As preparations for the February 2019 polls intensify, a feud between the electoral body in charge of coordinating the electoral process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the major opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has gained a lot of traction.
With accusations including collusion to rig the upcoming elections and hate speech emanating from both sides, the back and forth between these major variables in the election is set to further exacerbate what spectators are projecting to be one of Africa’s most intense polls this year.
The rift dates back to as early as March 2018, when the PDP pleaded for the intervention of the United Nations (UN) in addressing what the party claimed to be a subtle plot concocted by the electoral body and ruling All Progressive Party (APC) to take away the voting power of the people.
Speaking to a delegation from the UN, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus expressed the party’s lack of confidence in the electoral umpire to conduct a free, fair and credible election. Secondus also accused INEC of manipulating the voter register, explaining that a lack of efficient intervention by the UN and the international community could result in post-election violence capable of devolving into a major crisis.
Similarly, in November, the opposition party also called for the resignation of the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Mrs. Amina Zakari who has been under fire for being related to the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari. The party also alleged that INEC had become an annex of the ruling party and a pawn in their election plan, just like other agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Police Force.
More drama ensued in November when the opposition party levelled accusations of bias against INEC in relation to the monitoring of election funds spent in campaigning. Reacting to INEC’s decision to collaborate with the EFCC in monitoring funding and spending of political parties, the PDP called on the umpires to avoid abusing the process and using it as an avenue to witch-hunt and attack other parties.
This came after an announcement of the spending limit for different categories in the upcoming elections was made. With limits set for presidential candidates at N1billion, governorship candidates at N200million, senate at N40million and representatives at N20million.
INEC, however, responded to this by reiterating its commitment to following the rule of law, stating that the commission is and has always been neutral in its dealings. A warning was also issued to Nigerians, not to buy into the bogus stories being fabricated by the PDP, as they were baseless and nonfactual.
Following another announcement by INEC in December to commission polling centers in Internally Displaced Person (IDP)’s camps in the northern part of the country, the PDP came forward with yet another condemnation, pointing it out as another plan conceived by the umpires and the ruling party to rig the elections.
The party refused to accept the plan, while asking that elections be conducted at previously designated polling centers and not newly “illegally” created centers where proper monitoring cannot be carried out. Citing the 2015 elections where allegedly 13.5 million unauthorised persons were allowed to vote in the north, the party called on Nigerians to condemn this new development so close to the polls.
INEC, in its defence, deemed the comments from PDP hate speech, calling it ploys by the party to discredit the tireless efforts of the commission.
The commission further explained that accusations like these put its staff and National Youth Service (NYSC) volunteers at great risk during the election period, as they are being portrayed in an unsavoury light by the opposition party, to the general public.
Calling on the opposition to be mindful of its utterances, INEC decried the constant allegations being brought up against it, explaining that discord is not needed especially in dire times like this.
The PDP has, however, continued to come for the electoral body. With less than 60 days to the next elections and shuffling of candidates going on, Nigerians are still getting ready for what they hope will be a credible election process, in spite of the constant bickering between ruling party APC, main opposition party PDP and the electoral umpire INEC.
