Against a history of recurring electoral fraud and consequent credibility and legitimacy crisis in Nigeria, it is not surprising that concerns are being voiced over the prospects of the forthcoming general election billed to hold next February. The Osun State governorship election billed for tomorrow is even an immediate cause for worry as the prospect of violence is so high and allegations of plots of rigging are so rife that the political atmosphere seems too charged for comfort. No wonder, in addition to the worries expressed by well-meaning Nigerians over the general political situation in the country, particularly over the credibility question, the Commonwealth of Nations, an assemblage of former British colonies in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, has also lent an exasperated voice to the need for a proper electoral process in Nigeria.
The Secretary General of the organisation, Kamalesh Sharma who paid a courtesy call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the organisation was in the country to begin early preparation in terms of its role in Nigeria’s next general elections. The scribe urged INEC to ensure a level playing field for all political parties involved in the electoral process as transparency and impartiality are central to successful conduct of elections. Besides, he emphasised the need for the commission to eschew politically induced manipulation of the electoral calendar in the form of postponement for the slightest of excuses. He further said that the Commonwealth, within the limits of capability, was disposed to providing support to ensure that the country has credible free and fair elections and that it was of no use making similar recommendations on how to better the electoral process when previous recommendations fell through in implementation.
Indeed, recommendations matter, but implementation matters most to avoid repetition and complacency. It would be recalled that in the 2007 general elections, the Commonwealth observers group delivered one of the most trenchant assessments of that election and remarked in unambiguous terms that Nigeria went below the standard it set for itself and the electoral exercise was a farce.
This wholesome intervention by the Commonwealth scribe could not have come at a better time than on the eve of the conduct of the Osun State gubernatorial election, now seen, after the recently held Ekiti State election, as a foretaste of what to expect in the 2015 general elections. It is important to note that the inter-governmental organisation, which compacted its own guiding principles on democracy, otherwise known as the Harare Declaration, has over the last two decades, been engaged in the democratic processes in its member states. This follows its pre-occupation with ensuring institutional harmony through the extirpation of grievances, inequality and discriminations by encouraging the building of inclusive citizenship.
It is just as well that the INEC has given assurances and underscored its continuing effort to ensure free and credible elections in the country. What, however, cannot be missed by discerning observers and pundits of the Nigerian political process is that the prospect of any election often engenders an aerie feeling of the impossibility of a transparent and violent-free exercise in the country. This may not be unconnected with a tainted political past signposted by electoral fiascoes and gross failure of leadership.
One ominous sign of an impending gloomy outcome is the increasing militarization of the electoral process beyond the bounds of impartiality and decency. Whereas the nation’s peculiar democratic deficits demand some measures to guarantee the security of the electoral process, taking it to the level of saber-rattling and partisanship casts an indelible slur on the process in ways that undermine its legitimacy. It is in the interest of the country to insulate the military from partisan inclination, especially in the electoral process, because it might signal the death of civil values and the entrenchment of tyranny which consequence is all too familiar.
The leadership qualities of members of the political class which is at best second-rate is, of course, something to worry about. The utterances of politicians and would-be players leave much to be desired. There is no streak of wisdom that indicates any familiarity with Nigeria’s checkered past let alone any lessons learnt therefrom. Indeed, there are minimal requirements for leadership and they are well articulated in Plato’s Republic and Statesman. One of them is wisdom; and another is discipline and integrity. These are in short supply in this clime, which is why the real problem of Nigeria is that state institutions, ideally democratic, are being run by anti-democrats, largely bereft of any grace and hardly capable of edifying any process.
As Osun citizens vote tomorrow and the nation prepares for the 2015 general elections, the point must be stressed that democracy thrives or dies on the altar of electoral process. It is a majestic ideal that must never be trifled with in style and in substance. All of democracy’s processes, beginning from voter registration to actual voting and counting must bear the signature of integrity.
There will always be winners and losers in any election, but it is victory all the way for Nigeria and Nigerians when the process is not only free, fair, transparent and credible, but seen to be so.
