Inec And The 2019 Presidential Election In Nigeria: A Prognostication

Inec And The 2019 Presidential Election In Nigeria: A Prognostication

ABSTRACT

The INEC, as an instrument of processing popular ideals and structures, is hopefully, anticipated to be a truly independent body that personifies the ideals of translucency, equity, responsibility and responsiveness. This worldwide trend known as democratization has made the issue of election a pivotal political imperative. Nigeria’s experience with electoral politics has over the times been characterized by high prevalence of electoral malaise manifesting in the frequence of electoral apparel, violence and other forms of malpractices which tend to erode established electoral norms and defy the prospects of free, fair and believable choices in the country. The methodology and procedures used for this exploration is principally in description of the study areas, types and sources of data used in gathering information on the subject matter, ways or instruments of data collection, slice procedures as well as system of data analysis. The findings, of this exploration agreed with hypotheticals upon which this study was presumed that INEC and some political office holders in Nigeria engender circumstances which make the consummation of free, and fair choices problematic, the character of people in government in Nigeria’s electoral politics detracts from popular substance and merit as well as political office holders impacted negatively to prognosticate whether INEC will conduct free, fair and believable choices in 2019. Incipiently, the study was conducted to prognosticate whether INEC will conduct free, fair and believable choices in 2019 with reference to the outgrowth of two choices which took place this 2018 in in Ekiti and Osun state. On the base of the findings of this exploration, the ensuing recommendations are proposed which will help to address some of the issues raised in the course of the exploration undertaking. Politicians in Nigeria should imbibe genuine popular culture and learn to relegate their particular interests to supreme public interest which is peace, political stability and profitable development by allowing popular expression to decide who should be in control of political leadership during conduct of choices.

Chapter One

Preface

The Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC), is the institutionalized governmental body established, through the machinery of law, to manage the nation’s electoral process. The INEC, as an instrument of processing popular ideals and structures, is hopefully, anticipated to be a truly independent body that personifies the ideals of translucency, equity, responsibility and responsiveness( Udu, 2015). This maybe, informed the popular perception that the body is isolated from prejudiced politics, and that, it’s completely empowered to discharge its avowed duties devoid of any influence whatsoever( Nkwede etal., 2014).

Violence in choices, which is a major bane of politics in Nigeria, has come a base for arriving at inconclusive results. Election- related casualties and collaborative violence in northern part of Nigeria effect to the April 2011 presidential choices redounded in over 800 deaths according to the Human Rights Watch indeed when the bean was arbitrated as one of the freest and fairest in the country. Soon after the presidential election, supposed sympathizers of chairman Mohammadu Buhari the also presidential seeker in the election, began demonstrations in utmost part of the north.

The Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC) is an institution empowered by the 1999 constitution to conduct election in Nigeria and as an arbiter, the institution is supposed to be truly independent in other to conduct a free and fair election. still, the commission over the times has shown to the public that isn’t able of conducting a free and fair election and this is manifested in the series of election held in the forth democracy. INEC has always ditched the electorates by playing the script of its employer. The commission can not hold a believable election in the present circumstance if the mode of movables and their backing isn’t changed.

utmost of the problems we’ve with INEC is that, these people are members of the ruling party and their accreditation is for them to cover the interest of their political party according to their party constitution and on the other hand to make confidence of fidelity to those who appointed them as members of the commission, nothing good can come out of a loose mind and as it were, a spade is always a spade.

The 2019 presidential choices in Nigeria will be the country’s sixth since 1999, when it shifted to republic after a long period of military rule. utmost of these choices have been spoiled by acts of violence – including attacks on politicians – and vote apparel that frequently influences the results.

In Nigeria, the issue of election has been a problematic bid over the times. Ironically, election in Nigeria has been bereft of popular ideals, much as it has been characterized by untoward circumstances. According to Ibeanu,( 20073);

The Electoral process as presently constituted in Nigeria is psychologically alienating for the vast maturity of the people who are largely outlanders and are only periodically fitted in the process when they cast votes. At the same time this disaffection is underlined by the fact that indeed when these vote casters have completed the ritual of voting, the outgrowth bears little semblance to what they chose in their ballots.

Besides, there have been problems of electoral violence and fraud, bulk of which may arise from the surpluses of the politicians in their hopeless shot to consolidate, prisoner or control state power. In the face of this thus, electoral gests in Nigeria so far have left important to be asked . It’s against the above that this exploration work is fastening on the INEC and the 2019 Presidential choices.