BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The joint mission of the National Democratic Institute (NRI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) on Tuesday gave a damning verdict on the 2019 general elections, stressing that it fell significantly short of standards set in 2015.
It also said that citizens confidence was shaken as far below the standards achieved in 2015.
The NDI/IRI report advised the federal government to urgently pursue a comprehensive and inclusive electoral reform process, stressing that such a process should include lessons learned from the 2019 electoral cycle as well as past recommendations from credible Nigerian initiatives.
The report particularly berated the executive arm of government for refusing to assent to the amendment of the Electoral Act passed by the National Assembly few months to the general elections.
It further states; “In 2018, the National Assembly approved four versions of a bill to amend the Electoral Act. The measure would have codified important improvements, including imposing higher fines on media houses not providing equal air time to competing political parties, making the voter register and election results electronic and publicly assessable, capping the nomination fees that political parties charge candidates, and extending the application of the Electoral Act to Local Government elections.
“Buhari withheld his assent to each version of the bill ultimately citing the proximity to the elections and the short time INEC would have to implement report. The president’s last rejection of the bill in December 2018, just a couple of months before Election Day, surprised most stakeholders and delayed the release of INEC guidelines.”
The NDI/IRI report also noted that the 2019 elections highlighted for many Nigerians the need for a national conversation about the country’s democratisation since 1999 tradition to civil rule.
The report which was jointly presented by the IRI’s Regional Deputy Director for Africa, Elizabeth Lewis and NDI’s Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa, Christopher Famunyoh, pointedly said that the 2019 elections did not meet the expectation of many Nigerians.
The report specifically noted that the last-minute postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections on the morning of February 16 and delays in opening some polling units and other administrative challenges on February 23 undermined public confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It noted that while INEC distributed materials and opened polls in a more timely fashion for the March 9, 2019 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, many serious irregularities occurred, including vote buying, intimidation of voters and election officials, and election related violence.
The NDI/IRI officials expressed optimism that the report may spur and contribute to enriching that national conversation and therefore urged stakeholders in the electoral process to immediately begin preparations for the 2023 elections.
The report further states; “The election stakeholders should take concrete steps to address the concerns of citizens with regards to the polling order to re-kindle their faith in the power and possibility of credible elections.
“In previous years, suggestions for improvements by reputable citizens and international observation missions went unheeded.”
The report urged Nigerian stakeholders to seriously consider theirs and other recommendations to improve the electoral process.
