…Nigerians losing hope in judiciary, proffer solution

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South; Dayo johnson, Regional Editor, South West; Sam Oyadongha; Jimitota Onoyume; Egufe Yafugborhi; Chioma Onuegbu; Ochuko Akuopha; Rotimi Ojomoyela; Ozioruva Aliu; Shina Abubakar & Laolu Elijah

In the recent Local Government elections conducted in the states by State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECS, the governors who inaugurated the electoral bodies were generally believed to have masterminded the results for their different political parties. As a result of this, concerned Nigerians suggested that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should take over local government elections. But those who rejected this cited INEC’s barefaced ineffectiveness at the national level where electoral officers altered figures at the collation centres and the final results announced were different from what were recorded at the polling units.

The party in power at the centre also influences election results to their favour even when they lose woefully and their usual refrain to the victims of their fraud is ‘go to court’, even when most Nigerians have lost confidence in the judiciary to dispense justice. Stakeholders are lamenting that politicians are destroying the critical elements of democracy in Nigeria and have been asking how do we save our democracy and strengthen it for our votes to count especially now that they are losing hope on the judiciary which, ordinarily should be the last hope of the common man. The judiciary has even become an easy tool in the hands of politicians whose penchant for impunity and disregard for rule of law is being enhanced by the same body that should have checked them.

Nigerians who spoke to Saturday Vanguard suggested that the people should vote for a constituent assembly or national constitutional conference to deliberate on the troubling issue and endorse a new Constitution. They also called for the stricter application of the rule of law, inculcating a new sense of honesty and integrity in the upcoming generation, and a federal counter-force to checkmate the governors who usually appropriate the state apparatus to install their puppets as local government chairmen and councilors. However, some contended that the SIECs should continue with local government elections rather than hand it over to the INEC.

National conference to enact just constitution – Wills, lawyer

A lawyer and co-convener of Embasara Foundation, an Ijaw think tank for good governance in Bayelsa State, Iniruo Wills, said: “The way forward is a constituent assembly or national constitutional conference comprising freely elected representatives to negotiate and sovereignly enact a just and sensible constitution to reposition Nigeria. That is the domino. Almost everything else will depend on the due process and outcome of it.”

Federal power to check govs – Clarkson, ex-MOSIEND spokesman

Former Spokesman of the Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, and legal practitioner, Amaebi Clarkson, asserted: “The problem with our electoral process is not the institution but the desperate attitude of the politicians. There will be no marked difference even if the INEC conducts local government elections. It will always be the usual ‘carry go’ of the party in power unless there is another strong contending power at the federal level to buffer the governor’s grip like the scenario playing out in Rivers State between Fubara and Wike. However, independent candidates will relatively cure the madness at the ward level for the councillorship elections. The villagers know themselves, so vote-buying and imposition of councilors at the ward level is a near impossibility.”

The rule of law should prevail – Ogune, activist

An activist in Warri, Delta State, Mr Fred Ogune, said: “We need a country where the rule of law applies. Institutions should be respected under the law. Strong characters should not be the guiding principle in our political system. The rule of law should put restrictions on strong characters in government, this way, we will have a country with regard for law and order. The police, lawmakers, and executives should all be seen to respect the law. The judiciary on its part should also have regard for the law it interprets. We have seen conflicts in judgments on issues with judicial precedent in recent times to the extent that the judiciary has also become part of the problem.”

Hopeless situation but … – Emiaso, retired judge

A retired president of the Delta State Area Customary Court, Miakpor Emiaso, stated: “When we talk about how we can strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, in the short term, it is a hopeless situation, but in the long term if we are serious about running a serious country, we need to go back to the educational system and train our children to appreciate what is honesty and integrity in public affairs. Right now, the adult that make up our population do not have respect for honesty and integrity anymore, so when you are conducting elections and you use whatever organization, whether it is INEC or SIEC, and you bring Nigerian adult of today, then, the situation in the short or even medium term is hopeless because we are all compromised. We are thinking of our tiny stomachs and not concerned about the bigger benefits to society. So, we need to go back to the basics, look at our educational system and look at the kind of training we give to our children and let them grow up to take over society with a new mindset of doing things the right way according to law, according to rules and regulations.”

We need sincere leader whose focus is service —Hon Kennedy Peretei

Hon Kennedy Peretei, Ondo State Publicity Secretary of People’s Democratic Party, argued that “Public offices are too attractive, that is why people do everything to get there including killing their opponents and compromising the electoral umpires or even the judiciary. Once the main purpose of seeking public office is service, this malady will stop. The electorate have been so impoverished that they appear to be helpless. As long as public servants can become billionaires overnight without verifiable sources of income, the craze for these offices can never get better than we have seen so far. But one sincere leader whose focus is to serve the masses can change all of this”.

Social re-engineering is key to functional institutions —Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi

The former Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Ekiti State, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, said, ”As long as political offices continue to represent the only ladder out of abject poverty into stupendous wealth, the competition will continue to be fierce and full of manipulation, whether it is a centralized electoral management body or a decentralized one. Secondly the electoral act itself is designed for breaches, rather than compliance hence it always ends in conflicts, disputes and litigations. It is therefore necessary to ask whether an impoverished nation can successfully conduct a free, fair and peaceful election. INEC is just one of the stakeholders, not the only one. Social re-engineering is the key to functional institutions”.

Waheed Lawal, chairman, Osun Civil Society Coalition

“It is unfortunate where we found ourselves as a nation. The state governors have made a mess of our democracy since the return to democracy except in 1999 when INEC conducted the first local government election in the country. Today, state electoral bodies have made our democracy a laughing stock to the extent that Nigerians are now calling for a return to an era when INEC would be conducting polls for Local Governments. This is very unfortunate and retrogressive. It is retrogressive because INEC is also battling with integrity among Nigerians, so, how do we trust the commission to be fair to all. If we must cede the right to conduct LG election to INEC, the constitution must also put in place mechanisms to ensure that INEC is not compromised.”

Objectionable for INEC to take over SIEC— Dr Eko, UNIUYO don

A lecturer at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa-Ibom State, Dr Paul Eko, said: “To me, it is improper for the INEC to take over the statutory role of SIECs. In the first place, it will be cumbersome for INEC to handle the local government, state and national elections. Even the national elections that they have been conducting in the country have not been smooth, fair, and credible. Over the years INEC has been conducting national elections, and ruling parties in many states of the federation, have also been sweeping the polls. So, for that reason, calls for INEC to take over local government elections is not tenable”, Eko asserted.

No to INEC taking over SIEC — Emmanson, A-Ibom pipeline coordinator

Coordinator of Gas Pipeline in Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Kufre Emmanson, opined: “For INEC to take over conduct of local government elections is not acceptable. If it is done, it means that the federal government will now have total control of the elections, and can influence whoever becomes a local government chairman and councilor. So, we do not support that.”

Give INEC a try —Gbemre, N-Delta activist

Coordinator, Niger Delta Peace Coalition Zik Gbemre, disagreed with those opposed to INEC taking over SIEC, saying: “INEC taking over the elections for local government areas have been suggested to avoid state governors handpicking local government chairmen and councilors in the entire country. Though it is believed that election malpractices are pronounced all over Nigeria, INEC seems to be more credible than state election commissions. Local government elections are a mockery. There is no opposition in most local government areas in every state. As bad as INEC is termed, there are still state governors in the opposition. There should be one election commission to cover all elective positions in the country. Poor elections are responsible for why democracy does not necessarily guarantee good leadership. What Nigeria lacks is good leadership.”

INEC should conduct local govt elections —Osaro Iyamu

Osaro Culture Iyamu, President, Benin Unity Forum (BUF), “The call and the need for INEC to take over the conduct of Local Government Councils elections across the country is long overdue. The governors want to continue to take control of Local Government Councils Administration in their various states due to the monthly allocations statutorily meant for Local Government Councils. The governors therefore make sure that the candidates of their party are declared winners of the local government elections and this was what compelled Nigerians to call for total scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions which are controlled by governors. If the INEC is granted the permission to conduct local government councils elections, it will give a level playing field to all political parties, speed up grassroots development and empowerment and reduce the dominance of one party system at the local government levels.”

Strengthening of institutions is the way forward —Comrade Ogbidi Emmanuel

According to the President of Network of Civil Societies of Nigeria (NOCSON), Comrade Ogbidi Emmanuel, “strengthening of the institutions is the way forward. There is abuse both at the level of INEC and the SIECs. The process of appointment of people into these bodies and their funding are key to strengthening our democracy. We should clamour for a proper federal system of government and we must make the institutions truly independent.”

Chief Oladipo Oyewole, Secretary General, Yoruba Council of Elders

“Every Nigerian should do things in accordance with laid down rules and regulations and be committed to making democracy work for us. The management of Local Government Election process under any sitting governor is open to manipulation because the governor has direct control of the state electoral commission and its officers. The conduct of elections at state levels must be transparent and it can only be achieved if the process is taken away from the state government. The ideal thing therefore is for the council election to be conducted by the national body.