Nigeria's 'slow' election reform

Even reforming elections in Nigeria will not fix democracy.

That is the opinion of pro-democracy activists in Nigeria's capital Abuja.

A year ago, Umaru Yar'Adua was elected in a poll that was condemned by international observers as being the worst Africa's most populous nation had held.

He immediately promised reform and set up a committee to recommend what should be done to ensure improvements.

Public hearings for the committee begin in May and it is expected to publish a report in August.

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This article addresses the continued attempts in Nigeria to reform democracy. Nigerians have made numerous changes to their election process, but many believe that election reforms will not fix the democracy in Nigeria. This article addresses the concern about previous elections in Nigeria, including President Umaru Yar'Adua's election last year. The reliability of the results of his election was questionable because of the assumed corruption that was present. This article also refers to Yar'Adua's vow to stamp out the corruption in Nigeria by making necessary changes which is evident because he immediately created a committee to discuss what should be done to reform the elections after he was elected. This shows the corruption that has consumed Nigeria for so long, and if nothing is done about this corruption, then the nation's legitimacy will soon be lessened if it has not already been.

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Kenyan lauds Nigerians for nonviolent elections

Note the happiness, not rioting after the previous election.

A former Kenyan parliamentarian and the owner of Club of Madrid, Prof. Ruth Oniango, has expressed satisfaction at the manner Nigerians conducted themselves in response to country's general elections in 2007.

Oniango said that despite the reported flaws in the elections, Nigerians did not resort to political violence, rather, they approached the rectification of the flaws peacefully.

"Professor Ruth Oniango, a former Kenyan parliamentarian, has saluted Nigerians for not finding recourse in violence in spite of some lapses that visited the April general elections.

"She remarked that, unlike in her native country of Kenya, where the head of the electoral commission could not announce who won the recent election in the country, it was heartwarming that Professor Maurice Iwu could announce the result of Nigeria's poll and wager publicly that the result of the elections reflected the intent of the voters.

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In the midst of all the criticism about flawed elections, corruption, and oil prices, someone has found something positive to talk about in Nigeria. However, the fact that the praise comes from someone whose democratic status is arguably in worse shape does somewhat dull the appeal. The absence of violence in the recent, likely flawed elections is proof the Nigeria is doing something good in its transition to democracy. Any display of legitimacy in a fledgling democracy like Nigeria is a good thing.

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Senate Leader Rules out Three Term Presidency in Revised Constitution

The National Assembly would not consider any proposition for three terms for executive office holders in the lawmakers' new move to amend the 1999 Constitution.

Senate Majority Leader, Teslim Folarin, who disclosed this in an interview in Abuja yesterday, stated that since Nigerians had demonstrated their opposition to that attempt, the Senate would not give it a thought again.

His words: "We have to realise that politics is very dynamic; politics is very fluid. At the time it was an issue, I personally think it is not an issue now. It was very clear that the country does not want that. It will not make any sense to bring it back."

Folarin stated that the Senate would ensure that clauses to be amended were restricted to a manageable level, adding that the last exercise failed because the items for amendment were too many.

On the allegation by Senator Nuhu Aliyu that there were fraudsters in the National Assembly, Folarin said the senator was known for such allegations and as such Nigerians should not take him seriously.

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This story demonstrates the capability of the Nigerian government to respond to popular demand. After so many stories about the corruption and incompetance of Nigerian leaders, a manifestation of a working democracy is refreshing.
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