Political science professors on the College of Nigeria Nsukka say will probably be unattainable to conduct all elections in sooner or later throughout the 2023 common elections.
They stated this in Nsukka on Friday in separate interviews with the Information Company of Nigeria whereas reacting to opinion in some quarters.
Some Nigerians had advised that in 2023, Presidential, Nationwide Meeting, Governorship, and State Homes of Meeting elections needs to be performed in a day to save lots of prices and minimise electoral malpractice.
NAN stories that the nation’s electoral umpire had in earlier nationwide polls scheduled state elections every week earlier or later than nationwide elections.
Each, nevertheless, used to have hiccups with the distribution of supplies, actual voting, and collation of outcomes.
Prof. Aloysius Okolie, stated that conducting all of the elections in sooner or later could be unattainable as a result of the nation lacked the manpower to do such with out the method shedding its credibility.
He stated, “If all of the elections are performed in a day the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) and safety businesses will likely be overwhelmed as they won’t have sufficient manpower to carry out their duties.
“Sure, whether it is attainable to be performed in a day it should save price however it’s unattainable due to the dearth of manpower.’’
Okolie, who’s Dean, School of Social Sciences, stated staggering of elections was not chargeable for electoral malpractice on Election Day as canvassed by opponents.
He stated malpractice was brought on by the overzealous and unsuitable notion of some politicians, who noticed the election as a do-or-die affair.
“Even within the U.S. and different developed international locations elections will not be performed in sooner or later however election malpractice recorded is negligible.
“No nation can conduct good election or election that’s one hundred pc free and truthful however the malpractice needs to be minimal and negligible,” he stated.
Head of Division of Political Science UNN, Prof. Jonah Onuoha, additionally stated the nation lacked the manpower and logistics to conduct all 2023 elections in sooner or later.
Onuoha stated that even when it could be attainable, it could not be now that the nation was battling with critical safety challenges coupled with the penchant of politicians to rig elections
“Saving price and staggering of elections will not be important issues of conducting elections within the nation, however how you can get it proper and conduct credible, free and truthful elections even when staggered 10 occasions,’’ he stated.
In keeping with him, there’ll even be extra fraud if all elections are performed in a day as a result of electoral stakeholders will likely be overwhelmed by the magnitude of labor wanted.
He stated, “INEC, safety businesses, election observers, and the media is not going to have sufficient manpower that may give ample consideration to all elections performed that day.
“Nigeria ought to deal with conducting credible, free, and truthful elections, which ends will likely be accepted by all contestants.
“This can enhance the nation’s picture in addition to save billions of Naira spent by aggrieved candidates to problem election ends in Election Petition Tribunals,” Onuoha stated.
(NAN)
