the prerogative of any incumbent president. Rather, such responsibility should be vested where the possibility of compromise of any nature would be erased.
Moreover, choosing of Supreme Court judges or any judge for that matter should never fall under the purview of the executive but rather the National Judicial Council if the supremacy of the judiciary is to be guaranteed in the true sense of the word.
The NJC can also be saddled with the responsibility of choosing the INEC chairperson so that whoever is picked would be able to discharge his or her functions without fear or favour and Nigeria’s elections would move away from those won by the highest bidders. Democracy is defeated when an election fails to reflect the wishes of the electorates.
In all, Nigeria’ at this juncture must strive at whatever would ensure elections which results are not only truly credible but also usher in men and women who are out to serve common interests and restore genuine happiness to the people.
Jide Oyewusi is the coordinator of Ethics Watch International Nigeria.
