Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday Ubani, has raised concerns over the implementation of consensus candidacies by political parties, warning that the process is increasingly being misused in ways that undermine the intention of the Electoral Act.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Friday, Ubani argued that while the law provides for both direct primaries and consensus arrangements, the challenge lies in how the provisions are being implemented.
“Now it is implementation of the law that actually matters.”
He added, “And Nigerians have been known that, look, it’s not issue of law. We have a body of laws in the country, but when it comes to implementation, that is where we have failed ourselves as a nation.”
According to him, effective enforcement and sanctions for breaches are essential if electoral reforms are to achieve their intended objectives.
“So we must provide penalty against infraction of the law. That is one. And then we must also implement it.”
“Because even when you provide punishment for infraction, if we don’t implement your law, nobody will ever obey your law.”
Ubani maintained that Nigeria already has strong legal provisions governing the conduct of party primaries but questioned whether consensus arrangements were being applied in line with the spirit of the law.
“It is implementation. We have a good law, direct primaries, you know, I mean, and then consensus.”
“But is the consensus now not being abused? We’re doing it in such a manner that actually align with the spirit of those who made the law.”
He further pointed to concerns over the emergence of candidates who did not participate in party primaries, describing such practices as contrary to the electoral framework.
“Because consensus means there won’t be any disagreement. But is there no disagreement now? Are people not being picked, even those who do not participate in the election? That was their first question and all that.”
Ubani called for stronger enforcement powers for the Independent National Electoral Commission to deter violations and improve the credibility of Nigeria’s elections.
“So it’s important we implement our laws and make sure that INEC is giving more autonomous power in order to punish those who actually err in the entire electoral process.”
“That is the only way we can be able to build a credible, fair, election that any country can be proud of.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on: