ELECTRONIC CARD-READER AS A PRECARIOUSLY-TIMED INNOVATION. SCRIPTED BY CHIEF (SIR) DON UBANI.

The resilience, bravery and doggedness of the Nigerian political class, especially of the colonial era, made it almost imperative that, between 1914 when the Northern and Southern Protectorates were amalgamated by the British colonial administration and 1963, many constitutional innovations had to take place.
Of all the constitutions introduced by the British colonial government, the Hugh Clifford’s Constitution of 1922 was very significant because it was the first to introduce the elective principle and, therefore, stimulated the eventual formation of political parties. In order to contest election into the legislative council in 1923 as provided by the Sir Clifford constitution, Herbert Macaulay had formed Nigerian National Democratic Party; N.N.D.P. in 1923 while Barr H.O. Davies, Dr J.C. Vaughan, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Kofo Abayomi, Chiefs Ernest Ikoli and Obafemi Awolowo founded the Lagos Youth movement in 1934, which later transformed into the Nigerian Youth Movement in 1936.
From the above preamble, it has become obvious that Nigerians has been in romance with the elective principle for ninety-two years; 1923 – 2015. It could, therefore, be reasonably argued that but for the unwarranted and unjustifiable intervention and interference by the Nigerian military in the political leadership of the country, Nigeria, by now, should have come over most of her electoral challenges.
At this juncture, it may be useful to have a run-down of electoral commissions in Nigeria since her independence in 1960. On assumption of office as Prime-minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1960, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa established Federal Electoral Commission; F.E.C, which was headed by Chief Eyo Esua. This commission conducted the elections of 1964 and 1965. It was dissolved as a result of the first military coupd’e’tat on January 15, 1966.
In 1978, General Olusegun Obasanjo, as military Head of State, set up a Federal Electoral Commission, with Chief Michael Ani as Chairman. It was this electoral body that conducted the 1979 general election that produced Alhaji Shehu Alyu Shagari as the first Executive President of Nigeria.
President Shagari re-organized the electoral body, by way of nomenclature, in 1983 when he re-named it Federal Electoral Commission; FEDECO, with Hon Justice Oveie-Whiskey as the helmsman. Hon Justice Ovie-whiskey conducted the 1983 election that saw the re-election of Alhaji Shegari as President.
Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s government was over-thrown on 31st December, 1983 by Major-General Mohammadu Buhari, who consequently became the head of Buhari/Idiagbon Moslem/Moslem military Junta. Since Buhari did not believe in the tenets of democracy, he was only interested in abolishing the electoral commission. For the twenty months he held sway as military dictator, he did not tolerate any idea of setting up an electoral commission.
Following the successful over-throw of General Buhari’s dictatorial and draconic regime on August 27, 1985 by another coupist; General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who was like a maradona, the National Electoral commission; N.E.C, was set up in 1985 and he appointed a highly respected erudite academic; Professor Eme O. Awa, as the chairman. Professor Awa, being a very principled scholar and gentle-man decided to resign his appointment in 1989 over an alleged disagreement with military President Babangida.
Consequent upon the resignation of Prof. Awa, General Babangida appointed another scholar; Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, who took over from his former teacher; Prof. Awa, in 1989 and served until 1993 when he conducted the election that has been described as the freest, fairest and most credible in the annals of Nigeria’s electoral contest and which was generally believed to have been won by one of Nigeria’s most generous and benevolent philanthropists; Chief M.K.O Abiola on June 12, 1993 but was inexplicably annulled by General Babangida.
The Political tumult and tumour that erupted as a result of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 general election could not be contained by any force of dictatorship, hence General Babangida Shamefully stepped aside. An unsustainable interim Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan was hurriedly and porously put in place in 1993 on the heals of General Babangida’s humiliating exit.
But before the emergence of Chief Shonekan as the head of the interim Government, General Babangida had relieved Prof. Humphrey Nwosu of the Chairmanship of National Electoral Commission and this could not have been, in any way, unconnected with Prof. Nwosu’s visible commitment to offering Nigerians a free, fair and credible election. In the place of Prof Nwosu, did Babangida appoint Prof. Okon Uya; 1993 – 1994.
After maximum Military dictator; General Sani Abacha, booted Chief Ernest Shonekan out as Head of Interim Government, he appointed Chief Sumner Dagogo-Jack as chairman of National Electoral Commission of Nigeria; N.E.C.O.N. General Abacha was generally suspected by Nigerians to have a President-for-life ambition. Chief Dagogo-Jack served between 1994 and 1998, during which he conducted elections for local government councils, State House of Assembly and National Assembly. The elected officers were not inaugurated due to the abrupt demise of General Abacha, except those elected into the local government councils.
The death of General Sani Abacha, which was widely celebrated across the country in 1998, ushered in the regime of a quintessential gentle-man soldier; General Abdulsalami Abubakar. General Abubakar renamed the electoral body as Independent National Electoral Commission; I.N.E.C in 1998 and there-upon appointed Hon Justice Ephraim Akpata as chairman of INEC. Hon Justice Akpata conducted the general election that ushered in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as the second Executive President of Nigeria on October 1st, 1999.
Hon justice Akpata died in January 2000, giving room for President Obansanjo to appoint Sir Abel Guobadia as chairman of INEC. Sir Guobadia conducted the election of 2003 by which Chief Obasanjo was re-elected as President. The conduct of 2003 general election by Sir Guobadia was widely criticized by the opposition as falling, in every measure, short of transparency. Sir Guobadia’s tenure expired in June 2005 and President Obasanjo brought in Prof. Maurice Iwu as chairman. Prof Iwu conducted the 2007 general election that saw to the emergence of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Prof Iwu has since been described by many critics as the most controversial electoral umpire in Nigeria’s recent electoral history.
President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Prof. Attahiru Jega as Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission on June 8, 2010. Prof. Jega conducted the 2011 general election, which was adjudged to be free, fair and credible even though pre-election comments and insinuations by General Buhari had instigated post-election brutality and outright destruction of lives and property in the core Moslem – north, following the well-deserved electoral victory of President Jonathan.
Currently, Prof. Jega’s INEC has indicated strong commitment to introducing an electronic device called Card Reader for 2015 general election. There is no gainsaying the fact that for any country to grow her democracy, every loophole that stands against electoral transparency should be completely plugged. In this regard, introduction of an electronic device that can guarantee scientific cum technological accuracy would be a welcome development.
But from the reports of the test-run of the Card Readers conducted in 225 polling units and 358 polling points in twelve states of the Federation, it is very certain that the Card readers manifested some technical flaws, which made it impossible for many potential voters to be cleared for voting. This untoward development made the exercise appear precarious.
It must be stated that much interest had been aroused in 2015 general election. It has already taken both ethno and religious dimension, to the extent that the election is already explosion-prone.
An election of this nature and dimension is one that calls for meticulous and transparent handling. The sensitivity the 2015 general election has ignited is so fervent that the use of an unguaranteed card reader, which imperical exactitude is yet to be confirmed could create more problems than it was anticipated to solve. It is, therefore, imperative that the electoral commission should desist from contemplating subjecting the process of conducting 2015 general election to an expensive and very dangerous experiment. Any act or action that could threaten the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria should be avoided at this moment when predictions put Nigeria at a cross-road.


Chief (Sir) Don Ubani; KSC, JP
(Okwubunka of Asa)

Abeg dis tin too long summarize joor...meanwhile,GEJ till 2019