Nigeria Content Online

Over the past week, the only issue in Nigeria has
been voter registration. The celebrated arrival of the direct data
capture machines did not translate into a smooth take off of the voter
registration process. The problems have been extensively discussed. The
training of the registration officers was insufficient and many of them
simply did not know how to use the equipment. Software glitches cropped
up with the finger print scanner and the printers in some cases did not
work.

With our legendary inventiveness, some Nigerians
have been seeking short cuts and ridiculous solutions. Some
registration officers are reported to have photographed the fingers
when they could not get the scanners to work, while others have been
wiping people’s fingers with various chemicals to remove possible
contaminants that were “annoying” the scanners. In the process, some
scanners have been ruined. Many people have actually been registered
and given cards without their fingers being scanned which makes their
registration illegal, null and void.

In many instances, the solutions were perfectly
straightforward. In some cases, the plastic seals on the finger print
scanners had not been removed, so naturally, the machines could not
read what was placed on them. In other cases, INEC staff had not
updated the software to resolve the known problem about “tropicalising”
the machines.

The result is that the there has been considerable
delay in the registration process. As we approach the end of the week,
I myself have been unable to register in spite of the fact that I have
been engaged in advocacy campaigns for every eligible Nigerian to come
out and register. My problem is that the area where I live in Abuja –
Sun City to the mechanics village area is newly built and did not exist
during the previous registration exercise. No DDC machines have been
programmed for such areas and it is a serious problem in many parts of
the Federal Capital city and other urban agglomerations.

However, along with many of my neighbours, I
continue to spend long hours at the nearest village with a DDC machine
determined to register so that we all can exercise our franchise. It is
imperative that INEC extend the registration period by at least two
weeks so that we can all partake in the exciting process of the
forthcoming credible elections that are being planned. I am aware that
there are legal difficulties to surmount to have the extension but the
registration is simply too important a process and we can find
solutions if we search for them. My reading of the situation is
positive. Nigerians are agonizing over the hitches in the registration
process because their civic consciousness is very high and most people
are determined to vote in the forthcoming elections. This means the
belief that Professor Attahiru Jega and his team will produce credible
elections remains high so citizens want to be part of the historical
moment when our political future w be decided. The agony of difficult
registration is therefore linked to the hope of consolidating democracy.

The political situation in the country is
presently very encouraging. It is clear that the forthcoming elections
will confirm what we know that one political party cannot be a behemoth
controlling the politics of over two-thirds of the country. Nigeria is
a federal country and four or five strong parties should emerge from
the elections.

Preparing for and addressing this outcome would
encourage the political class to negotiate alliances. The fact that the
candidate of the ruling party is from a minority zone without a huge
natural constituency means the chances for the opposition are real if
they can get their act together. It also means that there is a
possibility that the presidential election would require a run-off.

In many states of the country, ruling parties will probably change.
What this means is that the value of the vote is going to be very high.
Our votes will count in determining those who rule and those who do
not. The godfathers would become less important and less capable of
determining our political life. Yes indeed, the registration process is
agonising but we have hope for a greater political future. Political
parties should take note; their success depends on citizens and not
money, violence and electoral fraud.