election malpractices by eguriase s. m. okaka
Election Malpractices
By Eguriase S. M. Okaka
A malpractice is any act or behavior that is against the law and makes the actor an offender.
Electoral malpractices are unlawful acts or behaviors of persons, an electoral commission, political parties or candidates during elections that influence the outcome of an election result to favor their parties or candidates, thereby rendering the election results unacceptable. It is a form of political corruption. Therefore, it is a criminal act.
Electoral malpractices are enemies of democracy in the society. They ruin the reliability and integrity of an election and produce officeholders who do not perform their duties as expected.
Forms of Electoral Malpractices in Nigeria
• Fake ballot papers: These are not genuinely printed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They are used to manipulate votes.
• Manipulation of vote and voters: some people or groups influence votes by releasing wrong figures after the counting of votes. This gives victory to the wrong candidate. They also manipulates voters by making them not to vote according to their conscience, especially through financial inducement,
• Multiple voting: There is a voting rule that says ‘one man, one vote’. Despite this rule, some voters vote many times in one election either in one voting center or in many voting centers.
• Artificial scarcity of election materials: During elections, electoral materials are supposed to be enough for all voters. At times, even though these materials are enough, some electoral officers pretend that they are not, especially ballot papers. This prevents some people from voting, especially supporters of a particular political candidate.
• Under voting: This is allowing under-age people, that is, people below eighteen (18) years to vote. This is done mainly to favor the candidate that is popular in the area.
• Political thug and their intimidations: Sometimes, political thugs are used to intimidate voters or electoral officers to do things that are against the law during elections.
• Financial inducement, marital inducement and employers influence: In all elections, voters are expected to vote according to their conscience for the exercise to be free and fair. However, people vying for political post try to influence their relatives or employees to vote for them. They do this by offering them job opportunities or money.
• Fake security agents: Security agents are meant to maintain law and order during elections. At times, some ordinary people wear the uniform of security agents during elections. This enables them to cause trouble and disrupt the electoral process.
• Fake manifestos: Manifestos are written statements by political parties, which contain their ideologies and what they will do if they win an election. Surprisingly, some political parties make promises in their manifestos they do not intend to implement if they win. This is deceit and an offence.
• Distortion or doctoring of election results: Some political officials are paid to out rightly change election figures and to forge non-existing ones.
• Outright stealing of ballot boxes: Some people steal ballot papers and boxes to influence the votes of their candidates.
• Election rigging: This includes shifting of ballot boxes, over bloated voting register, special treatment or bribing of voters and election officials, disappearances or destruction of ballot boxes, etc.
Causes of Electoral Malpractices
Electoral malpractices are caused by a number of factors, some of which are:
• Poverty: There is high level of poverty among the populace. This makes them to readily accept money from desperate politicians and to change their loyalty very easily.
• Too much monetary compensation for political officeholders: The salaries and financial entitlements of political officeholders in Nigeria are too much. This makes political offices to be attractive to too many people who make desperate efforts to succeed. In so doing, they commit electoral malpractices.
• Unfulfilled electoral promises: Many politicians and political parties, on many occasions, do not fulfill the electoral promises they made. Therefore when it comes to another election, they adopt an unconventional means of winning elections.
• Greed: There are many greedy people in the society, both among the politicians and the ordinary people. Such people are never satisfied with what they have but would always want to take more than their needs. This makes such people demand money from politicians before voting for them.
• Party rivalry: In Nigeria, as in other developing countries, there are too many unhealthy relationships between and among political parties. This makes many of them, their members and supporters to get involved in unlawful acts in their quest for power, including indulging in electoral malpractices.
• Corrupt politicians: Some politicians see political power as a means of enriching themselves rather than as an opportunity to serve and present their people. Hence, they want to enter into office whether the people want them or not and so they embark on electoral malpractices.
Consequences of Electoral Malpractices
There are many consequences of electoral malpractices and they are all negative in nature. Some of them are:
• Emergence of unpopular Government: Electoral malpractices make the emergence of unpopular governments possible. By unpopular governments, we mean government that are not elected by the people and that do not enjoy the support of the people. This is bad for the people and the society.
• Violence: Electoral malpractices often lead to violence, especially assassination, assassination attempt, and arson. This retards the society.
• Bad Governance: An unpopular government usually leads to bad governance. Leaders who emerge through electoral malpractices are usually ill-equipped to govern.
• Disregard for the rule of law: A government formed through electoral malpractices would not have respect for the rule of law.
• Political instability: Electoral malpractices result from cheating. This leads to political instability in the society.
• Delay in handover dates: Electoral malpractices usually provoke political instability. This often causes a delay in the agreed handover dates.
• Underdevelopment: Electoral malpractices and the problems associated with them can cause underdevelopment.
SOLUTIONS TO ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES
Electoral malpractices can be prevented through the following ways:
• Poverty reduction: The governments have a duty to reduce poverty in the society. This can be done by.
a) Paying meaningful salaries and other financial entitlements to workers;
b) Paying worker’s salaries and entitlements regularly.
c) Encouraging reduction in family size;
d) Providing employment to the unemployed youths in particular, etc.
• Voter education: Educating the voters through campaigns on the importance of elections and their votes. Will help to reduce electoral malpractices.
• Effective security: Adequate security should be provided during election periods. Security agents must also be monitored to ensure that they are best in ensuring security during elections.
• Taking care of bad electoral officers: For electoral malpractices to be prevented, bad or corrupt electoral officers should be taken care of by either reforming them or by getting rid of them.
• Bringing those guilty of electoral malpractices to book: If those who are guilty of electoral malpractices are brought to book by fining or imprisonment as law demands, those who intend to do such will desist.
• Periodic update of voters register: The voters register should be revised before the next general elections.
• Reduction of the salaries and allowances of political officeholders: If the salaries and allowances of political officeholders are substantially reduced, the quest of people to occupy such offices will reduce, and the willingness of political aspirants to commit electoral offences will so reduce….
• Reduction in the rate of illiteracy: When people can read and write it becomes difficult to lure them to get involved in any corrupt act like electoral malpractices.
• Independent and functioning judiciary: The judiciary, whether in the form of tribunals or courts, should be able to dispense cases of electoral malpractices reported to it judiciously and speedily. This will enable those who are guilty to face punishment as expected, and prevent such cases both now and in the future.
• Limitation on money spent on political campaigns: Government should enact a law that would limit the amount of money politicians spend on campaigns.
Questions
• Define electoral malpractices.
• List all forms of electoral malpractices that you know.
• Discuss any four of the electoral offences you have listed above.
• Mention any four reasons why electoral malpractices are experienced in our society.
• List any four consequences of electoral malpractices.
• Explain ways electoral malpractices can be prevented.
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