Suleiman Barnabas: Exception Will Grow to be The Norm If Possibility Of Guide Collation Of Election Outcomes Stays
Affiliate Professor of Political Criminology, Dr Suleiman Barnabas, has warned that permitting handbook collation as a fallback choice within the proposed Electoral Act modification might undermine efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
Talking throughout an interview on ARISE Information on Sunday, Barnabas mentioned Nigerians throughout political and social divides are united of their need to enhance the nation’s democratic course of.
“I feel that Nigerians, of all persuasions, politicians, students, you understand, the odd folks, everybody agrees that we have to advance our democracy. And if we’re going to advance our democracy, then they like our frameworks that can make sure that the folks believe in our democratic processes and our elections are in place.”
Barnabas criticised the Senate’s resolution to incorporate a proviso permitting handbook collation the place digital transmission fails, arguing that such discretion may very well be abused.
“Sure, it’s true that there are some locations in Nigeria that you’ve some, you understand, challenges with community. However once more, that isn’t the most important motive for the choice of the Senate to, you understand, insert that proviso, you understand, that’s supposed to create room, give allowance for his or her methods, their manipulation of election outcomes.”
He harassed that making digital transmission necessary would change political behaviour.
“So let or not it’s put within the regulation that it’s necessary. What that can do is that first it’s going to inform the politicians that their ordinary recreation has modified.”
Warning of potential abuse, he added: “When you permit that discretion within the administration and administration of election outcomes, what is going to occur is that exception will develop into the norm. Politicians will guarantee they may give the excuse of community, together with Abuja and Lagos.”
He linked the present push for reform to controversies surrounding the 2023 common elections.
“Bear in mind, the 2023 outcomes confirmed that there have been a number of manipulations. Outcomes have been altered, mutilated, you understand, in favor of sure political events or people.”
In response to him, actual time digital transmission of outcomes is essential to closing loopholes exploited in earlier elections.
“Properly, the real-time, you understand, transmission of outcomes, every transmission of outcomes will completely block the chance for manipulation of the outcomes.”
Barnabas insisted that digital transmission should not solely be obligatory but in addition take priority over manually collated outcomes.
“So allow us to permit the outcomes to be compulsorily, mandatorily transmitted electronically.”
“Secondly, I desire a state of affairs the place it’s clearly acknowledged that the electronically transmitted consequence takes priority over different types of consequence that might be collated.”
Past transmission, he additionally raised issues in regards to the broader conduct of democratic establishments.
“It’s unlucky that the democratic establishments in our nation have been the issue with advancing democracy on this nation.”
On sanctions for electoral offences, Barnabas known as for harder penalties to discourage fraud.
“I feel that the punishment needs to be harsher than what they presently have.”
Clarifying an earlier comment, he mentioned: “I wasn’t saying it needs to be capital punishment. I used to be solely saying that there must be, you understand, deterrence.”
He instructed stricter penalties, together with long run disqualification from public workplace.
“So I’m not saying that it needs to be capital punishment, however we must always take a look at issues like possibly, you understand, stopping the particular person, the sponsors from holding political places of work, you understand, 20-year jail time period for individuals who interact in election fraud.”
Barnabas concluded by urging the Nationwide Meeting to undertake the Home of Representatives’ model of the modification and to strengthen the authorized framework to safeguard electoral credibility.
“The Nationwide Meeting should now act by, one, guaranteeing that there’s digital transmission of outcomes, that it’s necessary and it needs to be completed. Secondly, that the consequence that’s electronically transmitted will take priority over some other type of outcomes, and that those that guarantee, I imply, who attempt to undermine our democracy, those that interact in election frauds are sanctioned, and that the sanctions should guarantee deterrence.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Times Nigeria