Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi was the Executive Secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) which conducted the 1979 general elections. He previously served as an electoral officer in Kontagora in 1959. In this interview, the elder statesman sheds light on how the then electoral body was able to conduct hitch-free elections despite challenges.
You were the Executive Secretary of FEDECO which conducted the 1979 general elections, how was it then?
I was at the helm of FEDECO in 1979 and had in each state an officer who assisted me in the then 19 states. The 20 of us normally sat down and advised the commission on how to go about issues. Before I accepted the appointment, I insisted I must be given full authority with regards to administration, financing and operations. The Chief Electoral Officer who was the Chairman, Chief Michael Ali, and 24 others were dealing with policy issues, especially on what we advised them. We had all government parastatals under the then Supreme Military Council (SMC). We got orders from Lagos. If FEDECO wanted something, we spoke to the SMC. The SMC gave directives to the military governors and that was why everything went fine.
Since 2011 election dates have been shifted, what do you think is responsible for this?
The major reason is lack of preparedness. If you take a look at our report on the 1979 elections, everything we needed, we made sure there was an alternative arrangement. We didn’t take anything for granted. If a 100-unit of something was required, we would order for 150. So there couldn’t be failure because the number was not enough because we always ordered more than we required. Example, when you indicated your candidate or party on the ballot paper, you folded it and put it in an envelope, a small one. We ordered 300 million envelopes, and even after the elections some shops were selling them. So nothing was taken for granted. We had sensitive materials like the ballot paper that was given sufficient attention. The Nigeria Security Minting and Printing Company (NSMPC) produced that one, but in addition, we had printers in London and made sure that the pattern type of paper was not leaked, because if it leaked, some politicians would go and print their own. Despite all these arrangements, before the presidential election, we heard that some political parties connived with some staff of the NSMPC and they compromised. When we confirmed it, we simply kept quiet and ordered fresh presidential ballot papers from London. Nobody, except the chairman and I knew about it. The ballot papers were flown to Lagos few days before the election. In fact, some of our staff in the state offices didn’t know about it; they were going to use the first set but that night our chairman broadcast to the nation that another set of ballot papers would be used, and this was what was done.
Within that short period, how did you overcome logistics issues, from Lagos to the 19 states?
We had officers in each state supervised by a senior officer, and under him, another officer who supervised 10 polling stations. Everything was planned and there was no room for failure. For us to have failed would have been a shame. In those days civil servants worked for the nation; not for themselves.
The 2019 elections were postponed citing logistics problems, how did you receive the news?
This could not have happened during our time because of the watertight arrangement. We didn’t allow any failure at all. Some materials were sent to the local government areas weeks before the elections and the sensitive materials, like they are now doing, were kept in the CBN until the day of the election. So I don’t know what happened this time, because we too had problems. There were some areas in the then Gongola State where you could not even use water transport or anything except to walk because they were swampy. In some instances, donkeys and bulls had to carry the electoral officers and materials to the polling stations.
Do you then give INEC the benefit of doubt?
I think we should give them that because at least the leadership of the commission in 2015 and 2019 are people that are respected. Prof. Attahiru Jega was ASUU head at a time. In fact, he made a name there and when the late President Umaru Yar’adua established our committee to give him report on elections, I was a member too. I met him there, he is a strong character; you can’t twist him at all. The present one also, I knew him before his appointment. He too is someone you can’t compromise. Well, a person cannot be 100 per cent. I don’t believe the postponement was deliberate.
What do you think might have been the problem?
They stated the reason; they said some sensitive materials could not get to their destinations. We didn’t allow this to happen during our time. We made sure where the CBN had a branch, we kept them there, and the day of election, we made arrangement with the police and the military to distribute them to the polling units.
INEC keeps complaining of not having control over the police and the military, do you think there is the need to address the Electoral Act on this?
I don’t think it is correct for INEC to say so. The police and the military don’t serve under the commission, but the electoral law says the presiding officer in charge of a polling station has the power to direct police or anybody to arrest anyone who tries to do something funny, so they have the power.
How do you think INEC can convince Nigerians about its preparedness for the polls?
It is not just the chairman and commissioners, it is the system. Whatever you do at the top if the system is not correct you will find problems like this happening; it’s in our report. Never take anything for granted; block any possibility for failure.
The leaders in INEC are people with track records in their careers. I was there based on recommendation. I did not ask for appointment, but was virtually forced to take it. I remember Obasanjo was the head of state, some military officers who knew me then recommended me, but I refused. So Obasanjo showed me over 100 applications from people who wanted the post. So they had to persuade me through people I respect very much like the father of Shehu Yaradua and Chief Ani.
Can you tell us some of the recommendations you made to government?
Some of the recommendations, as I learnt, have been accepted, not directly, but implemented. We wrote some of them over 40 years ago. They are still trying to implement them; like the card reader, ways of checking voters and photographs of voters on each voter’s card. Whatever you do when you are undertaking an operation like elections covering a country like Nigeria with 84 million registered voters, you can’t expect 100 per cent success; it is impossible. Even in small operations in the office or household, you are bound to find one or two mistakes. That was why I wrote a book on free and fair elections.
What is your call to Nigerians as they go to polls once again?
My call is that INEC cannot be 100 per cent. They are human beings, you give them the benefit of doubt even if there are mistakes at certain levels, but I’m sure not at the management level. I don’t think anybody there can agree to do something funny against the interest of Nigeria. So give them the benefit of the doubt.
The president just issued a statement about dealing with ballot box snatchers; what is your take on it?
I don’t think he said that. What he said was that they should be dealt with ruthlessly. Although if a president says this, it may mean kill them, but he never used the word kill. His media aide, Garba Shehu, clarified it. I’m also of the opinion that anybody who tries something should be dealt with. I’m not saying kill them, but arrest and detain themsomewhere, because these politicians can do anything, especially now that money is everything. Somebody INEC appoints for N2,000 or 3,000 can get N1m or more from a politician trying to secure a position.
What the president was trying to say was don’t let people get away with anything funny, deal with them ruthlessly.
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