Nigeria not ready for credible elections – S’African electoral chief


A Provincial Electoral Commissioner with the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) of South Africa, Mr. Mosery Mawethu has said that Nigerian leaders are yet to demonstrate requisite political will that would engender sound and transparent elections in the country.

He said Nigerian leaders were yet to show the required commitment and willingness to subject themselves to a democratic process that would be fully based on the principle of fair play and equity.
He made the observation when he presented a paper entitled: “Internal Best Practices for Political Transitions” at a civil society strategy session and workshop organized by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDIIA) in Abuja on Monday.

According to Mawethu, who is the incumbent Provincial Electoral Commissioner for the KwaZulu Natal Province, “There was electoral fraud in your last elections to the point that your President even acknowledged it. And on that basis, I expect that Nigerian leaders would demonstrate a strong political will that would justify their readiness for a credible elections. But this is yet to be.

“We have difficulties in South Africa, but we have risen above issues of lack of fair play and equity. Overtime, we have engaged ourselves with a lot of genuine training and education both at the party, electorate, and government levels. Nigeria can also achieve all these but first, there must be enough willingness on the part of the leaders to do so.

“In terms of a democratically elected president, we are just five years older than Nigeria. And l also do not agree with the argument that our democratic stability is largely because of our lesser population when compared with Nigeria or as a result of the presence of white minority in South Africa.
“We have quite many races in South Africa unlike Nigeria, and this would have been a major issue. So, first Nigeria must do what is right. For instance, there should be a well-structured electoral reform. And everything that has to do with elections must be independent of the ruling party.

Mawethu further said, “In our last election, an African observer said to us, South Africa you cannot fail us. And I am also telling Nigeria, in terms of economic and resources, the continent depends much on you. But the distorting views on your democracy have been the problem. We have electoral problem in Kenya, Zimbabwe among others. Ghana has done, Nigeria can as well do it.

Also speaking at the event, which paraded former Senate president, Senator Ken Nnamani, notable lawyer, Bamidele Aturu among others, Tova Weng of Century foundation USA canvassed for independent candidacy in the forthcoming Nigeria’s election.

She said: “Africa and Africans are the only ones that can prove their readiness to the world. Nigeria has to demonstrate enough transparency at all levels. Independent candidacy must be encouraged as part of the commitment to give every one equal opportunity. In the last elections in the USA, the State of California had over 365 contestants at the gubernatorial level out of which independent candidates were in the majority.”



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