Guobadia chides tribunals over delayed results of polls petitions
From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abuja
ELECTION tribunals across the land have been chided over their inability to conclude petitions brought before them 18 months after the 2003 general elections.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Dr. Israel Abel Guobadia said in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital at a one day seminar for his commission's officials that he was disappointed in the situation where 18 months after the general elections, litigations arising from them had not been brought to a conclusive end.
The INEC chief was particularly displeased that hearing on some of these petitions, including one on the presidential election had not commenced.
In the seminar, titled " Elections Management and Sustainable Democracy" Guobadia suggested that the proper thing to do was to resolve the petitions before those petitioned were sworn into office.
The Commission's Director of Operations, Mr. A. A. Kagara highlighted the essentials for an enduring democracy, insisting that if these were not put in place, it could be difficult for the country to achieve its march towards democracy.
An upright judiciary, functional political parties, efficient legislature, a visionary transparent and competent executive, a free and responsible press as well as a conscious citizenry should be put in place, he argued, for an enduring democracy to exist.
According to Kagara also essential for free, fair and credible elections in the country are credible voters register, well trained ad hoc staff, a credible election management body, meaningful contributions of other stakeholders, massive voter education, effective voting process and strict monitoring and observation of the voting process.
He maintained that the country's fledging democracy was being threatened by myriad of complex problems because the great challenge before the commission as it plans for the 2007 election was how to manage the elections in such a way that it would ensure the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
"It is in the light of this challenge that the use of the intervening period before the next elections to take stock of past performances and take appropriate measures that will improve future conduct of not just the Ogun State office but also the commission in general is laudable" he asserted.
Kagara insisted that free and fair elections confer legitimacy on governments and constituted the foundation for their stability.
Recalling that since independence in 1960, Nigeria had had six electoral bosses, Kagara insisted that the Nigerian Electoral process since independence has been significantly affected buy the activities of political parties and their candidates.
In his opinion, "a great percentage of the Nigerian electorate had been misinformed and misguided into believing that their votes did not necessarily count. The electoral body needs not only to be fair, it must also be seen to be free, the level of transparency brought to bear or displayed by members of the commission is the ultimate guarantee of the integrity of its work".
He charged that at all times the body (commission) needs to be "articulate, accessible, fair, firm and focused" stressing that when the commission gains the confidence of the stakeholders, half of the job with integrity would have been done.
Kagara warned government that no matter the provisions of the law or the character of the election management body and other relevant factors, the actions and in-actions of the government go a long way in dictating the analysis and assessment of the electoral process.
Kagara called on government to adequately fund the electoral body and avoid influencing its operations and utterances that would suggest intimidation of political opponents. Besides, he said government should desist from deploying public resources for campaign purposes, stressing "this is important when a sitting president is also contesting an impending election".
To ensure free, fair, and credible elections, Kagara insisted the Nigeria media, both electronic and print must be factual and objective in their reporting.
He also accused the media of frequently engineering political violence with biased and unfair election reporting.
The one day seminar was declared open by the Ogun State governor Gbenga Daniel.
