Can INEC oversee free, fair, credible elections in 2019? Voxpop

On Saturday last week, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated Olusola Eleka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and thirty two other contestants to emerge winner of the gubernatorial election conducted in Ekiti State.
With the development still causing ripples, claims and counter claims in different quarters, PAUL OKAH speaks to Nigerians on whether INEC can conduct transparent elections in 2019.
Osun election will determine 2019 outcome The Electoral Act makes provisions for punishment for persons or any person who engages in bribery and corruption, compromise of elections, during or after election, which include: procuring votes for the benefit of a particular aspirant, snatching ballot boxes.
If convicted, such a person is liable to pay a fine of #500, 000.00 only or an imprisonment of 12 months or both.
Other electoral offences were spelt out and their penalties enshrined.
The factors which will lightly compromise free and fair elections in 2019 are multi-facet, but can be simply termed as our lackadaisical attitude in execution of our laws.
They include: complying with the electoral act and prosecuting those who breach our electoral act to serve as a deterrent to others.
The security agencies, the electoral umpire and the electorates have huge roles to play if we must get it right in 2019.
Though I am not satisfied with the Ekiti election, Osun election will determine if we can get it right in 2019.
If the election in Osun witnesses a repeat of what we read in the media about Ekiti election, then we are as good as lost in Nigeria.
Bright Uche, lawyer, activist and a social commentator.
INEC, others should be commended In any election in Nigeria and indeed all over the world, they must be a winner and a loser.
The declaration of Dr John Kayode Fayemi of the APC as the winner of the just concluded Ekiti State 2018 governorship election has polarised the state into two camps: the winner’s camp and the loser’s camp.
However, two options are left for the loser’s camp at this juncture, which are: to either align with the winner’s camp, to help move the state forward, for the overall interest of Ekiti State, or head to the Governorship Election Tribunal to determine their grievances.
But they should all be grateful for INEC.
Left for me,the election was free and fair, if we’re to go by what the media reported.
In fact, INEC should be commended, because the outcome was surprising to many people who anticipated large scale violence, due to the number of policemen and security officials deployed to the state for the election.
Usman Aliyu, civil servant.
INEC has a case to answer The Ekiti State governorship election held on 14th July, 2018, under tight security, had 34 aspirants slogging it out with each other.
The two notable aspirants were Prof.
Olusola Eleka of the PDP and Dr John Kayode Fayemi of the APC, but Dr John Kayode Fayemi emerged the winner and governor-elect of Ekiti State at the end of the day, with 197, 459 votes against Prof Olusola Eleka who pulled 178, 114 to emerge second at the polls.
However, I am concerned about the issues Uche Fatima Aisha Henry raised in different quarters, especially the allegations of vote buying by the APC and PDP.
If the allegations can be proved, then the third runner up should be declared winner, because the two major political parties have proven to be corrupt and not reliable.
INEC also has a case to answer for permitting a questionable election.
If the situation repeats itself in 2019, then we really have a long way to go with INEC and elections in the country.
Aisha Bello, teacher.
Free, fair elections utopia in Nigeria The one dollar question is: can INEC conduct free and fair elections in 2019? “Free” simply means that which is open or made accessible to all, while “Fair” means something which is just and equitable.
A literal meaning of free and fair elections means political contests, which are open or made easily accessible to eligible voters in a just and equitable manner.
On that note, an election, which can be adjudged free and fair in Nigeria must comply and be seen to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended.
The third schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides for the functions of INEC as follows: power to organize, undertake and supervise all elections in Nigeria, et al.
The Electoral Act 2010 still made comprehensive provisions to facilitate a free and fair elections in Nigeria; and commensurate punishment for those who compromise elections in Nigeria.
The Ekiti State election has clearly shown that attaining a free and fair elections in Nigeria is still a utopia, especially as we approach 2019 general elections.
The Ekiti State governorship election openly showed a situation where votes were bought by politicians and ballot boxes snatched brazenly in contravention of our electoral law provisions for a free and fair election.
Jennifer Mgbe, civil servant.
Education of electorate key Massive enlightenment and education of the electorate by INEC, social, religious, cultural and traditional institutions are needed, if we intend getting right in Nigeri.
Those who breached electoral laws in the Ekiti state election must be made to face justice, as deterrent to others who are gearing up to compromise free and fair elections come 2019.
Nevertheless, it gives me joy that our votes have started counting, with this invention of “votes buying”, but the electorate must defile the temptation of selling their votes to the highest bidder.
Such is against God or Allah, our laws and our progress as a country.
But can our politicians allow free and fair elections, having impoverished the people for selfish political gains? The answer is no,because they would want people to remain forever dependent on the peanuts or crumbs falling from their tables.
That’s why value reorientation should be encouraged so that the electorate will know that he’s important.
We are far from perfection, but the time to get it right is 2019.
Hon.
Nwachi Ogbonnia, political scientist.
INEC impressive, ready for 2019 INEC has shown capacity to deliver and conduct free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, since the 2015 elections and other elections under the present administration of Mahmood Yakubu.
They did that with elections in Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, Anambra states.
They also did well with Osun Senatorial Election and now the Ekiti Governorship.
In all the elections we have witnessed, the results have been generally acceptable, save for some minor dissenting views on the results.
We have had different parties winning the elections against the ruling party.
There are also situations where we have a lesser number of election petition arising out of the elections, with none, up to date, set-aside by the courts; as was usually the case before now.
Hence, it can be said, without fear of contradiction that INEC is ready, though there is still room for improvement.
Henry Eni-otu, legal practioner.
Stomach infrastructure should be checked The challenge in Ekiti, with respect to the alleged votes buying, can only be properly resolved by a general reorientation of Nigerians on the effect of the sale of their votes.
Enactment of enforceable laws by the National Assembly on the prohibition of votes selling and buying will also contribute, in no significant measure, to successful 2019 elections.
It is very clear that many people are very poor and will gladly vote for any candidate that provides temporal stomach infrastructure for them.
This is the reason why bags of rice, cubes of Maggi and cups of salt are shared by politicians during electioneering campaigns.
As a result, the people go ahead to sell their votes to the highest, bringing another vicious circle of poverty and bad governance.
Conclusively, there must be political will amongst all strata of the government to eradicate the scourge from our system.
Fatima Ismaila, Secretary

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