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The 2015 Elections in Nigeria

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The 2015 Elections in Nigeria FLASHPOINTS: THE 2015 ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA Issue Eleven: 26 Mar 2015 Days to Presidential Poll: 2 Days to Governor and House of Representatives Poll: 16 THE RIVERS DEBATE 2015 In an unprecedented event, With support from both political Agriculture was agreed as an candidates for Rivers State parties and citizens, the Rivers immediate area for investment. governor came together in Debate is a significant milestone Wike outlined plans to support Port Harcourt on Monday for a in the ongoing process of investment in commercial-scale lively debate on the topics of change. agriculture and the entire value economy, security and open chain of local production, such governance in the State. The event was organised as the development of fruit by Stakeholder Democracy juice companies. Conversely, Aspirants Nyesom Wike Network (SDN), the Rivers Peterside proposed to start by (Peoples Democratic Party, Entrepreneurs and Investors extending the Songhai model – PDP), Dakuku Peterside (All Forum (REIF), and NigeriaInfo – a sustainable farming and agro- Progressives Congress, APC) and broadcast live on Channels processing model where farmers and Tonye Princewill (Labour TV and NigeriaInfo 92.3 FM. can come to learn techniques, Party, LP) put aside prevailing which was established by party and personal conflicts What follows is a brief overview of incumbent Governor Amaechi. to stand before citizens to the discussion and pledges made discuss problems and propose – but full highlights will follow so For Princewill, security and their ideas to take Rivers State stay tuned to our website www. multiple taxation are the forward. stakeholderdemocracy.org. pressing issues affecting doing business in the State, so his plan It was a special evening as this would be to stop checkpoints kind of event is almost unseen in The Economy on roads where police illegally Nigeria, and has never happened extort money from travellers. in the highly-contested Rivers After opening statements, the Wike echoed this and claimed State. Politicians tend to shy debate facilitators – Kofi Bartels he had the political will to away from public speaking on of NigeriaInfo and Florence implement laws. policy points, and instead rely Kayemba of SDN – went straight on party and ethnic loyalties and into the opening topic. On supporting small- and defamation of the opposition for medium-sized enterprises votes. All candidates saw the Peterside proposes access immediate need to develop a to finance, power farms and But Nigerians are starting to financial strategy that would incubation centres. For Wike, reject this type of politicking diversify the State economy access to finance was again and are increasingly demanding away from oil dependency in the to be a priority alongside that their representatives have face of the collapsed global oil investment in industrial parks to the solutions to help society. price. cluster industry. Peterside claimed that the unemployment rate in Rivers State is lower than at the national level, and attributed this to the efforts of the incumbent APC governor. This, he argues, could be improved further by revamping the education system to include vocational skills training. For Tonye the proposal was clear: address youth unemployment. Security Wike, a lawyer by training, made it clear that it is the role of the state judiciary to be free from undue influence from the Federal government and implement laws that checkmate criminality. The main union of national judiciary staff only recently suspended a strike that has been ongoing for over one year – and therefore has ruled out trial and prosecution. The first ever full participatory shows that greater involvement Peterside outlined the APC’s Zero budgeting process was of citizens and civil society Tolerance policy on crime with developed in Brazil in 1989, and organisations build institutions plans to augment intelligence between 1990 and 2008 over that are better informed, gathering with ‘Operation Know 120 of the country’s largest more responsive and more Your Neighbour’ and through 250 cities have adopted the transparent. increased surveillance. technique. Some cities, such as Belo Horizonte and Porto A Step Forwards Open Governance Alegre, have spent hundreds of millions of U.S dollars over the All candidates challenged the Wike highlighted the failure of past decades on projects that perceptions held of them, not Rivers State government to pass citizens selected. just through their attendance, a Freedom of Information (FOI) but by the way they engaged bill and proposed to make sure Results in Brazil are promising, with the issue-based questions that every citizen who requests showing that more investment and proposed steps for information on a relevant subject was made in education, progress. will get it. Opening government healthcare in poorer areas, to involve people is the priority and sanitation, while infant Despite the ground rules, each for Peterside too – both in the mortality dropped by more candidate made the ugly slip policy-making and budget than 20 percent. Participatory back into the habit of subverting formulation processes. Budgeting’s influencethe opponent through personal strengthens over time, indicating attacks – much to the joy of their Princewill took the idea of that its benefits do not merely respective party faithfuls in the inclusive budgeting a step result from governments making audience. But in a place where further, proposing to implement easy policy changes. Instead, it this has been the political culture ‘the Brazil model’. since implementing democracy, this is to be expected. The audience tuning in on TV and radio, and following online updates, saw through this for what it is – a defence mechanism to fall back on when the ideas are not there. That is why initiatives like this are so important. Just like the proposal for participation in budget making, including the public in the democratic process and discussion of policies enhances transparency, accountability, and the relevance of the decision. It also helps highlight who is capable to make sense of complex problems and conflicting demands, which if elected they will be faced with on a daily basis. Ultimately it strengthens downward-facing accountability by building a consensus that candidates must earn their votes through concrete pledges for change that they can then be measured against. It was a pleasure to work with the partners - the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), ActionAid, PIND and Enough is Enough Nigeria - on the project, and we sincerely hope this initiative can continue to develop after the election by holding the successful candidate to account against what they proposed. POLICE CHIEF WAS WRONG, IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO STAY BEHIND TO PROTECT YOUR VOTES This week the Inspector- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) box observance, we advise that General of Police Suleiman and All Progressives Congress you exercise your civic right and: Abba urged voters to go home (APC), rejected the comment Go, Vote, Stay, Observe, Snap, after casting ballots. “It is and confirmed that voters are Stay for Vote Count and Results, better to cast vote, go and cool indeed permitted to remain at down, than to cast vote and the booths for counting. Report to SDN remain in the polling station,” he said. REC Wrong, Cameras Allowed All reports to SDN are treated confidentially and with “If you remain, it is likely you Last month’s high profile source anonymity. Details of how to will commit an offence. You of misinformation was the INEC report from where you are to may utter a word that the Federal Commissioner for SDN are listed on the final page. other person may perceive as Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom intimidation.” states Mrs Thelma Iremiren. The electoral law does not state She warned prospective voters anywhere that voters cannot, in Rivers State not to bring or should not, wait to watch cameras, recording devices, and ensure that their votes are or to post results from Polling counted fairly. Units, collation centres on social media platforms. Following the IG’s comments, the Independent National Instead of following the advice of Electoral Commission (INEC), these two on the matter of ballot INTERNATIONALIN FOCUS: ELECTIONS PROSECUTORS AND MEDIA SPOTLIGHT NIGERIA’SINTEGRITY ELECTION IN THE 2015 VIOLENCE ELECTIONS As the Israeli elections conclude encouraging or contributing to elections—and that they will not peacefully, international the commission of crimes that incite, support or engage in any political observers and fall within ICC’s jurisdiction - is kind of violence—before, during, organisations are turning their liable to prosecution; either by or after the votes are counted,” attention towards the Nigerian Nigerian Courts or by the ICC.” Obama said. presidential elections and taking note of inflammatory “The conduct and outcome of “I call on all Nigerians to statements. elections in Nigeria, free from peacefully express your views violence, will not only prevent and to reject the voices of those The ICC further instability in the country, who call for violence. And when but will also send a clear message elections are free and fair, it is that electoral competition does the responsibility of all citizens to The International Criminal Court not have to result in violence and help keep the peace, no matter (ICC) has reiterated its call crimes that shock the conscience who wins.” for politicians to refrain from of humanity.” electoral offences, noting that UN it had the capacity to prosecute
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