Stakeholders at a dialogue in Calabar have identified deliberate actions to restore trust in Nigeria’s electoral system, calling for the reinforcement of commitments and developing strategies that encourage collaboration among relevant actors in the process.

The dialogue on rebuilding trust in the electoral process and generating commitment from electoral stakeholders to play the desired roles in enhancing confidence in the electoral institutions, electoral processes, and the election management body ahead of the 2027 elections was attended by relevant actors who play different roles.

At the event, a university professor, Ojua Takim Asu, a lecturer in the Department of Social Work at the University of Calabar, called for transparency and accountability in strengthening the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as the adoption of technological solutions that improve efficiency and reduce opportunities for manipulation.

As the keynote speaker at the event organised by the International Press Centre with funding support from the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, the phase two project, he emphasised the importance of civic education and voter awareness in empowering citizens to participate actively and responsibly in the country’s democratic process.

Some participants at the event

Professor Asu addressed the electoral process as the fundamental aspect of democratic governance which allows citizens to participate in choosing their leaders and shaping their governments, adding that rebuilding trust in the process means creating measures of confidence and a sense of responsibility by all in the process of electing representatives at various levels of governance.

He did, however, explain that certain activities have eroded public and corporate interest and investment in the electoral process, citing electoral fraud and violence, such as vote-buying, ballot stuffing, and insecurity in Nigeria’s electoral process. He also mentioned logistical challenges, which typically affect the effective distribution of electoral materials and the timely deployment of personnel, both of which are critical issues during elections.

Speaking of some actions taken over the years to improve the situation in the country, he mentioned that some of the interventions include the introduction of the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and Smart Card Readers to improve the accuracy and reliability of voter identification, incorporation of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) to create a more accurate and fraud-resistant voter register.

More so, the keynote speaker alluded to the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) created to allow eligible citizens to update and register to vote at any time outside the election period, the amendment of the Electoral Act: to update and refine electoral laws to address emerging challenges and improve the electoral process, and to leverage technology for more efficient and transparent election management.

Despite the interventions from the government and other stakeholders in the country’s electoral process, the country is still grappling with deep-seated mistrust in governmental and electoral institutions due to some historical instances of election rigging, annulments, a lack of transparency, and political instability that continue to influence public perception.

His Recommendations
He recommended that transparency and accountability be promoted as at all levels as the first step towards fostering confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. This entails providing the public with complete access to data on the electoral process, including voter registration, polling place locations, and real-time election results. Transparency promotes trust by enabling citizens to independently confirm the process’s integrity.

Another cross section of participants

He also advocated for the strengthening of INEC’s independence and capacity, insisting that a key pillar in building trust is ensuring the independence and capacity of the election management body. He called for legal reforms, to safeguard INEC’s autonomy from political influence and provide it with the necessary financial and operational independence to carry out its mandate effectively.

Additionally, he called for early continuous capacity building for INEC staff and other ad hoc staff electoral management and technology use, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the electoral process. , he clarified that electronic results transmission can reduce human error and interference while also offering opportunities for improving the legitimacy and effectiveness of Nigeria’s electoral process and preventing voter fraud.

He also recommended improvements in Civic Education and Voter Awareness to play a vital role in enlightening citizens about their voting rights, the electoral process, and the significance of their participation. He also advocated for more collaboration with civil society organizations to reach marginalised and remote communities is essential for ensuring that all citizens have access to accurate information and are empowered to participate effectively in elections.

He emphasised improved security and neutrality of personnel, stating that the security of the electorate, officials, and materials must be one of the renewed priorities of rebuilding electoral trust and must not be negotiable. He explained that professional training for security personnel assigned to election duties is crucial to ensuring they act impartially and professionally.

Professor Asu called for building and engaging quality media services, as he hinted that the media plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of the electoral process. To combat misinformation and promote transparency, he clarified that regular training for journalists on fair and balanced reporting is crucial. He also admonished that fact-checking initiatives are accomplished through high-quality practices like required public debates, which are intended to disseminate accurate and trustworthy information to the public about government and electoral policies.

In her brief intervention, Dr Itam Abang, a former member of the Cross Rivers State House of Assembly, who chaired the event opined that trust is the cornerstone of any thriving democracy, adding that the country’s electoral system can only work if the will of the people is freely and fairly expressed.

She acknowledged that the trust in Nigeria’s electoral Systems and institutions is still being tested and the onus rests on the stakeholders to acknowledge these challenges, address the concerns, and work together to restore and strengthen this trust. “As stakeholders, you are paramount to this pursuit together we can build a robust and trusted electoral framework that upholds the tenets of democracy, protecting the rights of every citizen and ensuring a level playing ground for all”.

She further encouraged the stakeholders to actively participate in the dialogue, share their experiences put forth their recommendations, and make use of the opportunity to forge new partnerships, establish stronger networks, and lay the foundation for a future where the electoral processes are not only trusted but celebrated once again”, she stated

In his welcome address, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade explained the essence of the dialogue, stating that despite the preparation ahead of the last general elections in 2023, there were some logistic drawbacks, incidents of violence, and the aspect described as a glitch, among others, have elicited reactions, some of which are suggestive of waning confidence in the electoral processes and elections, hence the need for the concerned stakeholders to discuss the way forward.

“We are therefore of the opinion that democracy would be the ultimate loser if these concerns are not properly addressed as a matter of strategic imperative of rebuilding trust in the electoral process. “Begin With Trust” is the title of an article by Frances X Frei and Anne Morris, a version of which was published in the May-June 2020 issue of the Harvard Business Review. Perhaps in anticipation of the question – why should we begin with Trust? – the authors summarised their perspective as follows:

“Trust is the basis for almost everything we do. It’s the foundation on which our laws and contracts are built. It’s the reason we are willing to exchange our hard-earned paychecks for goods and services, to pledge our lives to another person in marriage, and to cast a ballot for someone who will represent our interests. Conant Leadership also says that “trust is the single most essential element to our ability to deliver extraordinary results in an enduring way” while Stephen R. Covey submits that “Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” We at IPC agree no less.

In examining the trust element in the Nation’s electoral processes and elections however, IPC is equally of the opinion that the searchlight should focus on as many critical actors as possible and not just INEC, much as the election management body is the chief accounting officer when it comes to the administration of elections.

It is not for nothing that the Yoruba people of southwest Nigeria have a proverb that says that a single hand cannot successfully lift a load onto the head. We have therefore been purposeful in describing this initiative as a “multi-stakeholder Dialogue on Rebuilding Trust in Electoral Processes, Institutions, and Elections”.

We have also been goal-driven in selecting the participants from the political parties (as represented by the Inter-Party Advisory Council), the security and law enforcement agencies, the national orientation agency, the media, the trade unions, the bar, the media, the youths, the women, cross sections of the civil society, etc, being institutions that have important roles to perform in ensuring credible elections and should be held accountable for the performance of such roles.

“What we want to see is that our collective efforts will encourage INEC to do better and inspire the people to participate in future elections by registering to vote, collecting the PVCs, actually voting, and peacefully conducting themselves. We need commitments from the stakeholders here gathered in these respects”, he said.