On October 31, 2020, elections for local government councils will hold across Akwa Ibom State and will again be a litmus test for the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC).
The success or otherwise of the election rests squarely on AKISIEC and all eyes are on the commission to behold whether it could uphold the tenets of free and fair polls.
Although democracy has come to stay in Nigeria with 21 years of unbroken civil rule, the conduct of all the elections since 1999 still leaves much to be desired.
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It could be rightly said that apart from the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the rest from the beginning of Nigeria as a republic to date have always fallen far short in terms of being free and fair.
As a result of such shortcomings apathy, indifference, fear and mistrust towards elections are fast growing among the Nigerian electorate who are gradually losing the appetite to go out and vote on election days.
Despite enlightenment campaigns about the need for individuals to learn to exercise their civic responsibilities, one of which is voting in elections, apathy is on the rise.
Based on the conduct in the past, some people are now of the strong opinion that elections are already done deals and foregone conclusions which is just a pity.
Therefore, AKISIEC has a herculean task of first of all winning over the hearts and minds of the electorate and the confidence of all the political parties participating in the forthcoming local government election.
Honestly, AKISIEC must create a strong impression to the world that it is truly independent of any political party and should leave no room for any iota of doubt.
With count-down to the election day, ticking away AKISIEC must show transparency in all its actions from now till post-election periods.
It is believed that AKISIEC will do itself a world of good by taking all necessary steps to shore up its credibility as an unbiased umpire.
Therefore, it will not be out of place if the commission invites independent election observers from outside Akwa Ibom State to monitor the conduct of the local government poll which is the usual thing to do in any election in line with international best practices.
On election day, voting materials should be promptly and widely distributed to all polling units. It is not an overstatement that past elections were marred by late arrival or none at all of the voting materials.
AKISIEC must set out to correct the pitfalls of the past and restore the beauty of democracy. The joy of voters is when they know their votes count at the end of the day.
Therefore the process of counting votes and tabulating results should be made transparent to all.
While it is a foregone conclusion that the party that is closest to the grassroots will always emerge victorious, AKISIEC should not be perceived to be pandering to the obvious would-be winners.
If AKISIEC properly conducts the election as an unbiased umpire, the likelihood of post-electoral litigations from aggrieved parties will be reduced to the barest minimum.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the electorate in Akwa Ibom should be looking forward to the successful conduct of the local government election.
It is hoped that AKISIEC would have put all the necessary logistics in place for a smooth, free and fair election that will further consolidate and strengthen democracy in Akwa Ibom, nay Nigeria.
