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| Prof Mahmud Yakub, INEC chairman |
2019: Election sequence engenders voter apathy –Don
By
Emmanuel Ologun
Emmanuel Ologun
Abuja.
A
gathering of eminent academics and civil society actors to review the
contributions of the 2019 general elections to gender balancing and
proportional participation in governance has faulted the sequence adopted for
the polls and blamed it for the general voter apathy witnessed during the
process.
gathering of eminent academics and civil society actors to review the
contributions of the 2019 general elections to gender balancing and
proportional participation in governance has faulted the sequence adopted for
the polls and blamed it for the general voter apathy witnessed during the
process.
Discussants
reviewed the deficiencies inherent in conducting presidential election first
and recommended that a bottom-up approach, whereby local council and state
assembly elections are conducted first before graduating to the presidential
polls as outlined in the 1999 constitution is preferable.
reviewed the deficiencies inherent in conducting presidential election first
and recommended that a bottom-up approach, whereby local council and state
assembly elections are conducted first before graduating to the presidential
polls as outlined in the 1999 constitution is preferable.
Professor
Abdulhameed Ujo, who was a former Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kaduna
state argued that every election is relatively free and fair depending on which
party comes out victorious.
Abdulhameed Ujo, who was a former Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kaduna
state argued that every election is relatively free and fair depending on which
party comes out victorious.
Ujo
who spoke as the lead paper presenter at
who spoke as the lead paper presenter at
the
roundtable discussion organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University
of Abuja, in conjunction with the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Foundation of
Germany, accused politicians of subverting the constitution and skewing
election sequences to favour the ruling party in every national election.
roundtable discussion organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University
of Abuja, in conjunction with the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Foundation of
Germany, accused politicians of subverting the constitution and skewing
election sequences to favour the ruling party in every national election.
While
calling for proper review of the order of elections before the next polls, Ujo
stressed that a larger population of eligible voters, especially women and
youths were usually disenfranchised by a top to bottom approach to elections.
calling for proper review of the order of elections before the next polls, Ujo
stressed that a larger population of eligible voters, especially women and
youths were usually disenfranchised by a top to bottom approach to elections.
Another
speaker, Dr Alaba Halilu, who is a lecturer at the University of Abuja said
until the nation resolves the problem of election sequencing, elections in
Nigeria will continue to be controversial, inconclusive and contentious.
speaker, Dr Alaba Halilu, who is a lecturer at the University of Abuja said
until the nation resolves the problem of election sequencing, elections in
Nigeria will continue to be controversial, inconclusive and contentious.
He
condemned the practice whereby women and youths are not taken into account and
given the opportunity to contest for elective positions in the country with the
result that female gender participation in governance has been very poor.
condemned the practice whereby women and youths are not taken into account and
given the opportunity to contest for elective positions in the country with the
result that female gender participation in governance has been very poor.
Dean
of the Faculty of Social Sciences, of the university, Professor Yusuf Alli
Zoaka in an interview on the relevance of the discussion on
of the Faculty of Social Sciences, of the university, Professor Yusuf Alli
Zoaka in an interview on the relevance of the discussion on
the
nation’s electoral process remarked that governance will be greatly enhanced
when more women are allowed to participate in elections.
nation’s electoral process remarked that governance will be greatly enhanced
when more women are allowed to participate in elections.
He
called for strict legislation to force political parties to stop imposing
bizarre or outlandish charges on aspirants in the name of expression of
interest and nomination forms.
called for strict legislation to force political parties to stop imposing
bizarre or outlandish charges on aspirants in the name of expression of
interest and nomination forms.
Country
Director of Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Foundation, Angela Ogar, in a brief
interview called on Nigerian politicians to take into account the need for
gender balancing and more women participation in the electoral process and in
governance.
Director of Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Foundation, Angela Ogar, in a brief
interview called on Nigerian politicians to take into account the need for
gender balancing and more women participation in the electoral process and in
governance.
Ms
Ogar promised that the foundation would partner always with national
institution that seeks to improve the electoral space to make it more
participatory and all inclusive.
Ogar promised that the foundation would partner always with national
institution that seeks to improve the electoral space to make it more
participatory and all inclusive.