Former Governor of Bayelsa State and member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Seriake Dickson, has called for a fundamental reform of Nigeria’s electoral framework to strengthen transparency and accountability in the conduct of elections.
Speaking as a guest on Arise News Prime Time on Thursday night anchored by Charles Aniagolu, and monitored by our Correspont, Dickson said one of the key proposals under discussion in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act is to ensure that the burden of proof in election disputes rests with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rather than with candidates or political parties.
“The burden of proof in electoral matters must shift to INEC. That is where it rightly and properly belongs,” Dickson said.
“We should not subject it to the normal evidential rule that says, he who alleges must prove. How can you prove something you don’t even know? INEC is the electoral body conducting elections. It appoints people a candidate or party has no control over, yet it does whatever it does — juggles figures and announces results, makes cancellations, and explains to no candidate or party.”
Dickson, who presided over the joint retreat of the National Assembly’s Committee on Electoral Matters in Lagos, said lawmakers from both chambers spent the day debating proposals aimed at restoring credibility to Nigeria’s electoral process.
“We’ve been in Lagos discussing amongst ourselves, arguing, agreeing, and disagreeing — all in the national interest,” he said.
“Over 50 members of the National Assembly, senators and representatives, attended the retreat. It was lively, very engaging, and full of ideas. What’s encouraging is that there are no party divisions; across party lines, we are united in ensuring that the reforms strengthen INEC, the parties, and all stakeholders.”
Dickson argued that it was discouraging when one sees other countries making bold statements with their elections while Nigeria is not.
“Elections should be moments where we rediscover ourselves as a nation and celebrate what is best about us — not moments where people kill, maim, or write non-existent figures to win without the people’s mandate,” he said.
He stressed that “We can’t talk of democracy if we can’t at least strive to have free and fair elections,” he said.
