ANALYSIS… The fire consuming INEC may be burning out hope of credible elections

The countdown to the 2019 elections has officially begun and while some Nigerians are itching to vote for their preferred candidates, some others just can’t wait for the elections to be done and over with.

Nonetheless, every Nigerian is anxiously awaiting the announcement of the results, most especially the presidential elections.

It is a fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plays a crucial role in the outcome of the elections. Their level of preparation has always been used as an indicator of the likelihood of free and fair election.

For this year’s election, the INEC has assured the nation that they are truly and fully prepared for the elections but recent events involving the commission tell a different tale.

In less than two weeks, three offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission have been destroyed in mysterious fires. Asides the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) of electorates which were affected, other materials needed for the elections such as ballot boxes and the voters’ register were stored in these buildings.

The first fire outbreak was on the 3rd of February, when the INEC office in Isialangwa South Local Government of Abia state was set ablaze by suspected hoodlums in the early hours of the morning. And on the 10th of February, the INEC office at Qua’an Pan Local Government of Plateau state was set ablaze.

But in this instance, it was the fault of “a security man who did not know how to operate the generator but wanted to put it on.”

Not long after this, on the 12th of February, the INEC office in Awka, Anambra state followed in the trend. Card readers and other sensitive election materials were destroyed in this latest inferno. The actual cause of the fire has not been determined.

INEC said while 2979 PVCs were burnt in Abia, the fire incident in Plateau affected 5987 uncollected PVCs, 380 voting cubicles, 755 ballot boxes, 14 generators, election forms and official stamps. While in Anambra, 4,695 card readers were destroyed.

Different reactions have of course trailed these developments with questions like how quickly will the commission reprint and distribute these affected PVCs? What provisions have been made to replace the other affected equipment and materials? popping up here and there.

While the People’s Democratic Party in Plateau State has called on security agents to investigate the matter, the Abia State Government has accussed the opposition candidates in the state, of masterminding the burning down of the INEC office in Isiala Ngwa South

Similarly, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has accused the ruling APC of masterminding the fire outbreak at INEC office in Anambra state. The party alleged that the plan was to ensure elections were declared inconclusive in PDP areas of strength and reruns held on a separate day so that security agents can be deployed to intimidate opposition members.

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Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of burning the electoral offices. He said it is no coincidence that the fire only happens in states where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar have a stronghold and are expected to win.

Speaking via his Twitter handle on Wednesday morning, Omokri wrote; “1 INEC office burnt, may be an accident. 2 burnt may be a coincidence. But the 3rd time is a pattern”.

The APC is however yet to make a statement on these allegation.

INEC on the other hand has assured that all preparations have been made to ensure the elections go on as scheduled. The commission has also requested additional security measures be provided by the Nigeria Police Force to enhance security around its offices and other critical structures of the Commission.

The trend of burning INEC offices is causing fear of violence during the elections as some see the burning of the offices by suspected political thugs as a pointer to what would be during the elections.

Many stakeholders have however used the incidences to call on security operatives to carry out proper investigation and expose the culprits in this crime and prosecute them so as to discourage others.

Many political watchers contend that the fire incidences, if man made, may further discourage voters from stepping out of the comfort of their homes on election day, further fielding the apathy among many who feel elections in Nigeria are manipulated events, while the actual votings are only carried out to fulfill all righteousness.

The incidences raise posers whether the 2019 elections would be actually devoid of violence, and if they would be actually free, fair and credible.

By Precious Akpadaka…..

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