Introduction
Democracy thrives on the tripod pillars of the rule of law, sanctity of the electoral process and independence of the legislative and judicial arms of governments. It is against this backdrop that the recent mishandling of the Electoral Amendment Bill by Nigeria’s National Legislature (The Senate and The House of Representatives) throws into question Nigeria’s commitment and determination to conducting free, credible and transparent elections. It will be repeating the obvious that this shoddy outing by the National Assembly will generate apprehension and lethargy in the investor community about the viability and safety of Nigeria as an investment destination.
It does not make sense that the same government that has ordered all Nigerians to register for the National Identification Number (NIN) in all parts of the country which requires the use of data services now turns around to remove electronic transmission of votes which was meant to add credibility to the electoral process on the excuse of non-availability of data services in all parts of the country. Similarly, students are also registering for examinations online all over the country which requires the availability of data services with no part of the country complaining of alienation or inability to register. The same goes for BVN and other services requiring the use of internet data. The excuse pushed forward by the legislature that not all parts of Nigeria have coverage of data services is at best suspicious and a pointer to the legislators setting the stage to rig the forthcoming national elections in 2023! This is precisely the wrong messages that the international community and investors do not want to hear! The negative impact on the economy can best be imagined!
In the aftermath of the legislative debacle, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria’s national electoral umpire, came out to say that the technology to transmit electoral results electronically does not require data services but just a SIM card in the same way text messages (SMS) are transmitted without the use of data services. One would expect that the legislators will contend that with 90% or more of the territory of Nigeria covered with text messaging services, they will approve electronic transmission of results.
Another notable fact is that about 28 Senators absented themselves from the chambers when the proceedings of the electoral bill were being deliberated upon. If these Senators deliberately stayed away when what is perhaps the most important instrument of citizen participation in a democratic dispensation, then they have lost any moral right to continue to represent the people. These Senators should have recall proceedings commenced against them if Nigeria is to send a clear message to the international and investor communities of her determination to protect the sanctity of the electoral process.
In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari withheld assent to the electoral bill presented to him on the sole premise that it was too close to the conduct of the 2019 general elections. It is now more than 2 years since the elections were concluded with the President getting a second term. The failure of the President to assent to the electoral bill as he promised is a bad signal to the international and investor communities about the ability of Nigerian officials at the very highest levels to keep to promises. These errors must be corrected in the enactment of the 2021 electoral act. Mr. President, by assenting promptly to the 2021 electoral bill, will be giving assurances to the international and investor communities that Nigeria is indeed open for business!
Recommendations
- Nigeria’s National Assembly must, as a matter of urgency, reinstate electronic transmission of results to add credibility to the electoral process. It is only when the electoral process is free, credible and transparent that technocrats who will better manage the economy will be encouraged to step into the political arena.
- Electronic transmission will cover about 90% of all votes cast. The National Assembly can make a step-out legislation for manual transmission of votes for the 10% or less territory that is not covered with text messaging services. The same provision has been made for the card reader which, unlike the electronic transmission, actually needs data services to work. So, if the National Assembly approved the use of card readers requiring data services, it becomes puzzling that they withheld approval of electronic transmission which does not even need data services to function.
- The National Assembly must also, as a matter of urgency, approve the participation of Nigerians living the diaspora in the electoral process. The grounds of all Nigerian missions abroad (embassies and high commissions) are considered Nigerian territory by international conventions. A ballot box placed in the grounds of Nigeria’s foreign missions is same as placing that ballot in any polling unit in Nigeria because that foreign mission is tantamount to Nigeria’s soil. So, there is no necessity to amend the constitution before diaspora voting is made a reality. An amendment of the electoral bill empowering INEC to place ballot boxes in Nigeria’s foreign missions during the conduct of general elections will give full legal backing to diaspora voting. Countries such as the Republic of Chad have approved and are conducting diaspora voting, there is no reason that Nigeria cannot do same! There is a school of thought that the political class in Nigeria is apprehensive of diaspora voting because the diasporas are most likely not to sell their votes and their votes will thus become decisive in electing leaders at all levels. All Nigerians need diaspora voting to help elect more responsible and responsive leaders for the country!
- Globally, politicians are known to pursue their own interests at the expense of the people they represent if they (politicians) know they don’t need the people at the ballot box! In Nigeria, we have watched one government come and go with no improvement in the standard of living of the people while the politicians become stupendously rich. Each government watches as the oil companies continue to burn produced gas while the economy which needs 200GW of electricity is fed with only 4GW, which often experiences grid collapses. The only way Nigerians can bring politicians to provide responsible and accountable leadership of the economy, tame corruption and tackle insecurity crisis is through the ballot box! If these same politicians who are lording it over the people know that they will need the votes of the people at the ballot box, they will work more for the interest of the people. It is therefore recommended that all Nigerians take a keen interest in the electoral process as this is the only way to bring politicians to their knees! INEC has now opened the continuous voter registration portal at www.cvr.inecnigeria.org and all Nigerians of voter age are encouraged to access the site to register to vote if not yet registered, transfer their voter’s card to their new locations if they have moved or locate their voter’s card if they are yet to collect them. In a democracy the only power the people have over the politicians is their votes and it will amount to shooting themselves in the foot if voters show apathy to the electoral process thus abandoning the field to the politicians to stage a walk over and continue delivering bad governance.
Conclusion
Without a credible electoral process, investors will develop cold feet in sinking their monies in Nigeria’s economy. A faulty electoral process therefore leads to a kwashiorkored and emaciated economy which is robbed of the oxygen of foreign direct investments. A faulty electoral process also robs the economy of competent, capable, qualified and compassionate economic managers who have apathy to the electoral process and do not throw their hats into the political ring. The National Assembly will do the economy all the good by stopping the toying and playing of games with the electoral bill henceforth and remain focused on delivering to Nigerians an electoral bill that will engender confidence in the voter population, the international community and the investors.