It’s key to note that the Electoral College as a pioneer political literacy institution in Nigeria, running a twenty-seven-course module that has educated over ten thousand Nigerians virtually, has added physical classes in states. It is also using the radio with its modules per program going full circle on improving the base of political participation.
The Electoral College was active full circle during the election in Nigeria on different facets of the democratic cycle and we present our review of the system which is as follows:
It’s key to note that the Electoral College as a pioneer political literacy institution in Nigeria, running a twenty-seven-course module that has educated over ten thousand Nigerians virtually, has added physical classes in states. It is also using the radio with its modules per program going full circle on improving the base of political participation.
We would start at the starting point of every political race, the Electoral Act 2022 states clearly that manual and physical copies of the list of members of political parties must be submitted to INEC before conventions and primaries can be conducted.
From the information we have, not one of the eighteen registered political parties met this criterion.
Section 77(3) Electoral Act 2022
The Electoral College Nigeria began its review of the electoral cycle from the primaries and this was quite an occasion in Nigeria and must be very notable from them that not only did the currency of exchange of funds move to dollars, but the mode of emergence in 57% of primaries can also be questioned based on the emergence of candidates as stated in the Electoral Act 2022.
The campaigns by all eighteen political parties were marred by nepotism and religious undertones, and all parameters abhorred by the Electoral Act were in play by the 18 political parties and their supporters which is against the Electoral Act 92 (1).
The Electoral College is interested in understanding the interpretation of the Electoral Act 95 (2) which says state apparatus including media shall not be applied to the advantage of any candidate or its disadvantage. As refers to the case of an appointed executive serving as campaign spokesman.
Our influence and that of our partners helped deliver the Lagos Gubernatorial debates as a prototype of what debates are to be, restricting candidates to the jurisdiction of the office sought while educating the electorate at the same time. It’s worthy of note that we also expanded the strata of the debate audience while doing this.
The Electoral College Nigeria is interested in the process and isn’t particularly focused on the outcome and would note to INEC that we believe to solve our issues with the elections, elections should be staggered understanding our security apparatus and stretch of ad-hoc staff. We also believe that the cost of elections is high and would propose a reconsideration of E-Elections in 2027 and the non-deployment of university staff as officers.
While the Electoral College recognizes the pitfalls in the 2023 Elections, it also acknowledges flashes of improvement in the process.
For love of country.
Kunle Lawal
Executive Director
Electoral College Nigeria