The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (Nigeria), Professor Maurice Iwu has stated the whole concept and practice of foreign election observation needed to be properly re-examined if emerging democracies are to avoid a veritable landmine during elections.

"If the very concept of foreign election observers is noble, why is that some of the most established and prominent democracies in the world do not encourage them for their own elections?," he asked.

Delivering a lecture on the topic: Reflections from the 2007 Nigerian Elections-Lessons at the 3rd Daily Graphic Governance Dialogue, Prof. Iwu said the Electoral Commission of Nigeria found itself with a new dimension of complexity in the form of external forces pushing themselves to play not just tangential, but a central role in a national election.

Prof. Iwu asked: "What should be the place of foreign election observers in elections in Africa? How much power should be allowed to ascribe unto themselves in determining what is in the best interest of a society that is not theirs."

He said the attempt by some international observer group to play an inside role in Nigeria's 2007 elections and the rejection of such intrusion by the Electoral Commission led to outright hostility by some of the agencies.

The INEC Chairman said the greatest challenge in Nigeria's 2007 elections was not the administration of the electoral process, instead it was the threat posed by the unwholesome environment which had crystallized since the re-emergency of democracy in 1999 and primordial anti-democratic process values.

"Four basic problems confronted the electoral process and still present great challenge to democratic governance in Nigeria; pervasive influence of money; looming danger of electoral violence; gender inequity and mindset on elections, "he said.

Prof. Iwu stated that the four problems were intertwined and often engender numerous other problems which make the conduct of elections in the African setting a nightmare.

"Take the issue of money in politics for instance. In the 2007 elections in Nigeria, money was so excessively deployed that what ordinarily should be a national election, no matter how strategically important Nigeria is, was internationalized with foreign institutions, agencies and individuals hired at very exorbitant prices, simply to aid the ascendance of the candidates and interest that hired them," he said.

He complained that even before a single ballot was cast in the elections, external forces had been arrayed from various angles to subtly and not so subtly promote the candidates of their preference and to take issues with the Commission on policy that did not seem to favour their clients.

Prof. Iwu noted that the experience of the 2007 elections accentuates the need for technology in the conduct of elections in Nigeria and every other African country.

"Against the backdrop of the passion, the social and political cleavages that still characterize the African society as well the resilient traditional inclination that makes a big man most unlikely to easily accept equality with the small man, machine and technology may hold the future for successful and less rancorous election conduct," he stated.

He said one of the understated successes of the 2007 general election in Nigeria was the introduction of a new electronic platform for the registration of voters, adding that the technology involved was not complex, so the question of large illiterate population not understanding the equipment could not arise.

"With the new regime of voter registration, Nigerians who reach the age of voting now simply go into the nearest office of the Commission and register for the next election," he said.

He noted that the greatest challenge to electoral democracy in Africa is the mindset of Africans towards elections and democracy. While election petition tribunals are unique and good, he explained, the mindset that anyone who loses an election must challenge the result because something must have been done against him is at best unhelpful.

Prof. Maurice Iwu also said the mindset that an African big man cannot lose an electoral contest to a small, less financially endowed contestant is also a threat to the development of democratic value and process.

At the same forum, the Chairman of Ghana's Electoral Commission, Dr.Afari-Gyan advised citizens not to sell their votes to politicians, in order to ensure free and fair elections.

He said the electorate should vote "according to their own conscience and best judgment of the relative merits of the candidates not merely on the basis of ethnic affiliation or monetary and other inducements."

He said corruption would instead reign because as long as politicians buy votes, they would not be worried about good governance.

In a presentation on the topic: Ensuring Effective Election Campaign and Credible Elections for Good Governance he said credible elections were important for institutionalizing the ability to change political leaders through peaceful and lawful means, adding that credible elections were only a means and that they must translate into good governance.

Dr.Afari-Gyan stated that the laws, regulations and procedures of the election must not only be fair and transparent, but also simple enough for all to understand and participate.

He said to describe an election in its entirety as having been "free and fair", tended to suggest that it took place under conditions of perfect laws and procedures, perfect election administrators and officials, perfect politicians and candidates, and perfect voters.

According to him, the environment or condition under which the election was held must be free from violence, intimidation, bribery, corruption, cheating, rigging and abuse of incumbency.

"The people must be free to form or join political parties; participate in any legitimate political activity; be a candidate; campaign anywhere in the country; register as a voter; decide whom to vote for and cast secret ballot."

He said every stakeholder right from government to the ordinary voter has a responsibility to ensuring and achieving credible elections.

Political parties could contribute more to deepening democracy by carrying out clean campaigns, by presenting policy choices to the people on issues that affect their lives and by gracefully accepting defeat at the polls.

He explained that the ability to draw huge crowds by political parties was obviously important; "but we must bear in mind that curious crowds don't always translate into electoral votes."