Last week I identified some of the problems which adversely affected the smooth conduct of the last general elections. I stated how electoral violence contributed to voter apathy and how the huge number of political parties may actually not be good for the country’s democracy. As I stated last week, many of the identified problems can be addressed through amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“The solutions to many of the issues highlighted above and more lie in an urgent amendment to the Electoral Act. Happily there is already in place an Amendment Act which unfortunately failed to receive the assent of President Buhari ostensibly on the ground that it was passed and presented too close to the holding of the last elections”

Last week I discussed the role of the electoral body in ensuring the election of leaders who will transform the country. I identified a truly independent and impartial electoral body as an absolute necessity in bringing this about. This week I intend to highlight changes that can be adopted to make the electoral body more independent.

THE 2019 general elections have come and gone. As was evident from the outset, the elections have been characterised by controversy. While some candidates and their parties have expressed satisfaction with the entire process, it has not been so with others. At the centre of it all is the Independent National Electoral Commission whose conduct of the elections has again come under intense scrutiny. That this would be so was clear from accusations and counter accusations made before the elections by the major political parties about the impartiality or independence of the electoral umpire.

LAST week I discussed the problems associated with leadership in Nigeria and the need for election of ideal leaders. I stated how the lack of political ideology and the attractive nature of public office have ensured that most people who get elected into office pay little or no attention to service to the citizens. This week I will proffer suggestions on how to bring an end to the malaise brought about by poor leadership.

Elections are all about choosing leaders and I believe that no question has called for discussion in the history of our nation such as the question of leadership. Prior to and since independence, Nigerians from all walks of life have as a result of their individual and collective experiences made the issue of the country’s leadership a hot topic of debate in beer parlours, sport stadiums, buses, classrooms and board rooms. Every problem has been blamed on poor leadership. Improved leadership has been offered as panacea to all ills of the society. The quality of leadership in every aspect of our lives affects and concerns us all.

On the morning of February 16, 2019, millions of Nigerians who night before had gone to bed looking forward to the opportunity to cast their votes in the Presidential and National Assembly elections awoke to the shocking news that the elections had been postponed by INEC to February 23.

The 2019 presidential and national assembly elections are a few days away and aside from the ongoing campaign of the candidates, one aspect of the impending elections which continues to attract attention is what role the military will play on the day of the election. As it was during some past elections, there are concerns not only about the intention of government to deploy the military on election date but also what that will portend for the smooth conduct of the elections. While those in support of such moves argue that security concerns permit or even make the deployment of the military an absolute necessity, others opposed to it refer to past incidents where the military were utilised by unscrupulous politicians to skew the electoral process in their favour through means including intimidation of voters and members of the opposition.

Democracy is often defined as the government of the people, for the people and by the people. The “people” or “citizenry” therefore constitute an essential element of the concept of democracy. Take the “people” out of the equation and there will be a dysfunction in the whole political and social make up of the society.

THE Independent National Electoral Commission owes its existence to the provisions of Section 153 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The composition and powers of the Commission are as contained in paragraphs 14 and 15 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution. By paragraph 15, the Commission specifically has the power to: