“Civilian and Military Conspirators have Undermined Nigeria’s Democracy for 47 years-” Maurice Iwu

Olufemi Soneye & Seyi Oduyela

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Professor Maurice Iwu has said that civilian and military conspirators have been undermining Nigeria’s democracy for 47 years. He said this at the Nigerian Democratic Development Stakeholders Symposium held in Atlanta USA.

At the symposium hosted by Nigerians in the Diaspora Organization (NIDO), Alliance of Nigerian Organizations in Georgia (ANOG) and All Nigerian American Congress (ANAC), Professor Iwu said that some members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and some members of the opposition did not want the 2007 election to hold for their selfish reasons, but that the INEC was determined to conduct the election.

According to him, Nigeria is one of the few nations in the world that has been able to successfully transit from the military or strong dictatorship to democratic system.

He said further that no matter how bad or backward a system is, one thing we must not lose sight of is that there are some people who benefit and have been benefitting from the decadence. “it is only natural that those who have been the masters or beneficiaries of the old order will refuse change, especially the change that will no longer guarantee the self-serving opportunities they have been enjoying for long at the expense of the larger populace,” Iwu maintained.

According to him, the INEC warned before the 2007 elections that some people were poised to buy the election and determined to derail the transition from civilian to civilian. “The elections were bought even before the elections took place,” he said.

He lamented that the influence of money had eaten deep into the fabric of Nigerian electoral system and the highest bidder wins election. He said that some elements made money overriding issues that Nigerians abroad were also used.  He also said that the problem of violence in elections should be addressed.

He suggested that redirecting the minds of Nigerians will help to control, if not eradicate the influence of money in politics. He said further that if money is removed from politics violence will subside.

Professor Iwu informed the audience that INEC in collaboration with University of Nigeria, Nnsukka, Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ibadan in designing training program in the area of election administration, research and documentation.

The Symposium titled “Harnessing the Diasporas Input in Nigeria’s Electoral Process” was chaired by Dr. Omoh Tsatsaku Ojior; while Professor Martin Okafor, Honorable C N Okafor, Consul-General of the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta were presenters.