Nigerians Say No To Rigging And Yes To Electronic Transmission Of Election Results -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

The debate about electoral reform is a recurring decimal in the Nigerian political sphere. This is so because the politicians especially those in power are always interested in putting in place a shambolic system that they can manipulate to hold on to power.

The debate is always very hot because of the importance of elections in a modern democracy as representative government. Elections make a fundamental contribution to democratic governance without which representation would be difficult. Fundamentally, the electoral or voting system is about how people vote and how the votes are counted to determine who is elected to represent them. Thus, an electoral system is the process through which the electorate (those eligible to vote in a particular election) choose who they want to manage their affairs for a specific period.

The importance of the electoral system cannot be over-emphasized. It provides the basic framework for democracy. The electoral systems are crucial in which people take part in politics and who holds power in a representative democracy. The electoral system determines how a fundamental political right (the right to vote) is exercised. The way in which votes casts are counted impacts the composition of the democratic system and the kind of government that can be formed. It also defines the manner in which representatives relate to the public and which a party or group of parties is able to form a government. The type of electoral system used can influence the choices individuals make when casting their votes as well as the kind of government that can be formed. The electoral systems therefore play a defining role in the structure of the political system.

A good electoral system will specify the electoral law, the participatory rules that determine candidate nomination and voters’ registration, location of polling units, dispute resolution mechanisms and limits of campaign spending. Other regulations are about voting devices like paper ballot, machine voting or open ballot or secret ballot and vote counting systems, verification and auditing.

In the light of the importance of the electoral system in success of our democracy, it is therefore not surprising to hear the public outrage that greeted the purported removal of the transmission of election results electronically from the polling units to the INEC server by the Nigerian Senate as reported in the media a few days ago. The Nigerian public see that as an act of sabotage by the National Assembly and a plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the forthcoming general election in 2027.

Clearly, Nigerians are disillusioned about the state of affairs in the country and are desirous of a change and therefore any attempt to manipulate the electoral process to circumvent the will of the electorates is an invitation to anarchy. Nigeria has had a chequered record of electoral malfeasance and violence, the last presidential election held in 2023 conducted by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu being the worst in the Nigeria history. And against this background, Nigerians would want to have an unbiased electoral body and a transparent system that ensures that the voting results are accurately transmitted to the INEC server in order to eradicate alteration and falsification of results. And to also reduce the incidences of ballot box snatching and violence associated with election rigging.

It is clear that a manipulative electoral system will give room for unscrupulous politicians to circumvent the will of the people through election rigging. And with rigging comes violence and loss of lives and property. And of course it is a huge waste of resources to spend billions of tax-payers’ money to conduct elections only to declare a false result. Another unsavory effect of false electoral system is that it limits civic participation. It creates apathy in the minds of the electorates. Nobody would want to vote when he feels his vote would not count. And the worst effect of a faulty electoral system is that it brings in bad leaders and bad government. Ideally, we know that elections enable electorate to select leaders and hold them accountable for their performance in office. But accountability can be undermined when those occupying elective positions act with impunity, when they feel they don’t need the peoples’ vote, but, thugs that snatch ballot boxes, to be in power. But, the result is different when the electoral process is competitive; when there is alternative and when the ultimate decision is made by the voters.

Election confers legitimacy, reinforces the stability and reliability of the political system, facilitate social and political integration. But, when the election results are manipulated, the effects will be different. The people react differently based on their level of awareness and cohesion and in most cases there are post elections wastages, violence, agitation and restiveness arising from anger and dissatisfaction that create instability.

Without doubt, a faulty and manipulative electoral system poses grave danger for our democracy. That is why all hands must be on deck to ensure that the National Assembly and INEC do the right things now before it is too late. The members of the opposition must as a matter of necessity mobilize and sensitize the people about the situation. Concerned Nigerians should speak up. We must all stand up and insist on the right thing to avoid a repeat of the electoral scam of 2023. Long live Nigeria!

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK