Ekiti–Prof Christopher Oluwadare of the Department of Sociology, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti has scored INEC high in its preparations for the forthcoming Ekiti State Governorship election holding on June 18.
Delivering a lead paper on “Policy Dialogue on the Ekiti State Governorship Election: A Litmus Test For Election Administration in Nigeria Under the New Electoral Act, 2022,” Oluwadare said that indicators showed that the INEC was preparing to deliver a free, fair and credible election.
The policy dialogue was organised by The Electoral Institute (TEI) of INEC as part of the Commission’s preparation for the conduct of June 18 Governorship Election in Ekiti State.
It is aimed at providing a platform for the commission and other Stakeholders to examine the critical issues that are imperative to the successful conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive Ekiti state Governorship Election and provide a solid foundation for successful 2023 General Elections
Oluwadare said: “Civil Society Organisations have done uniquely better than in previous elections.
“With the level of preparation for the election, especially public enlightenment, constant engagement with the media and civil society and especially, election stakeholders, indeed Ekiti state June 18 governorship election will be a template for other elections.
“The turnout of voters for June 18th 2022 Governorship election in Ekiti State would be far better than in the past; due to much pubic enlightenment, using all available social, media and community engagement by INEC Voter Education and Publicity.
He said that synergy among civil society, INEC, NUJ, FIDA and other organisations were indicators that the turnout would not be low.
Oluwadare, however, said that that how far political parties had done qualitative, civic and voter mobilisation could not be evaluated for now.
He , however , advised political parties to lay more emphasis on the Logo, symbol and colors of their political parties rather than personalities of the aspirants.
Oluwadare urged parties to also educate their supporters on the right thumb printing method.
According to him, this will reduce to the least level , the menace of voided votes due to wrong thumb printing.
The don gave some likely indicators of flash points of electoral violence to include: Local governments/ communities native to any of the gubernatorial candidates.
According to him, the flash points include Ikere, Ido/Osi, Ado- Ekiti and Efon Alaaye Local Government Areas of the state.
He also cited tendency for reprisal violence especially in support of victims of previous attacks
Oluwadare added that the Ekiti East local government with unresolved and aborted House of Assembly bye-election could also be a flash point for violence.
“This local government area is native to serving Senator and serving House of representative member of opposing parties. The two will want to secure the area for their respective parties while their supporters can be overzealous,” Oluwadare emphasised.
The Professor of Sociology however, concluded that Ekiti State is unique culturally, socially and politically and that the positive perspective of these should translate to acceptable electoral process both in timely arrival of personnel and materials on the day of the election.
According to him, there is no hard to reach area in Ekiti state.
“Ekiti people are peace loving and understanding when provided with the needed enlightenment and information.
Earlier, in his opening address, Prof. Abdullahi Alodu Zuru, the Chairman Board of The Electoral Institute (TEI) maintained that the Ekiti governorship election was a very significant election to the Commission and the nation in several ways given that it would be the first major election to be conducted under the new Electoral Act 2022.
Zuru, who was represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ekiti State, Dr Tella Adeniran, said: “The election provides the Commission with yet another opportunity to test run its reviewed policies, processes and new initiatives arising from the lesson learnt from the conduct and outcome of the 2019 General elections and the numerous off-cycle and bye-elections which were organized, which have their place in the history of elections in Nigeria.
“The successful signing into law of the new Electoral Act 2022 by Mr. President which provides revolutionary law that protects the electoral environment and strengthen the electoral process and INEC’s capability to deliver free, fair and credible elections, is another opportunity.
“Thus, the Commission is reviewing its regulations, guidelines and manuals in line with the New Electoral Act 2022 and inputs from the policy dialogue and conduct of the Saturday June 18 , 2022 Ekiti Governorship would be very invaluable,” the INEC boss said.
In his welcome remarks, the Director- General of the Electoral Institute, Dr Sa’ad Umar represented by Mr Ibrahim Sani added that the commission wished to assess the impact of the new legal framework for conducting elections.
Umar added that the commission would be checking whether there were yet bottlenecks that the Act was yet to address, which might be evident in the forth-coming election.
“We will also be checking whether the Act gives us ‘a booster’ to go out and conduct the election without fear and doubt and in the strong assurance that the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship election will be most credible free, fair and most inclusive election ever conducted in the state,” Umar said.
Speaking, Prof. Sam Egwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niger State, said there were possibility of the emergence of vote buying during the election.
“As long as Ekiti state continues to be a rural state with high level of poverty when compared with other states in the South West, the objective conditions of vote buying and selling are present.
“Because vote buying and selling happens only when demand and supply sides are present. We need to double our efforts in terms of civic and political education.
“History of vote buying happens at community level and community members need to speak out against the danger of vote buying and vote selling,” Egwu said.
He advised the security agents not to focus their search for vote buyer and vote sellers at the polling units alone, urging them to scan the surrounding to see what was going on outside the polling units.
According to him, probably the vote buyers will be inside a car waiting for the willing sellers.
“Even if we did not arrest them, the presence of the security operatives alone will deter them and the deterrent value alone is more helpful to INEC,” he added.
Meanwhile, Adeniran, INEC REC in Ekiti assured the participants of the readiness of the commission to provide a level playing ground for all the political parties.
Participants at the one-day programme were drawn from the Civil Societies, media, security Agencies, Youth organizations among others.
