SOME INFORMATION ABOUT ELECTIONS NO ONE WILL FREELY TELL YOU

                                             

Election is the process through which the community selects its leaders through a democratic process. Election is an aspect of good governance. Abraham Lincoln puts it that “No man is good enough to govern another man without the other’s consent”.

For elections to be credible, we need to put in place an adequate structure to manage the election. This body is required to be neutral and objective.

Election is an activity that goes as far back as to the time of the bible. The Faith community was instructed to choose able servants to accompany the Apostles in the dispatch of their duties. This shows that elections are means through which leaders are selected and empowered. Being the only means through which citizens exercise their patriotism, elections need to credible, free, fair and democratic.

ADVANTAGES OF   ELECTIONS.

>It is the most suitable expression of the political preferences of the electorates.

>It is an expression of good governance in contrast to autocratic or dictatorial rule.

>Election makes one’s voice to be heard. It thus authenticates popular sovereignty through direct voting.

>Credible election helps to moderate leadership, especially as the electorates have the task to give a sanction to poor leadership.

>By credible election, the community is able to hold leaders accountable through subsequent elections.

> It helps to X-Ray promises made by leaders and the community’s response to those promises as a valid testing ground. 

DISADVANTAGES OF ELECTIONS.

>There is the sad reality, that more often than not, there is the experience of corruption during election.

>There is the buying of consciences.

>The motive of electorate could affect the process especially when people tend to choose leaders from selfish motives and not from the aspect of capabilities.

>Electoral process is not only costly but election also brings about enmity and tension to the community.

>Leaders may tend to compromise their visions and go for populist measures before election, for the sake of vote, even though this can harm the economy or social structure of the community.

>The fact that at whatever levels, we would always have non elected members appointed, in some case to over shadow the elected officials make the election not valid.

>Elections enhance tribalism.

STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO ENSURE A FAIR, FREE AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS.

>PUT a neutral body to manage the electoral process from start from start to end

>Electorates should be well screened and all aspirants be well checked.

>Electorates should be well educated on the conduct of the election and the type of persons to be voted. This is done by writing out electoral code and distributing it on time.

> The incumbent has to leave office before the day of the elections.