Sunday 20 January 2013

We don’t trust INEC to deliver – CPC

 by ALLWELL OKPI
National Publicity Secretary, Congress for Progressive Change, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin
The National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, tells ALLWELL OKPI that his party does not have confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission conducting elections using electronic voting method
Is CPC also calling for the adoption of electronic voting in the 2015 general elections?
Our stand on the issue of electronic voting is that as much as it is desirable, we have to also consider how feasible its implementation is. Yes, electronic voting is good, with a lot of benefits. As far as I’m concerned, it is the ultimate in stamping out rigging and many of the malpractices that politicians indulge in so as to win election at all cost, but is it implementable? The year 2015 is about two years away; can we introduce a new system within this period? We have to look at this thing critically, putting into consideration our peculiar situation in this country.
You seem to be questioning the implementation and not the idea. Are you questioning the ability of INEC to deliver credible and fair elections using an electronic voting system?
Yes. The question needs to be asked, is INEC able to successfully conduct elections in this country using electronic voting system? Preparing for an election in Nigeria where a new system such as electronic voting would be adopted is beyond putting the infrastructure and machinery in place. Asides all that physical preparation, there is a need for sensitisation of the people, so that the voters can embrace the change and be sure of what they are going to meet at the polling units. Is INEC able to adequately do that before 2015? Is it the same INEC that collected billions of naira to put together an electronic register and at the end of the day, they were not able to present the same electronic register as evidence at the electoral tribunal? We all saw the hitches that were associated with that voters’ register in the last general elections. Is it that same INEC you want to entrust with the responsibility of conducting elections electronically? No. It shouldn’t be. We do not trust INEC under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega, to deliver credible elections using electronic voting. Let us not go into a situation where Nigerians would be hoodwinked; where INEC would come at the last minute and said they are not able to handle electronic voting, after a lot of money would have been spent. That would be money down the drain.
INEC has said only verification would be electronic in 2015. Do you think it can handle that?
So, what would that be called, semi-electronic voting or quarter electronic voting? Since ballot papers are still going to be used then it is not electronic voting. The same problems we had with the electronic voters’ register would still occur if they do electronic verification. If you finish verification electronically and you go on to vote manually with ballot papers, then what are we doing? Electronic voting is good but our preparation for it is not good enough. We should not attempt it until we are ready.
So, are you suggesting that INEC should revert to a complete manual system until we are ready for a full electronic system?
When INEC is ready to fully adopt electronic voting, they should come out with a clear implementation plan. It has to be in specific terms. It has to be measurable, actionable, realistic and time-bound. I don’t like the kind of obfuscation and opacity that surround INEC’s activities and plans. We should leave electronic voting until they are ready for it.
Punch

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