Examples Worth Emulating For Nigeria From The U.K General Elections

After the horrible tales that followed the conduct of November’s gubernatorial elections by INEC in Kogi and Bayelsa states, one wonders if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has learnt anything from its poor performance in February/March.

Over the weekend, the United Kingdom conducted a 3rd General Election in 5 years to validate the popularity of political parties among the citizens and to elect officials.  Amidst heated debates between the top two political parties – Conservatives and Labour – the fierce campaign to save the U.K from Brexit passed without any form of violence and rancour. In the end, the people of the United Kingdom chose the leader they want to take them through the murky waters of leaving the European Union.

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A few more highlights of the poll will, however, stand out for citizens of countries who still struggle with elections. That the election is as smooth and seamless as making tea attests to the pragmatism which residents of this advanced country have placed on choosing those who represent them in political offices.

Conducting elections are not so hard after all, but it seems that INEC – the electoral umpire in Nigeria – would stop at nothing but to make a mountain out of a mole-hill. If elections were done properly here, it is suggested that elections petitions could drop by as much as 60%. In the just-concluded U.K elections, the Conservatives beat the Liberals hands down and the leader of the liberal Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has conceded defeat without much ado. It was a clean shave which would demand no time at any elections petitions tribunal to verify the poll results.

No Briton or Welsh or Scott can complain that the U.K election was marred by irregularities which could alter the results because it was transparent enough for all to see. Voters registered to vote without any stress whatsoever. Voters showed up at polling units before midnight to vote – after showing their ID cards. Provision is made for voting to happen by proxy too. The results are tallied and announced in roughly 24 hours of the start of voting.

There won’t be the need for any law court to upturn Boris Johnson’s election after 6 months in office because the electoral umpire did its homework of handling poll logistics well before the polls. Very valuable man-hours will not be wasted in the course of seeking redress in court or conducting a rerun election. Everyone is happy. 

But even the long and overdrawn litigation process for seeking redress for election anomalies in Nigeria is now being exploited first by political players, and then by lawyers who rely on mere technicalities – and not the substance of justice – to subvert the decision of tribunals and courts.

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There is an urgent need to bolster the trust that the people have in our electoral system. INEC and the National Assembly have a lot to do to ensure legislation and procedure for conducting elections is tidied up. We all also have our parts to play in order to have a fully functional and efficient system as that seen in other developed countries or we may keep wallowing in amazement at the wonders which advanced societies pull off.

Featured Image Source: Orientalnews NG

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adedoyin

Macaddy is mostly a farmer in the day who also dabbles into technology at night, in search of other cutting edge intersections. He's on Twitter @i_fix_you

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