Some Political Scientists have said it would be difficult for Nigeria to conduct 2027 general elections in one day because of inadequate electoral logistics and facilities.
Political Scientists expressed their views in a separate interviews with our correspondent on Saturday, while reacting to suggestions in some quarters that 2027 general elections should be conducted in a day in order to save cost and bandwagon effect
Prof Jonah Onuoha, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science University of Nigeria Nsukka said it would not only be difficult but impossible as the country does not have adequate electoral logistics and facilities to do it.
Onuoha a former HOD of the department said presently the presidential and national assembly elections conducted in one day have been inaundated with reports of INEC officials and voting materials arriving late as well as not reaching some areas in the country.
He said the same problem happened in Governorship and State Assembly elections conducted same day and wondered what the situation would be like if the whole elections were conducted in same day.
“The suggestion in some quarters that the general elections should be
conducted in one day to save cost is impossible as the country lacked the capacity to do it.
“If attempted the resources used will be a waste because the objective will not be achieved as INEC will be overstretched beyond its capacity,”he said.
Onuoha who is also, the Director, Centre for American Studies in UNN said that the focus in general elections should not be how to cut cost but how to conduct a transparent, free and fair elections that would be accepted nationally and internationally.
“What is the benefit if general elections is conduct in one day but marred by irregularities and many Nigerians disenfranchised.
“It’s better Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections are conducted on separate days provided the election is credible, transparent, free and fair,’he said.
Contributing, Dr Chinedu Ejezie, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science UNN said that the country conducting general elections in one is a good idea but noted the country is not ripe as it lacked the capacity in term of logistics, facilities and manpower.
” It’s good to conduct Presidential National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections in one day but the truth is that the country as at now lacked the capacity to successfully do it.
“If the country wants to do it, INEC manpower, electoral facilities and logistics will be upgraded and amendment of relivant section of the constitution to legalise it.
” To me holding general elections in one day should not be the prority but how to get it right during elections so that result will reflect the wish of Nigerians.
” This money we want to save may at last end up in some politicians personal pockets, Nigerians have not complained much about money spent during general elections.
Rather what they complain about is that, their votes didn’t count and the result didn’t reflect their wish,” he said
Also contributing, Dr.Chigozie Okonkwo, who holds doctorate degree in Political Theory from the Department of Political Science but a Lecturer at Institute of African Studies UNN.
Okonkwo said what is important in elections is adhering to electoral laws and constitutionality that make election credible, free and fair.
“If general elections in the country that is staggered have been usually married by poor logistics, electoral
malpractice, late arrival of INEC adhoc staff and voting materials, I wonder what it will be if conducted in one day.
” It does not really matter whether all elections are hold the same day as it’s done in some advanced western democracies or staggered as it’s currently in practice in Nigeria, what is important is that the election should be credible, free and fair.
” The goal should not be mainly to reduce or save cost, but to ensure that the election adhere to electoral laws and constitutionality that makes the result of the election acceptable by all candidates in that election, ” he said .