Nigeria’s recent 2023 presidential election and the tribunal’s decision are pivotal. There’s a pressing call to fortify the electoral framework to nurture democracy further. Vanguard, in its recent report, captures the sentiments of pivotal stakeholders:
Kingsley Obi of ICPC expressed disappointment over the missed opportunities in Nigeria’s 24-year-old democracy. He pointed fingers at politicians and INEC and rallied for immediate reforms. Emphasising the Electoral Act and the revisions to the 1999 Constitution, Obi pushed for penalties for election discrepancies and timely, transparent results.
Similarly, legal voice Deji Adeyanju underscores the 2022 Electoral Act’s imperfections, advocating electronic result transmissions by INEC.
Jibrin Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, feels democracy teeters at an edge. He spotlights INEC’s challenges and argues for unwavering truthfulness in national affairs.
Public attorney Barr Inibehe Effiong highlights INEC’s duty for transparency, insisting on the institution’s responsibility to adhere to its guidelines.
At the EFCC helm, Abdulkarim Chukkol underscores voter education and civic participation. He links enhanced elections to well-implemented cashless policies, emphasizing the perils of vote-buying resulting in weak governance.
AUDA-NEPAD’s CEO, Princess Gloria Akobundu, advocates training stakeholders for electoral crisis management. Evaluating pre-election campaigns, she suggests strengthening stakeholder capabilities for pre and post-election challenges.
Dr. A. A. Karim of the National Institute of Security Studies, Abuja, champions technological enhancement for transparency. He sees room for improving BVAS deployment, safeguarding the tech, and ensuring prompt operator training.
Post-2023 election reflections underscore the crucial demand for reform in Nigeria’s election methodology. Key reform pathways include:
– Revamping the Electoral Act
– Solidifying INEC’s independence
– Amplifying public education
– Nurturing a culture of political integrity
Embracing Kingsley Obi’s sentiment: “I love the dreams of the future more than the history of the past,” the nation rallies for unity and proactive steps toward these shared visions.
