The recently concluded presidential election in Ghana, our next-door neighbour, presents a wake-up call to INEC and the National Assembly on the need to review our electoral process and make it more efficient
The recently concluded presidential election in Ghana, our next-door neighbour, presents a wake-up call to INEC and the National Assembly on the need to review our electoral process and make it more efficient, transparent, credible and in line with best practices across the world. That is the only way we can continue to earn our place as the continental leader.
There is a need for INEC to embrace technology and make it help the process. A situation where the election in Ghana was conducted on Saturday and by Sunday morning, the contestants had the results that were sufficient enough to make the ruling party concede victory must only be possible through the use of efficient technology.
Any excuse that still allows some officials to conduct elections manually or gives the impression that results cannot be uploaded in real-time on the IREV should be eliminated. Any election that does not meet the technology threshold should be nullified.
We must do everything to discourage and disincentivize the sabotage of technology to manipulate results.
Some people may argue that Ghana is a smaller country than Nigeria, however, even when INEC conducts an election in one state, the results do not come out so fast as to be known the morning after the election as it was done in Ghana.
The electoral commission must also comprehensively review its internal mechanism and arrangement to ensure it can help accomplish its constitutional duties.
Also, the National Assembly should urgently review the current electoral laws and make amendments that will address the lapses without leaving any ambiguity when it comes to conducting elections in line with law. The NASS should update the laws to the point that they can help INEC deliver transparent, easy, fast, and credible elections.
These should be our takeaway from the Ghana election. That is in addition to congratulating the people of Ghana for the smooth transition of power they are about to witness.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki
