Former Electoral Boss Recommend Open Ballot System 

The Former boss of the defunct National Electoral Commission in Nigeria, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, has called for the introduction of the modified Open Ballot system of voting in future elections in the country. 

Speaking at a one-day retreat in Sokoto, North West of the country, Professor Nwosu said the modified ballot system called Option A4 ,which allow voters to queue up behind their candidates and numbers counter , should be enshrined in the Nation’s constitution.  

The retreat was organized for the national chairmen of 50 registered political parties by Abuja Press and Communications Ltd and INEC. 

In his words the voting system “had been proved in recent past to be effective, credible and acceptable to the generality of Nigerians."  

He also said that INEC staff known to have been involved in electoral malpractice should be removed, while others should be thoroughly screened, re-oriented and re-focused to ensure loyalty and commitment.  

Two Party Systems 

Former Chairman of the defunct electoral body equally advocated for an``integrative two-party system'' for Nigeria. The two parties according to him should look like the defunct Social Democratic Party and the National Republican Convention. 

He further said that the emergence of a two-party system would eliminate the consideration of regional interest over the national interest. 

To him both parties should be funded by the government to eliminate god-fatherism and the emergence of a strong one party system. 

Nwosu said that the suggestion became imperative as the current political parties ``are not generally driven by shared democratic values and principles. The party which controls the Federal Government and 28 state governments has acquired the dominant features of one party state.’’  

Political Will 

Nwosu said that reforming Nigeria's political system and electoral processes to attain international standards depended on the exercise of political will by the leadership at national, state and local government areas. 

He said it would also depend on the collective determination by Nigerians to prevent flagrant electoral malpractice. 

Nwosu listed electoral malpractice as vote allocation, writing of electoral results before voting, alteration of electoral results and denying citizens their voting rights.

 

 

NAN/Qasim/G.O