Ahead of the much-awaited voter registration, which kicks off today across the country, some Nigerians have expressed mixed feelings over the exercise.
In separate telephone interviews with SATURDAY PUNCH, some respondents expressed the optimism that eligible voters would turn out en-masse to perform their civic responsibilities, while others hoped that sufficient steps had been taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that nothing goes wrong during the exercise.
In separate telephone interviews with SATURDAY PUNCH, some respondents expressed the optimism that eligible voters would turn out en-masse to perform their civic responsibilities, while others hoped that sufficient steps had been taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that nothing goes wrong during the exercise.
The National President, Committee for Defence of Human Rights, Mr. Supo Ojo, said on Friday that he was looking forward to a well organised exercise.
Noting that previous experiments with the voter registration since 1999 had failed to yield positive results, Ojo said that given the present political climate in the country, Nigerians expected a successful and incident-free exercise.
He said, “Unlike the past, we want this voter registration to succeed. Of course, we don’t expect what happened during the recent rerun in Delta State to repeat itself. There should be no excuse because INEC has all the funds and materials that it needs to make this exercise successful.”
The CDHR leader said that although a successful voter registration might be regarded as the necessary foundation for successful general elections in April, it did not guarantee that the forthcoming elections would be free and fair.
Ojo said, “The foundation, no doubt, is very important and the voter registration is that foundation. But it does not necessarily guarantee a free and fair election because over the years, especially here in Nigeria, we have discovered that rigging and other electoral malpractices commence after registration has been concluded.”
The registration will hold across the country in public primary and secondary schools, with eligibility starting from age 18 for both sexes. Eligible voters will be registered electronically and given their cards ahead of the elections. The exercise will last for two weeks.
A former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Dipo Fashina, said the outcome of the registration would depend on how well those in charge of security in the country performed their duties, as well as on the attitude of politicians.
Fashina ruled out any possible connection between a successful voter registration and free and fair general elections in 2011.
He said, “Having a free and fair election is a complex issue. There are other things involved and the voter registration is just one part of it. Most violations of free and fair elections in Nigeria are done in connivance with corrupt INEC officials and equally crooked security agents.
“For there to be a successful election, the politicians must believe in a free and fair election. Choosing freely means choosing with knowledge. Voting should be determined by what the voters know about who they are voting for. The more basic question in Nigeria is whether there is voting in a more meaningful sense or not.”
Fashina wondered if INEC had prepared adequately for the voter registration and the 2011 general elections. He said he wished the commission would come out with a publication showing its level of preparedness for the election.
But Chief Tony Idigbe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and a prominent leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, were optimistic that the voter registration would go well.
Adebanjo said, “I believe the voter registration will be successful, except something goes wrong. Many people will come out to register. If that happens, it means there will be a good election. I trust the INEC chairman, Jega, to deliver well.”
Regarding INEC’s readiness to conduct credible elections in 2011, the Afenifere chief waved aside insinuations that the commission might not be sufficiently prepared.
He said, “If INEC says it is ready for the elections, let us give the commission the benefit of the doubt. Let us stop being pessimistic and accept that it will do its job well.”
While Idigbe urged Nigerians to come out and register during the exercise so that they would be empowered to elect the candidates of their choice, the former President of the Civil Liberty Organisation, Ayo Obe, wondered why schools had to be shut because of the voter registration.
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