Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, have urged for a thorough overhaul of Nigeria's electoral system. They expressed concerns that the quality of elections in the country appears to be declining rather than improving. Onaiyekan delivered the keynote address at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu, emphasizing the need for reforms to ensure credible elections.
Onaiyekan proposed several reforms, including a minimum 50 per cent threshold for presidential elections, independent appointment of electoral commissioners, special tribunals for election disputes, and the introduction of independent candidacy. He noted that Nigeria could conduct credible elections with the existing framework if political actors and institutions obeyed the rules. However, he argued that a fundamentally improved system is necessary ahead of future elections.
The conference, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), has the theme "The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive." Onaiyekan, an 82-year-old Nigerian who has witnessed the country's political journey, said elections should enable citizens to choose leaders and assess their performance. He questioned the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing the government's role in appointing electoral body members and participating in elections.
Onaiyekan suggested reviewing the method of appointing INEC chairman and commissioners to prevent dependence on the President or state governors. He also criticized the use of state resources for partisan activities and the heavy deployment of security personnel during elections, which could intimidate voters. Furthermore, Onaiyekan raised concerns about the increasing role of the judiciary in determining electoral outcomes, advocating for special election tribunals with strict timelines.
Mazi Afam Osigwe echoed Onaiyekan's position on electoral disputes, stating that Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of electoral disputes globally. Osigwe attributed this to the failure of leadership at the federal, state, and local government levels. He emphasized the importance of independent electoral institutions, quality evidence, and consistent dispute resolution. Osigwe also raised concerns about handling electronic evidence generated through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, warned about the threat of artificial intelligence-driven misinformation to electoral credibility. He urged news organisations to make verification a permanent culture and advised journalists to establish the authenticity of claims and evidence. Vice President Kashim Shettima declared that the media performs a duty that no democracy can do without, emphasizing the importance of professional journalism in sustaining democracy.
The Vice President and other speakers at the conference stressed the crucial role of journalists and editors in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. They urged the media to continue holding leaders and institutions accountable, while also highlighting the need for a comprehensive reform of the electoral system to ensure credible elections in Nigeria.
Key points
- Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, and former NBA Chairman, Mazi Afam Osigwe, have called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria's electoral system.
- The proposed reforms include a minimum 50 per cent threshold for presidential elections, independent appointment of electoral commissioners, and special tribunals for election disputes.
- The speakers at the conference emphasized the importance of independent electoral institutions, quality evidence, and consistent dispute resolution in ensuring credible elections.
