SUCCESSIVE GOVTS, NASS, RESPONSIBLE FOR 2019 ELECTION DELAY, SAYS SERAP

system and processes breed.

“It is clear that, the current electoral process is vulnerable to corruption, but politicians would seem to have little incentive to comprehensively reform, upgrade and modernise it. It is unlikely that either the Federal Government or the National Assembly, will take the steps necessary to sort out our electoral system, and improve transparency, accountability and the integrity of the electoral process.

“We urge Nigerians to take a more active role in the fight against corruption, including putting pressure on the authorities at the Federal and State levels and the National Assembly, to comprehensively reform, upgrade and modernise our electoral system and processes. Otherwise, citizens’ rights to participate in the governance system, will remain a ‘hollow right’.

“Given that the right to vote is considered a part of an individual’s fundamental right to political participation, persistent postponement of elections in the country, raises serious questions about the legitimacy and integrity of Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.”

“Persistent failure to upgrade and modernise the electoral system, has effectively relegated the right of participation to paper tiger status, undermining the ability of citizens to genuinely participate in the fight against corruption, and to hold their leaders to account. Yet, a transparent, accountable and modernised electoral process, is a prerequisite to the effective exercise of citizenship in a democratic society.

“It is time to push for revolutionary changes, in how Nigeria conducts its elections. The changes should effectively deploy modern technology, which has been successfully used in the business and other sectors in the country. Such changes may include, the introduction of a national system of Internet voting, to innovative ideas on how to adapt the election systems to facilitate participation by different sectors of the population, to conform with twenty-first century elections.

“The postponement is the by-product of a systemic and collective failure by successive governments and National Assembly leadership, to provide Nigerians with reliable, efficient and a secured electoral system, which has continued to undermine public confidence in elections, as well as the public’s right to vote and participate in their own government.

“SERAP would also deploy the Freedom of Information Act, to seek information on details of spending by INEC since 1999, as part of our initiatives to improve transparency and accountability of governmental operations, and promote respect for citizens’ rights to participate in the processes of government and governance in the country.

“SERAP notes that, postponement of general elections has become a recurring feature of the country’s electoral process. For example, the 2007 general elections witnessed the late arrival of election materials from South Africa in April of that year, contributing to denying millions of voters their right to political participation.

“SERAP also notes that, the 2011 general election suffered the same organisational lapses, with the elections postponed for two days after it had commenced. In 2015, the government of former president Goodluck Jonathan, postponed the election for six weeks on the pretext that it needed time to reclaim the local governments reportedly taken over by the Boko Haram terrorist group.

“The INEC, on the morning of the elections, shifted the Presidential and National Assembly elections to 23rd February, 2019. The Governorship, State House of Assembly, and the FCT Area Council Elections, are now to hold on 9th March, 2019”.