News

During a recent discussion on Electoral Reform Hour, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), spoke extensively on the deep-rooted challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral system, stating that the real challenge is the corruption of the Electoral Act itself. Rafsanjani stressed that while vote-buying is concerning, it is not the major form of corruption in the electoral process. Instead, the manipulation of electoral laws and internal party democracy pose a far greater threat to the integrity of elections.

He explained, “When the Electoral Act is corrupted and manipulated for selfish interests, the process is already compromised before elections even take place.” Rafsanjani went on to highlight how politicians without public support or integrity use legal loopholes to position themselves in power, calling it a “legal process of corrupting the electoral system.”

Additionally, Rafsanjani pointed out the problematic appointment of party loyalists to the electoral body, which undermines the constitutional mandate for INEC to remain neutral. “When you have electoral commissioners who are party members or loyalists, you erode public confidence in the process,” he said. He also criticized the absence of internal democracy within political parties, saying, “When political parties are hijacked by individuals with dirty money, it leads to the emergence of candidates without credibility or integrity.”

He also highlighted civil society’s role in increasing voter awareness, noting, “We’ve done sufficient civic education and political education to raise the consciousness of Nigerians about the importance of their vote. We’ve educated citizens to vote wisely, not for crooks or criminals who only appear during campaigns and disappear for four years.”

Civil society’s advocacy has also led to improvements in political party financing and the role of security agencies in elections. “We’ve pushed for more accountability in how money is used during elections and helped raise awareness about the need for security agencies to play a neutral role in ensuring electoral integrity,” Rafsanjani remarked. Additionally, civil society has been at the forefront of efforts to monitor the judiciary’s role in post-election disputes, as Rafsanjani pointed out, “Judicial monitoring has become crucial because politicians now rig elections with the assumption that they will win in court.”

Despite these achievements, Rafsanjani made it clear that more needs to be done. He advocated strongly for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute those responsible for electoral crimes. “Without an Electoral Offences Commission, impunity will continue. We need to sanitize the process and ensure that those who commit atrocities during elections are held accountable,” he argued.

He also emphasized the need for electoral reforms to prevent political interference in the appointment of INEC officials, suggesting that commissioners should be selected through a more transparent and competitive process. “Nigerians are calling for a system where the president doesn’t appoint INEC officials directly. Perhaps a system where qualified individuals apply for the role and are vetted could help restore confidence,” Rafsanjani suggested.

In conclusion, Rafsanjani reiterated the importance of civil society’s role in advancing electoral reforms and maintaining vigilance. “The struggle for a transparent, accountable electoral system is ongoing. Civil society must continue pushing, and Nigerians must understand that democracy can only thrive when the electoral process is protected from manipulation,” he concluded. He encouraged all stakeholders, including political parties, security agencies, and the judiciary, to come together to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and ensure that the will of the people prevails in every election.

LISTEN TO THE FULL DISCUSSION HERE