Civil society groups and some politicians have criticised the delay in release of funds for the review of voters register needed for the 2011 general elections. The activists at a forum in Abuja appealed to the government to equip the independent national electoral commission with all the necessary tools to conduct a free and fair election next year.
Participants at the event which was organised by the Emmanuel Ukala Centre for Democracy and Electoral Process and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in Abuja believe there should be internal democracy in political parties in the choosing of their candidates in an election.
Participants at the forum are however divided on when the elections should hold next year.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) who was one of the participants on Tuesday stated the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic [PDP] was unconstitutional.
The AGF said this in a keynote address he delivered at a roundtable on the 2011 elections with the theme, "imperatives and challenges for credible elections."
Adoke said, "I wish to comment briefly on the issue of zoning which has taken a pride of place in our political discourse. I believe that this great country is at the threshold of history and as citizens; our pre-occupation should be how we can tackle our developmental challenges without unnecessary bickering.
"I am indeed surprised that what was regarded as an internal arrangement of a political party has been elevated to the front-burner while playing down the express provisions of the constitution regulating who qualifies to contest election as President. I personally feel that the provisions of the constitution are so clear that we need not over-heat the polity with such trivial issues."
He expressed disappointment that whilst political parties openly canvass for the opening up of the political space.
The AGF suggested that to ensure the emergence of credible leaders who owe allegiance to the people, political parties must democratize the process of choosing their candidates "to develop the right political culture required to sustain our democracy."
He also criticised the long delay experienced in the adjudication of election disputes in the country saying, "it is completely unacceptable as it unwittingly provides the enabling environment for illegitimate occupants of elective offices to serve the greater part of the tenure before the petition is disposed of in accordance with the law. If we do not nip in the bud this retrogressive factor in the electoral process we will never be able to sustain public confidence in the process."
Meanwhile, a civil rights activist, Mallam Shehu Sani, on Tuesday, urged Northerners to reject zoning.
In a statement in Kaduna, the activist urged Northern governors not to sacrifice collective interest of their people.
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