The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), views the just concluded Nigerian elections (April 14 and 21, 2007) as a robbery of the collective will of the Nigerian Citizenry. It has set back hopes of a brighter future of development and opportunity in Nigeria. The elections are universally agreed to have been a farce and we believe that this is a major missed opportunity to build upon the fragile democratic dispensation which may also have severe consequences in the coming months.
The historical significance of the election is that it represented the first time since Nigeria gained independence from the British on October 1, 1960 that a democratically elected government would handover to another. For President Olusegun Obasanjo, it was another opportunity to entrench his legacy and reserve his place in history as the only Nigerian leader to have voluntarily handed over the reins of government to a democratic administration twice in his lifetime.
We note the prophetic editorial of the April 12, 2007 edition of the New York Times which said “President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria likes to present himself as the man who led his country to democracy. But his reputation and that of his country will be deeply marred unless he moves to quickly to rein in the chaos and corruption threatening the Nigeria election…”
For an election to be considered as free, fair and to represent the informed decision of eligible voting citizens, it must be conducted in an enabling and conducive environment. The process must live up to local and international scrutiny, be devoid of unfair advantage, criminality, violence, procedural and administrative anomalies. On the other hand an enabling environment for a credible election must involve the empowerment of the enfranchised citizenry to vote for candidates of their choice. The just concluded elections failed totally in this regard.
Both the April 14 and 21 elections have been marred by massive rigging mostly in favor of the ruling PDP, serious acts of intimidation and violence resulting in the death of at least 200 Nigerians as reported by the Nigerian media, active connivance of the police and other security agencies in creating and maintaining an atmosphere not conducive for credible elections.
The Maurice Iwu led INEC demonstrated a profound degree of unpreparedness and a lack of courage and honor to stand as an unbiased umpire in the process. Before the elections, the registration process was flawed and the Voters Registers were never displayed as required by law in the majority of centers within the stipulated timeframe. During elections, in many states officials of INEC failed to commence voting at polling stations on time, did not bother to conduct voting in many centers, did not have adequate voting materials, (many of which were ready in time but apparently never left their warehouse in South Africa). The officials aided and abetted criminal activity in subverting the people’s will as was witnessed in Rivers State where officials boldly persuaded voters to cast their ballot in one direction.
The inadequacy of INEC was also clearly evident in lack of transportation and security for officials, gross lapses on the ballot papers which included omitted candidates’ pictures, logos of party affiliation and the inclusion of disqualified candidates on various ballots.
The post election excuse proffered by the self congratulatory President and INEC chairman, that in view of the late judgment of the Supreme Court declaring Vice President Abubarkar Atiku eligible to contest for the Presidential elections 48 hours before the elections does not stand up to scrutiny. Maurice Iwu and other INEC officials continually granted press conferences assuring voters that the electoral body had contingency plans which would cover all such exigencies. The excuses provided are rendered more dubious with specific regards to the April 21 Federal elections when it was gathered that ballot papers were printed in South Africa and were yet to arrive Nigeria barely 48 hours to the elections. Thus, INEC will find it hard to dismiss the allegation, that actions before, during and after the conduct of the elections were carried out with the sole design of assuring a predetermined outcome to favor the outgoing president Olusegun Obasanjo and his ruling PDP.
With slightly over 61 million registered voters of which only about 35 million having cast votes in both elections represents an unfortunate picture of voter apathy on the surface and more troubling is the stark realization of how many Nigerians were either robbed of their votes or out rightly disenfranchised. A situation whereby about 26 million eligible voters including (students, academic and none academic staff whose campuses are currently under lock) could not cast their ballots thereby being overtly disenfranchised during the just concluded presidential election is not only fraudulent but unacceptable.
The outcome of this farce is that Nigeria is an International laughing stock where it should have set a sterling example for developing democracies in the Third world. The resulting local and international condemnation is a warning to the President Olusegun Obasanjo government and the ruling PDP that such electoral misconduct is no longer accepted as business as usual. We agree in full and identify with the statement made by Pierre-Richard Prosper of the Washington based International Republican Institute:
“The system failed the Nigerian people and suffers a lack of credibility. The system as designed did not work…; the Nigerian people were failed by their leaders. The elections fell below the standard set by previous Nigerian elections and international standards witnessed around the globe“.
In the final analysis NAS views the conduct and outcome of the April elections as not only a failure towards the citizenry but a dangerous precedent if it is left unchallenged. Since Nigerians have been robbed of the opportunity to make their voices through in the customary democratic avenue of the ballot box they cannot be blamed if they resort to using other less conventional democratic means.
NAS therefore urges all candidates who have suffered from election irregularities to collect evidence and pursue redress through the tribunals and courts. We also stand in solidarity with all disenfranchised Nigerians who wish to make their voices heard through various means of peaceful protest so that the government will be aware of the depth of feeling among the populace. Nigerians have suffered yet another failure of leadership; they have been robbed by a group of politicians who hold Nigerians in contempt. It is time to show our leaders that they will be held to account for their actions and those citizens of Nigeria will not sit back and allow our nation to be hijacked yet again.
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) hereby in unequivocal terms:
- Calls for a wholesale Review of our Electoral System as provided in the 1999 constitution and the 2006 Electoral Act by the National Assembly.
- A staggering of both States and Federal Elections to be conducted on different dates in the six Geo-Political Zones of the federation.
- A Comprehensive Review of the Party System as enshrined in our Statute Books and a provision for Independent Candidacy to stem the tide towards a near one party state.
- A Promulgation of the National Assembly strengthening the INEC with a view to ensuring its complete independence of the presidency.
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) rejects in its totality the results of the just concluded Nigeria’s States and Federal Elections.
Signed:
PROF. OLATUNDE MAKANJU
NAS Capone
National Association of Seadogs (NAS)
May 3, 2007
