Inconclusive Election Is Not Peculiar To Kano State Alone – CCLCA

The Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness has commended Independent National Electoral Commission for demonstrating a high capacity and consistent improvement in the overall conduct of elections in Nigeria.

At a media briefing on Saturday, 30^th March, 2019 in Abuja, the Director General, Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness (CCLCA). Dr. Nwambu Gabriel said that INEC has put its best to ensure transparent, free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria but observed that some security agencies discharge their functions as contractors to some desperate politicians who deliberately violate the civic rights of millions of Nigerians.

It upheld INEC’s conduct of the supplementary elections in Kano State. He said that the election complies significantly with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as Amended) and the INEC’s regulations and guidelines as provided by the enabling laws of Nigeria.

Excerpt is the full text of his press statement:

INCONCLUSIVE ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

PRELUDE

In the world over, it is necessary to ensure that elections comply with International Best Practice and Globally Accepted Standard in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, hence, the essence of accrediting reputable Civil Society Organizations to observe any election is to assess the degree of compliance of the electoral management body (INEC), the Political Parties as well as their supporters to the relevant electoral laws as provided by the Electoral Act of 2010 as Amended, Federal Republic of Nigeria. This essentially is to serve as a parameter for measurement and a term of reference to improving future elections. Thus, election observation increases the level of credibility of a well ordered process of power transition in any defined democratic state.

Consequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as an electoral body saddled with the constitutional responsibility of conducting elections across Nigeria, after a thorough scrutiny accredited reputable Civil Society/Non Governmental Organizations as well as Foreign organizations to serve as election observers in the just concluded 2019 General Elections.

A LOOK AT INCONCLUSIVE ELECTIONS ACROSS NIGERIA

The term Inconclusive election is not only concise but it is very clear, unambiguous and well provided for in the extant laws that govern and guard electoral conducts in Nigeria.

But what really is supplementary election? It is a makeup election to a main election where the number of voters who were prevented by a combination of factors from voting outstrips the margin between the two leading candidates. If simply put, we can say that where the margin separating the first and second or even other opponents in an election falls far below the number of voters who couldn't vote on election day due to certain redeemable constraints, the election is declared inconclusive and plans put in place to organize a supplementary election where the disenfranchised voters will vote and decide who wins between the 2 highest scorers.

For a few examples, in 2011, the election between the then Imo state Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Rochas Okorocha was declared inconclusive and was resolved through a supplementary election.

Again in 2015, the re-election of the same Okorocha was declared inconclusive even when Okorocha was leading his main challenger by over 78,000 votes. It took a supplementary election to resolve this.

It is pertinent to recall that the election between Senator Chris Ngige and Late Professor Dora Akunyili for a senatorial seat in Anambra state was resolved in a supplementary election as was declared inconclusive.

A total of 30 Nigerians were murdered before, during and after the Presidential election consequent to election related issues. This figure we consider high when compared to the 11 deaths recorded in 2015 General election. These 11 people were reported to have died as a result of Boko Haram attack during the 2015 General Elections.

But a combination of deaths recorded in the 9th March Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections with the supplementary elections shows that over a hundred Nigerians lost their live. Most of who died during the supplementary elections.

What then could be responsible for this high level of deaths?

AN OBJECTIVE AND CLINICAL ANALYSIS

Now let's look at the Kano State supplementary elections and some reports released by some media establishments (online inclusive) and some Observer Groups as clinically examined by the Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness (CCLCA).

Elections were conducted in

208 Polling Units,

29 L.G.As,

76 Wards or Collation Centres

Many observers and media could not mention more than 5 polling units where violence was perpetrated in Kano state supplementary election. Our question is using even a maximum of 10 polling units as possible units where violence were perpetrated out of 208 polling units and almost 300 Voting Points. Could that be enough to generalize and say that the election was marred with violence; the answer is NO.

Again, let's examine the total Permanent Voters Cards (PVCS) collected and the scores so far recorded.

Kano State has a record of 87% of PVCs Collected.

The Total number of Registered Voters in Areas where elections are cancelled is 128,324 registered Voters.

Using a collection rate of 87%

That is, about 111, 641 persons had collected their PVCs in cancelled polling units.

In the inconclusive election,

PDP Scored 10, 239 Votes, while

APC Scored 45, 876 Votes.

Adding the both scores is 56,115.

Now the total number of vote cast is less than 50% of the total PVCs collected and total number of registered voters.

However, this election does not have incidences of over-voting, thus is still in line with the rules of a transparent election as provided by the electoral Act of 2010 as Amended.

However, we observed massive vote buying and intimidation, pockets of violence in Chibia LGA, parts of Nasarawa town and Guma LGA.

But in all these, the Independent National Electoral Commission was very conscious and prudent in handling the situation and nullifying results where necessary.

For us, it is our firm belief that inconclusive election is not peculiar to Kano state alone but rather a process that demonstrates the resolute determination of INEC in ensuring the conduct of transparent, free, fair and credible elections en route positive sustainability of democracy in Nigeria.

It is evident that few violence were recorded in Chibia and Guma (especially in Nasarawa) during the supplementary election in Kano state, but the ratio is not enough to neither condemn the processes of the election nor discredit it.

Nigeria is an evolving democratic nation. Our democracy is deepening and maturing as INEC has demonstrated a high capacity and consistent improvement in the overall conduct of elections in Nigeria. Unlike in the time past when a few individuals sit in the comfort of their homes and determine election results. Greater participation in elections is observed because votes now count.

The Centre as INEC accredited observer organization hereby uphold INECs conduct of the supplementary elections in Kano state as the election complies significantly with the provisions of the electoral act, 2010 as amended, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as Amended) and the INECs regulations and guidelines as provided by the enabling laws of Nigera.

The challenges in the Nigerian electoral system are the inability of the political elites across party lines to abide to lay down fundamental rules and regulations. The desperation of some party bigwigs has grossly undermined the efforts of the electoral management body.

We also observed the indiscriminate use of certain INEC pronouncements as provided by law as demonstrated by some returning officers in Imo and Bauchi states respectively. Returning officers must be properly trained and guided on the appropriate diction to avoid embarrassment to the commission.

CONCLUSSION

While INEC has put its best to ensure transparent, free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, we observed that some security agencies discharge their functions as contractors to some desperate politicians who deliberately violate the civic rights of millions of Nigerians.

Regrettably, this is a lacuna that has taken our electoral system to an ELECTORAL RECESSION. If this issue bothering on the professionalism and impartiality of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria is not addressed urgently, proper conduct of credible elections in Nigeria would continue to elude the Giant of Africa.

Finally, to avert the huge expenditure and ensure transparent elections, we urge the 8th National Assembly to rectify the electoral amendment bill and send once again to Mr. President for urgent accent.

Thank you.

Signed:

Dr. Nwambu Gabriel,

DIRECTOR GENERAL

Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness (CCLCA).