The preservation of electoral materials is fundamental to upholding the transparency and accountability of any democratic election. In the case of the recent Edo election, the Tribunal issued a clear directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to secure BVAS machines at its headquarters in Abuja. However, INEC’s refusal to accept and acknowledge this order from the election Petition Tribunal has cast a shadow over its commitment to democratic principles.
INEC’s resistance to a Tribunal order raises immediate concerns over the fate of the BVAS machines, which serve as critical pieces of evidence in determining the election’s integrity. These machines contain essential voter information and time-stamped voting records that help ensure the accuracy of the electoral process, making their preservation crucial.
Destroying electoral materials risks not only legal but also political fallout with far-reaching consequences. Legal challenges and petitions that rely on these materials would be weakened or rendered futile if the materials are destroyed, creating a legal quagmire and exacerbating political tensions within the country.
The refusal to adhere to a court order reflects poorly on INEC’s institutional integrity, suggesting that it may prioritize its interests over its mandate to serve the public. This raises uncomfortable questions: what is INEC hiding, and why? The public deserves a transparent and accountable election management body, not one that selectively adheres to judicial rulings.
The noncompliance and potential destruction of evidence in this case may also deter public participation in future elections. When citizens perceive that their votes may not be accurately counted or preserved, they are less likely to engage in the democratic process. This could lead to lower voter turnout and apathy, further weakening the foundations of Nigerian democracy.
Another significant danger is the precedent that INEC’s actions may set for future elections. If Nigeria’s electoral commission can disregard court orders without consequence, this could embolden other government institutions to act with similar disregard for judicial oversight, weakening Nigeria’s entire system of checks and balances.
.. Deacon Darlington Okpebholo Ray,
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief ot Truth Live News and a PDP chieftain writes from London, United Kingdom.