INEC: Making the shift count

BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER

It was mixed feelings for Nigerians when the shift in the date for the earlier scheduled elections was announced. Several people expressed happiness at the postponement while others saw it very disappointing of INEC and expressed dismay and frustration.

To those who were on the track of getting to the poling unit, the shift was like another call from the referee to retreat the race after having stayed on the marks for quite some time. These were those who had already acquired their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC). They had long waited to carry out their franchise. 

Similarly politicians who were already concluding their campaign rallies had to go back to their drawing boards to work out how they will continue with their campaigns which has now brought additional financial burden.
Students and people who travelled out of town to stay with family members in places considered to be less-tense during the elections have also been disappointed. The visit was not worth it. 

The shift did not go down well with the APC which accused the PDP-led government of manipulating the postponement. In his reaction, the APC Presidential Candidate, Muhammadu Buhari said the postponement was unnecessary because what the government could not achieve in four years would be difficult to achieve in six weeks. 

Although some individuals and groups have attributed the shift to influences from the PDP-led government arising from the fears that they may loose the election, Nigeria’s Ambassador to USA, Prof. Ade Adefuye made it clear that the shift was to allow INEC perfect its system for conducting credible elections. He noted that the decision for the postponement was based on the need to get logistics right, allow all qualified Nigerians to exercise their franchise and ensure adequate security during the conduct of the polls.
According to him, Nigeria is committed to conducting a free, credible and peaceful election not only because of its importance to the future of democracy but also because of the Nigerian believe in the principle of democracy, and the intricate connection between democracy and development.

Likewise, the PDP Presidential Candidate, Goodluck Jonathan has also cleared the air on insinuations that the INEC Chairperson had met with him before the shift was conceived; adding that the body, being independent is free to make any decision as it pertains to the electoral success and progress of the nation.
True to this assertion, the Independent National Electoral Commission is autonomous and sovereign, having the power to act without being directed or instructed. Agreed, they had already informed Nigerians that the previously scheduled dates were sacrosanct and that nothing would hinder the conduct of the elections. But it is not out of place to come up with something contradicting the status quo if a defect is discovered in the earlier informed preparedness. There is no way they could have gone on with the elections when adequate preparations were not made. 

Judging by INEC’s statistics which showed that more than 20 million eligible Nigerians are yet to collect their PVCs, the shift in the election will provide the opportunity for them to collect them before the rescheduled dates of the elections. The nation would have faced great danger if INEC had gone ahead to conduct the elections when millions of eligible voters who are supposed to vote are yet to collect their PVCs. 

Following the postponement, INEC has extended the date for the collection of PVC to March 8 and enlightenment and sensitization programmes are already going on in cities and villages through the mass and personal media of communication to ensure that no one is left out in the quest for how to go about the elections. 

In some parts of the country, door-to-door sensitization has begun and the PVCs are being taken around streets to respective owners. There is no doubt that INEC now has enough time to perfect all necessary preparations for the elections and save many eligible voters from being disenfranchised. 

INEC would also be able to use the remaining period to test-run some of the equipments, especially the card readers that it intends to use during the elections before the new date. By this, one can see that there is really no fuse about the shift as its benefits are more than its effects. Afterall, there is no need to conduct the elections in a hurry when we have enough time before the May 29 hand-over date. 

Although many consider INEC to have failed in the area of conciseness and firmness, the nation’s electoral body is not infallible. Should it had gone on with the elections and failed to deliver, tongues would wag and fingers would point at it. It would be seen as incompetent and irrelevant but here is a bold step to assess and re-assess the weight of the forthcoming elections in contrast with the security situation in the country— all in a bid to ensure a free, fair and rancor-free election. A stitch in time they say, saves nine. This is one stitch in time that would definitely save nine inevitable troubles to come.
INEC can also make the shift count by embarking on massive public enlightenment of the public throughout this period as they have begun in the West. This should also be extended to other parts of the country especially in the Eastern and Northern parts. The PVCs should if possible, be distributed to their owners as it is done in the PHCN.

The public should please hold their bearings with INEC and allow for a thorough preparation for the elections as this or further shift will not change their choice of a candidate.