The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed readiness to conduct presidential, parliamentary and governorship elections in Nigeria on a single day if the National Assembly will enact law endorsing it.

INEC’s Director of Operation, Adigun Hakeem, made the disclosure in his remarks at a Policy Dialogue on Single Day Election in Nigeria held in Abuja on Friday in furtherance to the recently held conference on Strengthening of Democracy in Nigeria.

The commission emphasised that though it is ready to execute the arrangement, it is however handicap to do so without the proclamations of the National Assembly which will spell out all activities and guidelines.

Adigun said: “INEC as a governing body cannot take a position on these issues for now. INEC’s primary assignment is to conduct free, fair and credible elections. All activities and guidelines are being spelt out by the National Assembly. So we don’t take a position.

“At the end of this meeting, the decision we arrive at will be submitted to the commission. We are here to participate and to listen to your position and your advocacy. Our interest is to be fair and conduct free and credible elections.

“At INEC, after every general election we go back to the drawing board, to review the election. For all the elections like the National Assembly and presidency, followed by the State Assembly and governorship, all the issues that came out during the last election are reviewed so that we improve on future elections.

“We are not sitting down at all. So what we are waiting for is law from the National Assembly. INEC cannot do it alone, all the stakeholders in election matters must come together and by the grace of God, we will submit the report of this meeting to the commission,” he assured.

In his contribution, the Executive Director of Partners for Electoral Reforms, Ezenwa Nwagwu, supported the single day conduct arrangement but warned that the difficult terrain and topography of certain parts of the country.

There are huge challenges, the America is not Nigeria. So the nature and complexity of the Nigerian politician and people I think it’s what we need to take into cognisant.

Number one, 176,974 pulling units is huge and the nature of topography of those places we are talking about. In a place like Taraba from Jalingo there are places you will go that take you almost seven hours.

“In Kebbi there are places you will go to by the time you vehicle stops, you used carmel and after that you use motorcycle  to get to those places. So we’re not the same with USA, in dealing with those challenges we need to contextualise our environment we are living…

“I am talking about cost, the political illiteracy, five ballot boxes in one day what you are going to do is to sort that ballot. In many places people will put that of the House of Representatives into governorship. Nigeria is a place where people are in a hurry for results to come out. If you continue that sorting and you don’t react to them in the way they are looking at it then something has happened to the result.

“So, I am supporting that if we want to do single day election, there is more work that is pragmatic neither than just theoretical engagement,” he said.

Resource person and a lecturer at Nile University, Abuja

Dr. Iroro S Izu, argued that: “the history of Nigeria’s culture of conducting general elections for several days is rooted in the country’s general culture of wastes— waste of time, energy, resources, manpower, and goodwill.”

“It is a culture that de-emphasizes discipline and emphasizes recklessness with the assurance that when the chips are down, one has relatives, fathers, mothers, friends and acquaintances to run to. It is a culture that abuse faith, generosity and downplays seriousness, hard-work and sacred lifestyle. It is a culture of misprioritizations — celebrating quantity over quality,” he said.

Daily Sun

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has reacted after former Military President of Nigeria, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd), admitted the late Chief MKO Abiola was the winner of the June 12, 1993 election.

IBB made the admission during the launch of his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service’, on Thursday.

“That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled to expect my impression of regret.

“As a leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch,” IBB said.

Obi, who was present at the event, wrote on his verified X account: “Today, I had the gracious honour of attending the launch of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s long-awaited autobiography, A Journey in Service, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

“IBB’s contributions to Nigeria’s economy and his strong support for entrepreneurship and private sector growth remain immeasurable.

“Under his leadership, Nigeria witnessed substantial growth, particularly in the financial sector. He played a key role in fostering a united and equitable Nigeria, and economic landscape, ensuring policies that strengthened national cohesion and economic development.

“Documenting such experiences is a welcome development, as it allows us to learn from those who have served and left a lasting impact on the nation. I look forward to reading this book, which undoubtedly holds valuable lessons. As someone committed to continuous learning, I will always align myself with knowledge drawn from documented experiences and historical records as well as contributing to the legacy library.

“Two Key Takeaways from the Keynote Address and IBB comment on the 1993 election.

“The 1st is the keynote Speaker’s notable quotation in French, “Rien n’a changé” meaning “Nothing much has changed.” In the case of Nigeria, we are worse off than we were during IBB’s era. Using our contemporary peers as a benchmark, when IBB left office in 1992, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana were all in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category—just like Nigeria. Today, however, these nations have advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains in the low HDI category, having either stagnated or declined.

“The Keynote speaker’s comment that Ghana has remained a truly democratic country for the past 30 years, with leadership transitions that reflect the genuine votes of the people. Unlike Nigeria, where electoral outcomes often fail to reflect the people’s will, Ghana has witnessed instances where ruling party candidates conceded defeat, respecting democracy in its truest form.

“Lastly of the most profound moments of the event was IBB’s admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12 election. This acknowledgement is a step toward national healing, unity and progress of our nation.

“I hope that one day, other key players in Nigeria’s democracy will find the courage to recognize the true winners of past elections, allowing our nation to tell its story with honesty and reflection.”

… Declares dissolution of LG officials illegal

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to toe the path of law and not instigate violence in the state by allowing the resumption of officials elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 15, 2022 LG elections.at the council secretariats.

In a statement personally signed by him, the AGF further called on the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to shelve the idea of proceeding with any Local Government election in the state now.

Fagbemi stated that “the constitutional order which existed before the dissolution must be restored immediately since the judgment upon which the Governor acted to dissolve democratically elected Government has been declared a nullity for lack of jurisdiction of the court to have heard the case and made those orders.

“It is my opinion that the Court of Appeal judgement of February 10, which is superior to any high court decision defines the legal position in the case and represent the legally enforceable judgment and has the legal effect of returning the initially Local Government democratically elected officials of Osun State.

“For avoidance of doubts, when proceedings and decisions of court are declared a nullity, for lack of jurisdiction, it means they do not exist and have no effect whatsoever”.

Daily Sun