<\/p>\n
As this year comes to an end many Nigerians here at home and abroad
\ncontinue to dream of free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2015.
\nProf. Attahiru Jega, in his infinite wisdom, and as the head of the
\nIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is convinced that he and
\nhis organization have enhanced preparations that will allow for smooth
\nelections next year. As for jega, the trustworthiness and steadiness of
\nany electoral system evolves overtime and could sometimes take hundreds of
\nyears, like that of America.
\nJega tells us that there is now a better voter\u2019s registration, permanent
\nvoter cards have been issued, and all ballot boxes are now numbered
\nserially. He noted that all these are new implementations that did not
\nexist before 2010.
\nOn a psychological level, assuming we now have a better voter\u2019s
\nregistration, and all ballot boxes are now numbered serially, these plans
\namong others signal good news given that almost everyone dreams and wants
\nto see integrity in the electoral system. These election dreams, however,
\nmay also contain some disturbances, in terms of predicting the future
\noutcome of the 2015 election, the presidential race especially.
\nFor some reason, some of us may start having scary dreams in light of Mr.
\nJonathan telling us recently to expect the presence of military and
\nsecurity forces in the coming 2015 presidential election, and others as
\nusual may already be banking on the use of muggers\/thugs and
\nassassinations.
\nJega, do you support the presence of overwhelming military forces as part
\nof the security arrangements on election day manned with tanks and
\nAK47-wielding soldiers in the streets? You must tell now!
\nJega, couldn\u2019t the presence of overshadowing military and security forces
\nas part of the security arrangements cause many voters to stay home,
\ninstead of heading to polling places and booths, resulting in a dismally
\nlow turnout? You must tell us now–How you will address this possible set
\nback?
\nSir, ahead of the 2015 general elections, with thousands of the Internally
\nDisplaced Persons (IDPs) everywhere, what plans and arrangements do you
\nand the Independent National Electoral Commission have that will enable
\nIDPs to vote? And don\u2019t you dare say this \u201cNa Oyinbo\u201d or alien thing! You
\nmust tell us now–What exactly has been mapped out for this human rights
\nconcern?
\nAs you know, we are currently in the pre-violence season ahead of the
\nnational elections. Election-related homicides have begun already with
\nmedia reports of politicians being \u201cshot dead\u201d at either their residence
\nor office. You must tell us now–What exactly has been done to reduce
\nthese vile incidents and how are you preparing to protect candidates from
\nenforced disappearances as we are soon likely to see?
\nJega, your concern about safety and disorderly attitude of politicians is
\npathetic, as this line of psychological acts is a longstanding Nigerian
\nreality. Instead, your concern should be more about the bribery-conscious
\npoliceman and woman, and graft-addicted magistrate who, once in possession
\nof tainted money, will make sure the perpetrators and defendants do not
\nface appropriate justice. In other words, bribes will guarantee the safety
\nof defendants. You must tell us now–What exactly will be done to reduce
\npolice\/judicial and non-punishment of perpetrators?
\nJega, ahead of the coming presidential, gubernatorial, and legislative
\nelections in regard to the last national elections, list the number of
\nsuccessful investigations\/prosecutions and convictions of fraud and other
\nirregularities, including vote rigging and buying, under-age voting, and
\nballot stuffing, as well as cases of property destruction, security
\nviolence, political homicides and near fatalities. You must tell us
\nnow\u2014How will we have some degree of assurance that election abuses and
\nviolence will be fully investigated and prosecuted so that justice will be
\nserved?
\nSir, at various public and private hospitals, there are many injured
\nvictims of bomb blasts, firearms, knives and other forms of attack
\ninstruments. Some of these victims are survivors but still hospitalized;
\nsome of them have above-the-knee amputations. You must tell us now–What
\nspecial ballot provisions and arrangements have been made to enable them
\nto vote?
\nAcross the country, the North included, there are eligible voters which
\ninclude home-bound and physically disabled voters, and military members
\nand their family members mostly in the troubled northern areas. You must
\ntell us now–What special ballot provisions and arrangements have been
\nmade to enable them to vote?
\nProf. Jega, it is questioned how the voting rights of thousands of
\npersons will be safeguarded, especially as it relates to issues of angry
\nmobs, suicide bombings, Internally Displaced Persons, those who are
\nhospitalized and those with disabilities. Without specific safeguards,
\nwill not the sanctity of the entire vote be undermined?
\nThere is no doubt that with some States under emergency rule and the
\npresence of security and political-related crises, the outcome of the
\nelection nationally could be significantly affected. But making greater
\nefforts to reduce several of these challenges could help support the
\nargument that the results of the presidential, senate and lower house
\nare, at a minimum, generally valid, and, with that, the hopeful result
\nthat the nation will not be plunged into further irreconcilable chaos.
\nDr. John Egbeazien Oshodi is a Forensic, Clinical and National
\nPsychologist and a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological
\nAssociation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As this year comes to an end many Nigerians here at home and abroad continue to dream of free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2015. Prof. Attahiru Jega,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n