ABEOKUTA– Political activities at the grassroots is expected to come alive with the recent inauguration of Chairman and members of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) by the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, after thorough screening by the State House of Assembly.
By this act, the government has not only made bold its avowed and irrevocable commitment to upholding and entrenching democratic principles in the running of the day to day affairs of the State, but also chosen to be guided by the norms and values of the modern world political civilization.
Conducting Local Council election in Nigeria is no doubt a daunting task, which underscores why the Committee should see the charge of the Governor during their inauguration, when he asserted that, “the swearing-in of the Chairman and members of Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) is another symbolic demonstration of our commitment to ensure that dividends of democracy percolates to the grassroots through electoral process at the Local Government level”, as a call to service, which must not be dent under any condition as the whole world now shifts its gaze to Ogun State.
The Committee is to be headed by the Barrister Babatunde Osibodu, a legal green horn, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986 and he is expected to bring on board his over three decades experience in the practice of law to the management of election at the grassroots, while members including, Olatunji Akoni, Tajudeen Omolaja, Ayodele Bankole, Mrs. Gbemi Onasanya and Remilekun Olaopa, carefully picked across the three Senatorial Districts of the state, all of whom have also distinguished themselves in public and private endeavors.
At this point also, the Governor’s charge that , ‘ the peaceful conduct of and general acceptance of Local Government election is tied to the resourcefulness and effectiveness of the State Electoral Commission ’ must be seen as a marching order to run with, with the view to demonstrating capacity, strong-will and tenacity for credible local council poll.
It therefore becomes imperative to urge the committee to first embrace the challenging task of conducting Local Council elections with all sense of patriotism and transparency.
Needless to remind them of their apolitical disposition and fairness to all, irrespective of religion, tribe, social status and political lineage, with the view to building mutual understanding with all and to further strengthen the democratic process.
Undoubtedly, the conduct of elections, not just at the local council but across all tiers of governments even in more advanced and politically sophisticated climes have always been greeted with one form of compliant or the other, some of which may be valid after the intervention of the court and other legal processes, others may be just to fan the embers of violence and political disharmony, it suffice therefore for the Committee to tidy all processes and puts its house in order to avoid unnecessary legal tussle that could jeopardize or necessarily delay the process and not fall into the hands of mischief makers.
Another very critical issue to address is voter apathy. This has over the years accounted for low turnout of eligible voters during council elections in Nigeria. While many focus more on the Presidential, Parliamentary and Gubernatorial elections, these numbers however declined drastically when it comes to local council election.
This underscores why regular stakeholders engagement with the people at the grassroots must be cultivated and sustained to further reawaken political conscientiousness and the need to participate in governance.
People at the grassroots should be made to further realize that those to be elected to lead them should be knowledgeable in administration and public service, be accountable to them and must be ready to work hard to bring development to their respective areas, thus allowing everyone to benefit from the dividends of democracy.
Voters should equally have the understanding that they have pivotal roles to play in order to ensure free, fair and credible poll by sustaining collaborative efforts with the government.
For there to be acceptable council elections, there should not be preferential treatment to anyone, everyone and all registered political parties involved in the elections must be treated fairly as the Commission provides level playing field to all and sundry.
It is worthy to note that the Chairman appears to have a full grasp of what lies ahead of his committee and the need for equity, fairness and transparent process, when he asserted among others that “transparency is the key word. It is when you are transparent that everybody will be happy and satisfied that their interests are being protected.
We must reach out to all stakeholders, we must regularly have interactions with stakeholders, let them know your plans as at when they are ready. Don’t favour one party over another; whether it is governor’s party or the majority party in the house, you must always give a level playing field to everybody… ”
The Committee should however note that as good as the aforementioned appears, until when its practicality is seen by all, it may remain a mirage if these principles are not jealously guarded and vigorously pursued, bearing in mind, the image of the State that has over the years, seen as a model in diverse areas of human endeavours with many other states, replicating her model.
It will also be appropriate if the committee considers the electronic voting system by first organizing a pre-election experimentation with a view to ascertaining the possibility and potential or otherwise of the system as if possible, it will go a long way in dissuading the age- long manual system and it will also set the state on its class of its own and further cement her already enviable position in the comity of States in Nigeria. Moreso, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can equally use it as a model for the 2023 general elections.
Although, Osibodu had corroborated this position during his screening at the State House of Assembly that, “We need to look very much into how to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In this day and age, a lot of things are still being done manually which should not be. We need obviously to look at some of our laws to decide where ICT can be brought in.
Also in this day of electronic voting card, we should look at also electronic voting machines for local government elections, not just the federal elections. I think those would also bring some form of stability and transparency into it. At the end of the day, what you want is free, credible and transparent elections and by the grace of God, we will be able to achieve that”.
Of a truth, there are no perfect elections and electoral process anywhere in the world, even in advanced climes, elections had always been greeted with one form of shortcomings or the other, however, if the aforesaid variables are inculcated in the process, definitely, the general outcome will be accepted by the people even as we edge towards perfection.
Ahmed Taofeek is an Information Officer with Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).
