Elections in Nigeria not completely decided by voters… things happen during collation – Tambuwal

Aminu Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto and ex-speaker of the house of representatives, says elections in Nigeria are not entirely determined by the electorate.

Speaking on ‘Prime Time’, an Arise Television programme, the senator who represents Sokoto south in the upper legislative chamber, blamed systemic flaws, compromise by officials, and exploitation of loopholes by politicians for the state of the nation’s polls.

Tambuwal, who spoke on the challenges in the electoral process, said the misrepresentation of voters’ choices occurs at various levels, from polling units to collation at the centre.

“It is not completely decided by the electorate. I can say that without mincing words. From polling units to wards, local governments, states and even at the national level, things happen that misrepresent what voters actually voted for,” he said.

“The system is compromised through INEC, the courts and the politicians because the politicians try to find corners to cut. So wherever there’s a loophole, politicians take advantage of that loophole.”

Tambuwal said the issues stem from a combination of factors including technology malfunction from the umpire, delayed polls, non-transmission of results electronically, among others.

“It is a combination of both. Politicians exploit loopholes wherever they exist. INEC also has challenges, from failure of technology, late commencement of elections, failure to transmit results, and compromise of officials,” he added.

The former governor expressed strong support for electoral reforms, including electronic transmission of results, even if it leads to his own defeat.

“I wholeheartedly support any reform that will improve the electoral process, including electronic transmission, even if I lose an election because of it,” Tambuwal said.

He added that most political parties in the country merely serve as special purpose vehicles to power — bereft of underpinning ideologies.

“If it’s about ideology, what was President Muhammadu Buhari doing in the APC with some characters that we have in APC? I don’t want to mention names, but if you look at President Muhammadu Buhari then, the way he was perceived, what was he doing with some characters in politics?” he asked.(The Cable)