Dilemma Over Nigeria Political Reform
Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2009
by Rahaman Onike
Reading the leaps and reactions of people after the release of government white paper on the report of Justice Mohammed Uwais led Electoral Reform Committee, there is an indication that the nation is still in a big dilemma. Contrary to people's expectation, government rejected some of the Uwais recommendations that are widely believed would give credibility and acceptability to future elections in the country.
Worried by the reasons advanced by the government for rejecting some of the Uwais recommendations, there is the need to take a cursory look at the implications of some of the ideas that were rejected. The government outrightly rejected the recommendation that the National Judicial Council (NJC) should be responsible for the appointment of the Board of INEC and those of the three proposed bodies to be established, subject to senate's ratification.
Instead of granting INEC the autonomy as recommended by Uwais panel, the government only intends to make funding of the Electoral Body a fist-line charge on the federal consolidated revenue fund. Obviously, there is no assurance that the proposed funding system would guarantee financial and administrative independence for the Nation's Electoral Commission, with the approved mode of appointing the Electoral Board. My suspicion is that the government is still interested in exercising control either directly or indirectly on INEC. As simplistic the government argument sounds, in explaining the doctrine of separation of power in relation to government handling off the appointment of INEC Board, one can still notice deception in the proposition of the government spokespersons.
One major issue that is missing from the white paper or that was not given prominence by the panel is the role of the police in the electoral process.
Judging from the performances of the police between 1999 to 2007, there are sound premises for one to conclude that the rating is abysmally low when it comes to law enforcement and order during campaigns and election periods. There were instances whereby the police rather than combating the political crimes were found to be aiding and abetting the electoral offenders. Somehow, the past misdeed of the police in causing and aggravating political crises is part of the issues that must be addressed for the nation to have a political way forward. Obviously, the nation is at risk when there is glaring evidence that the police had severally compromised its integrity all in the name of "order from the above", in our past political experiments.
Similarly, whatever the power allocated to the Electoral Offences Commission, as being proposed by the government in an effort to unbundled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), such can only be effectively exercised, if the past misdeeds of the police during the election crises are properly addressed.
Again, the open secret ballot system approved for the nation by the Federal Executive Council is expected to bring the desirable result, if properly Managed, Monitored and supervised. It is also good that the Uwais panel in his reports and recommendations took cognizance of wastage being recorded annually by the government through grants to many non-existing political parties.
Given the state of the nation's economy, it seems logical and acceptable, the decision to set a standard for parties to qualify for government grants. I have an unanchored confidence that some parties would not be able to score at least five per-cent of the vote cast in general elections which is a minimum requirement for any party to qualify for the grants.
We also have a good news that the government has approved recommendation to enable her undertake broad civic and political socialization for the citizens. Also important is the proposed ten years ban for electoral offenders. These new political innovations in my own opinion, are welcome ideas. The ultimate objective of the political education however is to re-orientate Nigerians towards better political behaviours.
Candidly, what we lack as people are sound political judgment, right norms and values and enviable political socialization. If the politicians could have an attitudinal change, politics would become less volatile and more people will be attracted to it.
There is also a sense in the proposal which seeks to reduce the number of Tribunal Judges to three as against five that is currently obtainable; it is hoped that such would give room for better consensus among the judges when it comes to administration of justice. The reduction in the tribunal composition will equally reduce the cost of servicing the judges and the cost of prosecuting the election petition cases in the country.
With the complexity of the nation's current political system, the coast is not yet clear for the independent candidates to succeed in Nigeria Political terrain. However, there will be prospects for independent candidates in the future when our leaders are truly ready for the political reforms, the types whose agenda would not be based on parochialism, individualism and prejudice.
Another area of contention is the question of the time limit for hearing of the election petitions and for delivering judgments. Of course, government was unequivocal in rejecting the six months proposed as maximum time limit for the completion of election petition cases. Without specific time frame for the completion of the election petition cases, there is tendency that the incumbents will find it easy to manipulate the system to their advantages using the instrumentality of the state.
I agree with Uwais panel that six months is sufficient to complete the election petition cases. It is against this background that I insist on thorough reform of our political system as a way to free the nation from political violence, domination, corrupt leadership, and instability and stagnated development that have charactised our political system.
By
Onike Rahaman,
Public Affairs Analyst,
Oyo town,
Oyo state.
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