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Machiavellian Election, Machiavellian Judgement By Bosah Chinedu The Supreme Court judgement on the 2007 presidential election delivered on December 12 2008 as far as I am concerned is a judgement that reflects its time-nothing more, nothing less. It would have surprised me if the judgement had gone the other way round. Why? It is because the Judges and the ruling elite are not in any way under pressure of the suffering masses. Is it not a contradiction of the highest order to say that an election that was acknowledged as the most farcical election humanity had ever experienced was not notorious enough to invalidate the outcome of the election. Had the judges participated in the election and saw how voters were chased out of the polling centres; how ballot boxes were snatched and the stuffing of ballot boxes disgracefully carried out; how some voters lost their lives and how INEC manufactured votes, they would have known the gravity of the election rigging that was perpetuated. The major plea was hinged on the non-serialisation of ballot papers amongst other irregularities of the 2007 general elections. INEC flagrantly violated relevant sections of the electoral act because it makes it easier to perpetuate rigging. Is just like in a football match when a team scored 2 goals using the hands, the referee allowed it and the football arbitration body said that the team that scored the two goals by hand, played so well that they deserve to win the match. But the question is, did the team score legitimate goals to win the match and did the referee conduct the match in accordance with the stipulated rules? The answer is No. When rules are not followed even when the same rules were made by the same irresponsible ruling class, it is purely an invitation to anarchy. It was the same ruling elite that made the 2006 electoral laws and the same people along with their puppet INEC that violated them. Niki Tobi, JSC in his majority lead judgement was of the view that there was election manipulation but the manipulation was not enough to invalidate the election result. Let’s assume it was correct but the missing link is that he failed to tell Nigerians the extent of the rigging and how well the election was conducted to prove to Nigerians that the election should stand. From all ramifications the judgement only took into recognition the end result and not the processes that led to the end result. There can’t be an end without the processes and if the end result is looked at in isolation, the analyses and judgement will be erroneous and faulty. In other words, the judgement not only stood on its head, it also sanctifies the rigging and irregularities associated with the 2007 election. The judgement and way the election was conducted reminds one of the Machiavelli theories that look at the society only through the eyes of the rulers and not the ruled. Niccolo di Bernardo Dei Machiavelli (May 3, 1469-June 21, 1527) was an Italian diplomat, poet, politician and philosopher who was known for his works, most famous The Prince where he postulated how a ruler can acquire power and how to keep it. To Machiavelli, there is need for a leader to when necessary use brute force and rewards in order to preserve the status quo. The head of a state ought to do good if he can, but must be prepared to commit evil if he must keep his position and the state intact. He equally holds the doctrine that the good of the state is of paramount consideration over the good of the citizens. Obviously, the Machiavellian theory is one of the principles that guide the capitalist politicians and the Nigeria ruling elite. How would Nigerians get justice when the system is tailored towards subverting the interest of the people? Elections are always rigged and the beneficiaries are the ones who constitute INEC and appoint the INEC chiefs. The same people also appoint the judges, IGP, Director of SSS and military chiefs. So, from A-Z the will of the people have been subverted and thrown to the wind. There are no elected jurist and the judges are not accountable to the people. There is another dimension to the whole scenario, and that is should the Supreme Court judgement had cancelled the election and called for another election to be conducted like it was close to doing that considering the minority judgement read by Justice Oguntade, the re-conducted election would still be rigged, even on a more vicious scale. We saw that in Bayelsa, Kogi, Adamawa etc. The local government elections across the federation were never in any way different-Jos crisis is still fresh in our memory. The ruling class in a way are prepare to have their election cancelled such will elongate their stay in power, this helps them stay in power for say 11 years instead of 8 years in power-that is if they rig themselves back to power the second time. So, it is a systemic thing that goes beyond the court and it requires a systemic cleansing. For us in the Education Right Campaign (ERC), elections in Nigeria will remain a do or die affair as long as political positions remain sources of wealth, privileges and recognition. Many of those in power today, who were formerly nobody, became extremely wealthy as soon as they get to power. The major political parties (PDP, AC and ANPP) are election riggers; it depends on whose party is handling the election and the readiness of the people to stop rigging. How would elections be free and fair when private interest reigns supreme? People have talked of reforms of the electoral process. Yes, there is a need to introduce some reforms, but I am yet to be convinced where in the electoral act that allows for snatching and stuffing of ballot boxes. After the 2007 election, those who participated in the rigging including the chief rigger Maurice Iwu have been congratulated and rewarded by those who benefitted from the election while the Supreme Court have given its blessing. Except the people are on their toes, the 2011 will be more farcical than 2007. And this is a wakeup call to the labour leaders and other pro-people organisations. Anybody who sows illusion for a free and fair election at any level considering the way political power is used is living in a world of fantasy. It is only a people oriented government that is committed to defending the interest of the people and has the massive participation of the people in electoral processes and in governance that can make rigging impracticable. The ERC is calling on the NLC, TUC, UAD, DSM and other pro-people organisations to build mass working class political party whose sole interest whether in power or not is geared towards defending socio-economic and political interest of the poor toiling masses. It is only a program that can guarantee good roads, free and qualitative education, good hospitals affordable housing etc., which can usher in the needed stability, freedom and economic prosperity. Anything short of this is for Nigerians to continue to live in the world of election rigging, corruption, poverty etc.
Bosah Chinedu National Secretary Education Rights Campaign (ERC)
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