INEC Canvasses Independent Candidates
Parties seek role in appointment of electoral chief
From Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is seeking amendments to the 1999 Constitution to allow independent candidates to contest elections. The commission is also seeking more powers to monitor and supervise the affairs of registered political parties.
INEC in a position paper delivered by its National Commissioner in charge of Legal Affairs, Alhaji M.A. Abubakar at a forum in Abeokuta, Ogun State organised by the commission to review past elections said, "If that (independent candidates) would help to check 'proliferation' of political parties and assist the existing ones to either consolidate, merge, realign with each other, it would be a welcome idea."
Section 65 of the Cons-titution states that a person shall be qualified for election as a member of (a) the Senate and (b) House of Representatives if "he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that party." Sections 106, 131 and 177 of the constitution also have similar provisions concerning the election of members of state assemblies, governors and the president.
The issue of independent candidates was canvassed by many political associations and groups in 2002 when the National Assembly first reviewed the 1982 Electoral Law. The legislature then rejected the issue on the claims that it involves a more complex task of amending the relevant sections of the constitution which prohibit the idea of independent candidacy.
Abubakar also noted that existing laws have not accorded the commission sufficient leverage to exercise its supervisory roles over political parties.
He pointed out that the commission has been particularly handicapped in the supervision and monitoring of the processes of nomination of candidates by the political parties.
He said sections 21 and 23 of the Electoral Act makes it difficult for the commission to monitor the parties. The two sections deal with the nomination of candidates.
"Where a party's convention or primary is extensively marred by fraud, malpractices or irregularities, even though, it has powers to monitor, the commission may in real terms do little or nothing about it," he said.
He also expressed concern over sections of the Electoral Act which give political parties more leverages to change candidates at will "even on the eve of election."
But, a position paper presented Wednesday on behalf of political parties under the umbrella of National Consensus Forum (NCF) to the Senate Committee on INEC for inclusion into the proposed amendment of the 2002 Electoral Act suggested that the process of appointment of INEC boss should the commission be thrown open.
Chief Emmanuel Okereke, National Chairman of the All Peoples Liberation Party (APLP), who presented the paper on behalf of the forum said, "for the purposes of public trust, transparency, the office of the Chairman of INEC and the National Commissioners should be thrown open to allow the political parties nominate the persons who shall occupy such offices."
He said a situation where the Federal Government is allowed to appoint INEC Chairman and National Commissioners "will be the beginning of distrust in the system, because the piper dictates the tune."
He said the suggestion is not novel, as it is the practice in South Africa, where the chairman of that country's electoral body is nominated by members of the public.
Also, the parties suggested a massive reshuffle in the posting of INEC staff, as they alleged that most of the present crops of staff are corrupt.
They suggested that the INEC top hierarchy should be redeployed to federal ministries and government parastatals.
It was also suggested that funds meant for financing political parties "should be appropriated by the National Assembly and disbursed as at when due, as the present system is starving the parties of funds and this is not good for the growth of democracy in the country."
The parties said the Police and military personnel should not intervene in the affairs of political parties, adding that any aggrieved person should be free to seek redress in a court of law, except where there is a criminal breach or assault.
They asked for a role in the appointment of independent auditors that will audit the accounts of INEC, while stating that government should bar the electoral body from awarding contracts.
Meanwhile, INEC will on Monday meet with its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). The meeting will, however, be preceded by an enlarged meeting of the commission with the chairmen and secretaries of the 30 registered political parties.
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