Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, revisits the debate on independent candidacy in the country’s election, bringing to the fore the merits and demerits of the idea
Even with the current civilian party politics running into its 15th year, the clamour for independent candidacy option is yet to die down. The option rather seems to be gathering steam following perceived shortcomings in the present system.
Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC chairman.
Although the country experimented the independent candidacy model in the First Republic, it has remained a contentious issue in recent times, as the constitution has failed to recognise it.
Independent candidacy option is a situation where an individual runs for an election without a specific political party.
Independent candidates are believed to hold centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties. Sometimes also, they hold positions that are considered more extreme than any major party. Some have an ideology comprising bits from both sides of the political spectrum, or may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do not feel that any major party addresses.
There are also situations where some independent politicians may be associated with a political party, or have views that align with it, but choose not to stand under its umbrella.
In some cases, others may belong to or support a political party, but believe they should not formally represent it and thus be subject to its policies.
Despite the advantages inherent in the option, the nation’s political system seems not to be favourably disposed to the idea.
Some efforts were made by the Nigerian lawmakers in the House of Representatives last year to ensure that the issue received legislative stamp, but nothing positive came out of it.
The lawmakers had, on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 under the leadership of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, in a landmark vote on the constitution amendment process, voted in large majority to approve independent candidacy in future elections in the country, with 313 voting for, eight voting against and 12 abstaining.
The approval meant that a contestant for political office in Nigeria is not under obligation to seek affiliation with any political party or organisation.
That bold move was, however, never gazetted.
The Electoral Reform Committee (ERC), set up in 2007 by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua and led by Justice Muhammed Uwais, was charged with the goal of identifying solutions for Nigeria’s history of electoral crisis.
The panel, after painstaking consultations, released its report with a recommendation to allow independent candidates in all future elections.
According to Justice Uwais, “the panel consulted widely, including papers from experts in Britain and America, and we came to a better understanding that it should be practised in our country. It is for that reason we made the recommendation.”
Earlier, the National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 had given approval for independent candidacy. The proponents had argued that such concept is an important universal democratic identity, adding that it promotes freedom and broad participation.
Even Obasanjo, at a time, made his opinion known on the issue when he was quoted as saying that “an individual who cannot find accommodation within few political parties must have a different understanding of party politics in a democratic society, more so when political parties have no ideological differentiation”.
To former military head of state, Abdulsalam Abubakar, “watching our political evolution and my observation of what obtains elsewhere convinced me that we need independent candidates for all political positions”.
Some commentators are, however, of the opinion that the nation is not politically mature to practise independent candidacy, hence the reluctance by government to show interest in its legislation.
Their argument is that the option would further create ethnic divisions. Adjunct professor of leadership, at the Sneden Graduate School of Davenport University, Ken Ogbonnia, in a paper entitled: Independent candidates in Nigeria: A recipe for national disaster, argued that independent candidacy in Nigeria has never been for the advancement of liberal democracy.
His words: “The notion of multiplicity of parties or independent candidates in Nigeria has never been to foster the advancement of liberal democracy, but simply an elitist agenda to capitalise on the passionate following of the candidate’s immediate constituency or ethnic enclave for selfish interests. This is a sharp contrast to the American experience where independent candidates are issue-oriented and have not always enjoyed the overwhelming support of their respective states.”
He noted further that “The country once experimented with independent candidates in the First Republic (1963 to 1966). The election results revealed that most of the candidates (for example Richard Akinjide, Isa Iko, and R.A. Afolabi) only won in their ethnic constituencies.”
Constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Tunji Abayomi, told TheNiche that the present constitution does not recognise independent candidacy.
His response was also corroborated by the president, Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI), Wale Ogunade, who is also a legal practitioner.
According to Abayomi, “the present constitution does not recognise independent candidacy. What it means is that anybody desiring to run for an election must go through a political party.
“But I think independent candidacy is a good idea because we need to diversify our political space and platform. There are good people in Nigeria who may not want to work with a political party but want to be independent candidates to express themselves. Perhaps makers of the constitution were afraid not to add it for lack of control”.
For Ogunade, “the truth is that the constitution we are using now does not recognise independent candidacy. It is one of the critical issues that members of the national conference must deliberate on.
“Obviously, as a person, I support independent candidacy. You know we have a lot of charlatans as politicians who flirt from one party to another. At least with independent candidacy, this issue of political godfather will not be at play. You don’t need any godfather here, as it is your integrity that will matter.”
The committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters, co-chaired by two former Senate Presidents, Ken Nnamani and Iyorchia Ayu, during its sitting suggested that independent candidates be allowed to contest elections. Whether this proposal will receive the attention of the national conference delegates remains another issue.
