All over the world, history has always shown that where government has worked for the people, it was always because institutions were allowed to be stronger and superior to men.
In those places, this always meant that no one person or group was really allowed to transcend the law.
As Nigerians gird themselves properly to go into the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC,must be under a huge amount of pressure to deliver free and fair elections in Nigeria.
With Nigerians,the Commission has not always had a rosy history.It has come in for huge criticisms in the past and the knives may yet be sharpened for it ahead of the 2023 general elections.
An unenviable task
The Independent National Electoral Commission bears the supreme responsibility of conducting free and fair elections in Nigeria. In a country long ripped apart by mistrust,this is no mean feat.
In fact, many times in Nigeria,even before a single ballot is cast, suspicion beclouds the vision of many, who even at that point nurse little doubt that INEC which is supposed to be independent and impartial is compromised.
This perspective, as poisonous as it is has always complicated the task of INEC because then,the people partnership so crucial to the smooth conduct of elections is compromised.
In a country where years of corruption, poor planning and mismanagement have left embarrassingly little in terms of funding for key national institutions, INEC has not been left out of those institutions who have to scratch and scramble just to get by.
It is with grossly inadequate resources that INEC has always had to set up shop in parts of the country and conduct free and fair elections. In recent times, INEC’s already difficult job has been made more complicated by Nigeria’s gripping battle with insecurity.
The Independent National Electoral Commission bears the supreme responsibility of conducting free and fair elections in Nigeria.Whether elections go well or badly in Nigeria,it is INEC that bears the full responsibility.
In a country where the only thing that seems to function is dysfunction,INEC’s constitutional role is an unenviable one.
Yet, the Commission always strives to manage its affairs and post a dignified showing whenever elections come around.
In a desperately litigious country,this is hardly ever enough as sore losers and those with genuine grievances about the conduct of elections in the country always contrive to ensure that INEC always has a multitude of litigation to deal with.
In the past few months,all over the country, especially in the Southeast, key INEC resources have come under heinous attacks.
INEC offices have been razed and other facilities attacked by unidentified gunmen or by arsonists engaging in savage sabotage
Owerri in Imo State has recently provided the latest venue of such attacks. On Monday December 12,2022 gunmen attacked and burnt the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Owerri killing a policeman in the process.
Vehicles and documents were destroyed during the attack with the Commission confirming that critical electoral materials were destroyed. About three of the assailants were killed.
The Nigerian authorities must step up efforts to protect key INEC facilities in the run-up to the 2023 elections.With the insecurity that has been scything through the country for months now, it is to be expected that as elections approach, the enemies of the country will launch more desperate attempts to disrupt the process.
They must be stopped at all costs so that if INEC fails in its responsibilities next year, it will have no excuse.
Kene Obiezu,
Twitter:@kenobiezu
