KADUNA STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION (KAD-SIECOM) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author. ISBN: 978-978-956-947-2 Published by the authority of KADUNA STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION (KAD- DR. SARATU BINTA DIKKO-AUDU SIECOM) CHAIRMAN Printed by: Yaliam Press Ltd. NUHU lORIS ABDUR-RA'UF SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION STATE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONERS Foreword The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has made provision for the system of Local Government Administration by democratically elected Local Government Councils for which purpose State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) have been established by the States of Nigeria and the Fede ral Capital Ter r itory (FCT), Abuja . The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) was therefore established by KD.S. Law No 10 of 2012 with t he functions,among others, to conduct voter and civic education and to promote knowledge of sound democratic electoral process. MALLAM HASSAN MOHAMMED MRS. SAFIYA U. BALARABE Commis sioner Human Res ourc es Commissi oner O perations & Logistics Coordinator & Management Services Coordinator Zone 1A: A review of the activities of the Commission has shown that, with Eight Editions of the Zone 18: Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun, Kaj uru LG As Bimin Gwari, Giwa & lgabi LGAs Voter Education Pamphlet, focus had been on voter education in p re pa ration for conduct of each election. Activities had therefore been on the 'election process' even when reference was being made to 'electoral process'. The aspect of promoting knowledge of sound democratic electoral process through public education was not being addressed. The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD• SIECOM) in its concern to close this gap by paying appropriate attention to public education has produced three publications, which are all First Editions; Handbook for Public Education on Electoral Process, MAL. AHMED NUHU BAMALLI DR. RILWANU A. YAH AYA C ommis sioner Commissioner Finance & Budget Coordi nator Planni ng, Research & Trai ning Coordinator Zone 28: Zone 2A: lkara, Mak arfi, Lere & Kuban LG As Z aria, Saban Gari, Saba & Kudan LG As Executive Summary: Public Education and the Electoral Process,and Prompting Questions for Public and Voter Education Drive. The contents of these publications have emanated from a paper, which was well received, presented at an International Conference (March, 2016) which reviewed the 2015 National elections. The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) is determined to fully and effectively implement the electoral process for entrenching and deepening democracy such that the Commission is seen to be conducting, free, fair and credible elections and those voted into office be seen to be working for the people they BITRUS E. GWADAH, esq PR OF. ANDREW A. NKOM Commissi oner Public Affairs & Information Coordinator Zone 38: represent. The Commission is therefore soliciting for cooperation from Commis sioner Legal Matters Coordinator Jaba, Jama'a, Kaura & Sanga LG As Zone 3A: Kachia, K agark o, Kauru & Zanga K ataf LG As EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS all stakeholders towards effectively implementing the electoral process for the Introduction development of Kaduna State. This publication, Executive Summary: Public Education and the Electoral Process, is a summary of the Handbook for Public Education on Electoral Process and has covered the Dr. (Mrs.) Saratu Binta Dikko-Audu same issues. The Summary in covering the same basic issues has however,used a bullet- CHAIRMAN KAD-SIECOM point presentation approach to enable the reader much easier grasp of each of the issues and has thereby included more details. The issues covered to bring awareness include; • Fundamental issues • Governance in a democracy, • Stakeholders in a democracy, • The Ward as a basic electoral unit • The mass media in public education The major addition in the Executive Summary is that it has shown what is involved in deepening democracy in terms of what is required of government and of citizens. Much more than entrenching democracy by continuously conducting free, fair and credible elections, deepening democracy requires that elected representatives of the people work to serve their interests. The Executive Summary is intended for those who do not have time for reading long narrative but are interested in getting the essential information. However, details can be obtained from the Handbook for Public Education on Electoral Process. The sub-titles are intended to assist the reader to find information quickly based on issues of interest or of questions asked. The Executive Summary should also help to encourage greater interest and participation in the democratic process by all stakeholders, especially by the persons elected into office. The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) believes that this publication will be of immense benefit to all those who interact with it and encourages that those who come into contact with it do share its contents with others. Prof. Andrew A. Nkom Commissioner Public Affairs and Information KAD-SIECOM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE ElECTORAPl ROCESS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE ElECTORAPl ROCESS Preamble ✓ forming preparation for the next round of elections This publication is intended for all those who do not have time for reading long narrative ✓ identifying those that have served creditably ✓ identif y ing those that have failed to properly but want the essential content. However, the Hand Book for Public Education on Electoral Process can be used for obtaining more explanation. represent their constituencies, ✓ indentifying those to be voted for regardless of political party The Different Areas of Coverage in Public Education 1. Fundamentallssues • Public education refers to information provided to citizens covering There are fundamental issues in the Nigerian context that require clarification, which electoralproces are basic to the effective implementation of the electoral process in relation to democracy; to different interest groups as stakeholders, including they are hinged on the differences in meaning between the concepts 'electoral process' and those below the voting age of 18 years 'election process'. those qualified to register and to vote or to be voted for covering those as citizens of Nigeria who all have a stake in a democracy • Election process refers to a combination of election activities involved in an election 2. Challenges in Elections • The activities are undertaken periodically for conduct of actual elections that • The challenges in elections in Nigeria are to do with its diversity are free,fair, non-violent and credible covering; and high level of illite racy Pre-election, the potentials for manipulation Election Day and use of political parties as diversionary tools and tendency Post-election activities, towards. for violence through; • Voter and civic education is directed at all those involved in election activities ✓ use of sectional, ethnic, religious and other towards ensuring that elections are indeed free, fair, non• violent and credible. divisions, ✓ elections having become a profitable venture ✓ .the attitude ofwinni'ng by all .means • Electoral process refers to all issues and activities related to • In such a situation the major tool required towards addressing these challenges and elections, including; growing democ racy is information; understanding the importance of elections in a democracy; suitably prepared for easy consumption by stakeholders ability to identify and articulate needs by groups and ·made available to the citizens to fully prepare them encouraging communities full participation in the electoral process reducing ability of preparation for decision-making on who to vote for before manipulation each election entrenching and especially, deepening democracy in preparation for and actual participation in any election for those Nigeria qualified to vote or to be voted for • Ultimately pr oviding awareness of the value of the vote in addressing monitoring performance of elected representatives challenges includinggovernments 2 3 - Il EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS These represent those challenges that must be addressed in public education for phases of the electoral process involving; Nigerians. • Teaching all citizens about the entire electoral process in a democracy; );> the nature of democracy 3. Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) have been established by );> how the electora l process is the bedrock of democracy Law for the purpose of managing the entire electoral process. They include; );> the state of the Nigerian society in relation to elections • Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),and );> how as individuals and groups or communities as citizens can identify • State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and articulate their needs );> how to use the vote to elect those to help them meet those needs Election management bodies (embs) are specific to each election towards making sure that );> how they can assist towa rds the conduct of free, fair, credible and it is free,fair and credible; non-violent elections • All groups/organizations involved