Philip Ogunmade
13 December 2007
Lagos — Chairman, Lagos State Electoral Reform Committee, Professor Adebayo Williams, yesterday explained the rationale behind the committee, saying if measures are not put in place to check the culture of electoral malpractices, the Nigerian state may disintegrate.
He also said the electorate, who ought to be the determining factor in the electoral equation of the country have technically been abolished.
Adebayo said this yesterday, at the opening of a three-day public hearing on the electoral system at the Regency Hall, Alausa, Ikeja.
According to him, the need for electoral reform has become compelling, because Nigeria's electoral system has developed a serious ailment, which if not promptly treated, may result in the termination of the entire country.
He said since the 2007 elections failed to meet Nigerians expectations, the onus lies on concerned minds to device an alternative to the system.
"If you look at the way the electoral problem is going, it will get to a point where you just have to address a disease or it will just kill you.That is the level we are now. In 1999, people went home with minor complaints.
In 2003, it was the same thing. But in 2007, people were no longer ready to bear the situation again. We cannot continue the way things are going, otherwise, somebody will organise an election in the future that has no legitimacy and the country will breakdown," Williams said.
While expressing optimism that the proposed electoral system will enhance improved electoral system in the future, Williams said his optimism was predicated on the prevalent pessimism of the moment. "My optimism is based on the pessimism of the country," he stated and insisted that failure of the electoral system in the country has generated much anger in the polity."
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