How INEC can rescue its battered image —YIAGA Africa

•Says their integrity, and competence are at stake…

The integrity and competence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is at stake once again as the people of Edo state decide who takes over the mantle of leadership from Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Disappointingly, the build-up to the election was marked by violence, stories about the unlawful arrest of some stakeholders, accusations of intimidation, etc, raising concerns as to whether the political actors and stakeholders were preparing for war or election.

While many worried about how the widespread economic hardship would impact voters on election day, YIAGA Africa, a pro-democracy group, raised a more serious concern which bothered on the integrity and competence of both INEC and security agencies.

The group which has been consistent in their commitment towards ensuring credible elections in the country, recently released a document in which it identified some of the factors that will ensure successful election in Edo state. It stated that the success of the Edo governorship election, would be contingent on INEC, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.

YIAGA’S fears were perhaps premised on irregularities in the previous elections especially during the 2019 and 2023 general elections. Startling revelations about misconducts that marked the 2019 general elections, left Nigerians in doubt about the victory INEC awarded to APC. Going down in history as the worst election held in Nigeria, INEC had its image completely smeared by the way it managed the February 25, 2023 general elections. Remembering how INEC claimed to have experienced technical glitches only when it was time to transmit the presidential election results, the haste and manner in which it declared a winner amidst serious complaints of widespread violence, voter suppression/ intimidations, pre-filling of result sheets, and unethical conducts of security and polling officials, all cast doubts on the success of today’s election.

Things were made worse when some men in uniform were seen in viral videos either snatching ballot boxes or protecting tugs sent to polling stations to disrupt the election process. Also, till date the flaws that made the gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Imo states a charade, are still hunting the people.

Why election success is contingent on INEC, Police and other security agencies

Considering the antecedents of INEC and security agencies in election matters in the country, Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo reiterated that the success of the election in Edo state today is contingent on the two entities.

Itodo, who spoke during an interview during the week, identified about six defining issues for the election. He stated, “It is clear that politicians are not preparing for elections, they are preparing for a showdown because this election sadly, is not a competition of ideas and issues” adding that “It is more of a clash of political heavyweights and in all the conversations, the interest of the people of Edo state has not been the topmost priority.”

In addition to the issues of zoning and strong arm tactics and use of violence, the biggest issue he maintained was the integrity of the electoral umpire. “INEC’s integrity and competence is another big issue for this election and the way INEC manages this election will define its outcome. Money politics is a bigger issue but also pre and post election litigation. We’ve seen in the build up to this election that there have been allegations, litigations as a result of acrimonious party primaries, and those pre election issues are still there,” he stated.

INEC, security agencies must pass the integrity test

One of the big tests noted in part of YIAGA Africa’s document is the integrity of security agencies. It’s of utmost concern whether the police would demonstrate impartiality on election day. To this end, Itodo said, “The police, our security agencies will be tested on Saturday and the big question is whether they will maintain neutrality and impartiality in the management of election security operations because there are concerns about federal influence or federal might to influence the outcome of the election; these are based on allegations from political actors. There are also concerns that there’s no level playing field because the security agents have arrested political actors.

”Also, we hope that there will not be any protection for tugs of any political party who will be deployed to the polling stations to disrupt elections. We expect the police to act professionally and impartially and to address the concerns political stakeholders have made because they will be undergoing an impartiality test on Saturday.”

“The last biggest test is the integrity test. There are four fundamental questions and they relate to INEC. The first critical one with respect to the integrity test that INEC will undergo, is one, will all the sensitive materials, ballot papers and result sheets and even non-sensitive materials, be deployed promptly to all the local governments in the state so voting can commence promptly? Another one is whether INEC will maintain consistency in enforcing and implementing the rule on suspending election in cases where there’s substantial disruption of election because Section 24 of the Electoral Act is very clear. So, if you have early warning signs of violence, if it appears that politicians are preparing for a showdown, they might instrumentalise violence to undermine the elections. The third sort of test is whether INEC will instrumentalise its power to review declarations and returns made under durex or in contravention of the Electoral law. Because INEC has power to review results, we expect that in the light of this election you would see situations where officials will be forced to announce results but INEC will need to enforce its own power by reviewing those declarations,” Itodo explained.

Regarding areas YIAGA in its release, considered hot spots or flash points, Itodo hinted that in the pre-election period, there was a lot the security agencies could do. The first, according to him, is “moping the small and light arms that are almost everywhere in the state. There is a proliferation of small and light arms based on our observation report. They know these actors; they know where these arms are and even if they don’t, this is where intelligence comes in. It’s not just the police but other security agencies should ensure they mop up small and light arms in the custody of tugs and cultists across the different divides.

“Also, what is the level of protection that will be provided for INEC officials to deploy materials in these flash points of violence and in the local governments we have identified based on our pre-election observation. On the day of election, how do you ensure that tugs don’t disrupt the voting process especially in the flashpoints of violence and the strongholds of political actors? We have seen a situation where tugs are deployed to polling units to foment violence and no reprimand of any nature. We have seen some security agencies providing protection for these tugs. Security agencies should not also prevent observers, party agents, journalists who have been accredited by INEC, from accessing ward and local government collation centers.”

What INEC must do to restore integrity, confidence

Continuing he said, “If they do not have regard for integrity and transparency and accountability, there’s absolutely nothing you can do. We know that based on practice and experience, politicians compromise election officials. In the recent elections in Kogi state, we saw Corps members arrested with several forms and were responsible for prefilling result sheets. They were compromised by polling officials.

“INEC needs to introduce mechanisms that checkmate the excesses of its staff. Where there is an accountability question, they should report to INEC leadership in Abuja. And when a polling official reports that they were forced to declare results the key question is what’s INEC remedial action; the law empowers INEC to take action.

“We must keep an eye on all INEC officials and see whether they’ll meet the integrity tests. INEC has a role in the decision it makes; if it is consistent with its decision, if it implements its guidelines strictly and also provisions of the law, if the collation process is transparent, if ward and local government collation officers are people of impeccable character, then, there’s substantial compliance with the rules.

But currently, there’s a shadow of doubt cast on the election; there’s a crisis of confidence in INEC and it can restore public confidence in the way it manages this election.”

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