Verdict 2007: Some Ideas for Urgent Action

By Fred Igbeare

Are we ready to learn from past mistakes?  I sincerely hope so.  Not enough was done to prevent fraud and violence in the April 14 and 21 elections.

Senate President Ken Nnamani would agree: “We will take a look on our side; there may be some areas we didn't craft very well that is by way of amending the Electoral Act.  If we cannot handle it because our time will soon be up, those that will succeed us in office will take a closer look at it" (The Guardian, 25 April 2007).

His forthrightness is commendable.  I however have strong reservations about any delays.  This matter deserves urgent and focused attention now.  Nnamani himself was partly disenfranchised, incredible as that may sound!  Nigeria’s democracy is at stake.  This National Assembly, yes, this one that killed the third-term agenda, must take corrective action now.  Who knows what kind of lawmakers would replace them in a few weeks? 

Here is one urgently needed remedy for Senate President Ken Nnamani and his colleagues to apply before their time runs out.  It would require changing the electoral law to make videotaping the voting and counting process compulsory nationwide.  The recording would be from start to finish: from the first vote cast to the announcement of results.  If even one contestant is prevented from videotaping the process, the votes from that polling station would become invalid.  Another election would have to hold there until things are done according to the new law.

For this idea to work, the counting of ballots must be done at each polling station.  That is, right there, after voting ends: with everybody watching and recording!  How many people want to be caught on tape stuffing ballot boxes and stealing people's votes?  Riggers are like other thieves.  They prefer to operate in the dark.  So let's shine some light on the electoral process.  Let the cameras roll!

One of the likely responses to this electoral amendment is: “Too expensive, forget about it!”  Okay, would you rather make this change or finance a civil war?  On the other side of a bloodbath, you are still going to confront the need for this suggestion!  So, wake up people!  If we are serious about protecting our voting rights, then we should find the money for measures like this.  We should build permanent voting centers across the country with multiple video-camera stands and illuminated podiums for onsite vote counting.

Here is another idea.  Pat Utomi had spoken of raising a large anti-rigging army.  I am not sure what happened with that.  But let’s take it further in the upcoming elections.  Each political party, or coalition, should voluntarily gather about 50 people who would stand guard at each polling station.  You can call them a Voting Vanguard.  Their roles would be that of peaceful observers on Election Day.   They would also record events with multimedia gadgets to provide as evidence in court. 

How do we prevent this Vanguard from being overrun by thugs?  The opposition parties should hire armed guards.  If legal changes are needed to let the parties get guards who don’t work for the government, so be it.  National Assembly please take note!

There is some truth in this adage: when guns are outlawed, only outlaws have guns!  We may want to re-examine the state monopoly (and abuse) of firearms.  Granting every one the right to bear arms may be too dangerous.  Maybe a compromise could be reached between the present extreme government monopoly and the vulnerability of common citizens to armed banditry.

People do have a right to defend themselves.  It is sad to see law enforcement officers disappoint Nigerians consistently.  The Police Force itself has been victimized by attacks, with the army accused of aiding rigging.  Every time thugs sack a polling station, it marks a failure of government in providing security! 

Another suggestion made elsewhere is for biometrics.  It requires that systems be put in place to verify the thumbprints of actual voters.  This is an excellent idea that could help minimize repeat voting.  Biometric systems have their flaws, in terms of accurately recording and matching fingerprint scans.  Those flaws notwithstanding, such systems would improve on what we have now.

The political parties accuse each other, especially the PDP, of rigging the last elections.  Even the PDP has accused the AC of rigging in Lagos State.  These counter accusations imply all the parties have issues with the present electoral system.  So they should all be excited about the anti-rigging suggestions above, right?  I hope so.

Here is how things could work out if the National Assembly approves the videotape electoral amendment before the next elections.  Let’s take Lagos State as an example.  All sides would get to videotape the vote casting and counting on Election Day.  Afterwards, the PDP, if it wishes, would be better able to prove its accusations against the AC. 

And the opposition parties would have much stronger grounds to call for new elections.  That is if, for example in violation of the new law, PDP thugs prevent them from videotaping the electoral process!   Opportunities to try out this amendment are coming up soon.  The courts are likely to order new elections in many places.  Let’s be ready!

There is a time and place for calling people out into the streets to demonstrate peacefully against electoral fraud.  But wouldn’t it be better to call them out on Election Day armed with video tape recorders mandated by law?  We should dispense our energies wisely.  Elections riggers can be outwitted!

In its few remaining days, this National Assembly should focus on fixing the present electoral crisis.  More ideas could come from its deliberations.  Maybe steps could be taken to remove INEC from presidential control.  The lawmakers should act now. 

(fredlintaz@yahoo.com)

Robot  Villager

# 1 By Fred Igbeare Are we ready to learn from past mistakes? I sincerely hope so.&nbsp...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 26.04.2007 13:43

ebasain  Villager

# 2 How about a REVOLUTION now? What's wrong with a collective show of our shame and anger with Obasanjo amd make him go on exile in say Swaziland, I mean somewhere faraway from Nigeria! I am sick and tired of hearing how we are going to do this and that next time. The video-taping you're talking about is fine. But mind you PDP will make sure another Maurice Iwu is around to make this marvel of modern science unworkable. He would make sure that fake video recording equipments are orderd and then ask the contractors to deliver them after the voting! How about that for a Professor? How about that for an 'INDEPENDENT' National Electoral Commission Chairman? Posted by ebasain| 26.04.2007 23:16

fredlintaz  Villager

# 3 ebasain: You make valid points! There is nothing wrong with people expressing their collective anger against President Obasanjo who has truly squandered a great opportunity here! I actually expect mischief from INEC’s chief, or thief, if you will. That is why the purchase of the video cameras would be the responsibilities of the individual parties. INEC would have no role except to stay out of the way of the recordings on Election Day. If it interferes, elections in the polling station where this happens would become invalid by law. And the courts would rule accordingly. If the National Assembly approves money to buy the video cameras, that would be fine. The money would go directly to the parties which would then make decisions on purchasing the actual equipment of their choice. If the government doesn’t vote money for the gadgets, then the parties would have to raise the money themselves. Between Atiku Abubakar, Pat Utomi, Orji Kalu and others, the expenditure for the cameras shouldn’t be a problem. Government money or not, the contesting parties would be responsible for setting up the cameras and operating them. INEC’s interference in any way would be deemed a violation of the law. If voting starts late or not at all, or if there are not enough ballots, all these would be recorded on multiple cameras. The evidence would help in litigations. Building permanent voting centers would make things even better and avoid eventualities we cannot even begin to describe here. The key step now is for the National Assembly to pass the electoral amendment as proposed ASAP. Thoughtful comments like yours should be taken into consideration in the Assembly’s deliberations. Nigeria can get better. But we should not allow thieves in INEC or elsewhere to rob us of our creativity, peace and happiness. We can outwit them all. They are on the wrong side of history anyway! Nobody is going to get away with anything eventually. But for now we must not allow them to keep fooling us. Express your outrage. But act wisely to prevent another grand theft of voting rights! Obasanjo says he is a Christian. I am not going to debate that claim because only God knows who is telling the truth. The president should re-read the Ten Commandments, especially the part about stealing! If responsible, he will answer to God for the people who have lost their rights and lives under his watch! His successor will not be able to protect him for any crimes he may have committed. Eventually, nobody gets away with anything! Posted by fredlintaz| 27.04.2007 01:23