t he i mperative of e lectoral r eform a s a c ritical e lement of c onstitutional r e - e...
TRANSCRIPT
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THE IMPERATIVE OF ELECTORAL REFORM AS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL RE-ENGINEERING OF NIGERIA
By Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN
Paper delivered at the Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, April 30th 2009 .
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ELECTORAL REFORM
History of Elections in Nigeria shows that with each successive election, the credibility of the electoral process has been further damaged 2
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1964
First after departure of BritishNPC/NNANPC and AKINTOLA’S NNDP to form NNAHarassment & Detention of opponents
Preventing rallies , etc3
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1965
Western Region elections worse than 1964
NNDP now in power perfected rigging
Returning officers deserting posts after accepting nomination papers of government candidates or outrightly refusing to accept nominations
16 NNDP candidates returned unopposed
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1965
Arikpo in his DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN NIGERIA recounted that: “The most notorious example of this travesty
was the case of a man who won the election in one of the Owo constituencies, his NNDP opponent was declared the victor. He thereupon announced that he had (upon deep reflection) decided to join the NNDP. A few days after this announcement, the Electoral Commissioner declared him the successful candidate and quietly dropped his opponent
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1983
Resurgence of 1964 & 1965 Rigging but mostly ballot dumping and falsification of results
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2003
Brazen riggingINEC’S complicity well established
Law enforcement/ Military
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2003
In the 2003 Presidential election petition, petitioners averred in their petition that in respect of Akwa Ibom state that : “At a meeting which took place at the Banquet hall of
the Government house in the early hours of April 19 2003 (the day of the presidential elections), officials of the ruling PDP and 36 soldiers from the 6th motorized battalion Ibagwa, Abak led by the commanding officers, Lt S. A. Sangonuga, thumbprinted the materials, and allocated figures, between the hours of 2.30 and 5.30am on April 19 2003. Team leaders of the group collected N200,000 each from the PDP liason officers in their areas of posting. The Petitioners went on to list the names, ranks, and commission members of the 36 soldiers in their petition. In response, the respondents merely denied the occurrence.
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2007
Worst ever by all independent accountsBallot dumping ; multiple thumbprinting
Use of police and armyMultiple thumbprinting found in high percentages accounts 9
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INEXPLICABLE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN VOTES FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES DESPITE THE FACT THAT BALLOT PAPERS WERE HANDED TO VOTERS SIMULTANEOUSLY
State Regd. Voters President Governors
Ogun 1,576,875 1,365,367 747,296
Ondo 1,504,181 995,084 960,080
Osun 1,367,627 783,914 801,812
Kano 4,000,430 2,339,792 1,734,151
Rivers 2,272,238 2,171,215 2,111,188
C/ Rivers 1,289,019 1,238,175 1,065,631
Borno 2,156,019 1,336,480 817,533
Katsina 2,567,245 1,711,212 1,721,06710
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UWAISPROPOSALS
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UNBUNDLING OF INEC
Political Parties Registration and regulatory Commission
Electoral Offences Commission
Constituency Delimitation Commission
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INDEPENDENCE OF INEC
NJC to advertise all the positions, shortlist 3 persons for each position
Send nominations to national Council of State who select one from shortlist and forward to Senate for confirmation
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THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM
First past the Post for 70% Legislative seats Proportional Representation 30 % Females – 30% of Proportional
Representation Persons With Disabilities – 2% of Proportional
Representation Political parties that secure at least 2.5% of
National Assembly Seats- Cabinet Level
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EFFICIENT ELECTORAL ADMINISTRATION
Design & Handling of Ballot ppaers – security Features
Voting process – Electronic Voting Machines
Accreditation within defined time frame
Voting within defined time frame 15
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REFORMS
Abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions [SIECS] 16
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INDEPENDENT CANDIDATURE
Constituency based nomination by verifiable signatures of 10 registered voters in each ward in the Constituency
Payment of Deposit which will be refunded if candidate scores at least 10% of valid votes
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ENSURING THE CONCLUSION OF ELECTION PETITION DISPUTES BEFORE SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS Need to produce rules and procedures that
enhance speedy disposal of election petitions The Law should shift the burden of proof from
the petitioners to INEC to show that disputed elections were indeed free and fair and complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act
Rules of evidence should be formulated to achieve substantive justice rather than mere observance of technicalities
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ENSURING THE CONCLUSION OF ELECTION PETITION DISPUTES BEFORE SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS
Elections to the office of President and Governors should be held at least six months before the expiration of their terms. A maximum of four months should be devoted to hearing petitions by the tribunals and another two months for hearing appeals by the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court.
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ENSURING THE CONCLUSION OF ELECTION PETITION DISPUTES BEFORE SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS
No executive should be sworn in before the conclusion of the cases against him/her. In the case of legislators, no one should be sworn in before the determination of the case against him/ her
INEC should have no right of appeal
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OTHER REFORMS
Admissibility of EvidenceReliance on Forensic Evidence
Voters registration- Biometrics
Proof beyond reasonable doubt too high 21