The recent disclosure by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of strategy to put an end to voter apathy and political thuggery comes at a time when the country needs a general reorientation for the populace, particularly youths of voting age. The Kwara State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Timothy Ibitoye, at a voter education programme in Ilorin, organized lately for secondary schools in the state, said the Kwara INEC was set to improve the electoral system through intense and well coordinated voter education of youths, to tackle the problem of voter apathy and thuggery in the future.

Mr. Ibitoye said the voter education drive would inculcate requisite social and electoral values in youths with the longterm objective of raising their consciousness towards civic obligations. He said the exercise would equip youths with adequate knowledge of what their electoral roles are and prepare them against being engaged by desperate politicians as thugs in future elections. Should the Kwara INEC partner with secondary school authorities in the execution of the project, as is implied, beneficiary youths would be caught young to identify with the democratic process and recognize that they are as important as the older generation in the electoral system. They would, in addition, better appreciate their crucial roles as agents of change.

We believe that the idea emanating from the Kwara INEC would not only improve the nation's electoral performance in the future, but would ultimately position youths for the greater task of nation-building. The initiative appears too attractive and necessary to be given a tokenism treatment. A brilliant idea in a nation where voter apathy seems the rule rather the exception in the electoral process, the enlightenment project promises a veritable weapon in tackling growing voter apathy, the inertia or 'siddon look' attitude that has taken over the political lives of many, as well as pervasive pre and post election brigandage.

Therefore, it may be necessary for the INEC, as a national body, to adopt the Kwara model and implement same as a nationwide project. In addition to preparing the youths to take responsibility in efforts to stabilize the country's democratic process, they should be taught and enlightened on the inestimable price of their votes; and how incumbent it is on them to remain behind after each election to ensure that their votes count in deciding election winners and losers. This appears most critical to the emergence of credible, widely accepted and accountable public functionaries from the electoral process, as vote manipulation has become an odious trademark of the nation's corrupt political class.

We, indeed, consider the Kwara INEC idea a challenge to the Attahiru Jega-led INEC to become more intellectually proactive as well as practical in confronting the problems of voter apathy and political thuggery in the country, mediate and resolve the setbacks for a richer political process. It accords with good reasoning, appreciating the fact that a theoretical and practical approach may be a sin qua non in addressing the twin vices. For, what constitutes voter apathy in community A, for instance, might not be the same in community B. A comparative approach may therefore be necessary for a comprehensive and holistic understanding of voter apathy and the varying root causes of political brigandage, especially among youths.

Another more general, yet problematic area in the nation's electoral system include the seeming non-independence of the electoral body. Our considered opinion is that INEC's helmsmen at all levels cannot effectively and dispassionately perform as publicly expected when their services are tied to the whims and caprices of the government in power. Among other sundry shortcomings, for instance, the INEC chairman should be appointed based on the recommendation of an independent body whose representation is drawn from major political parties and credible civil society groups; while the Commission's funding should be routed directly through the Federation Account. We consider it an aberration for a President that doubles as the most prominent leader of one of the rival political parties to be the appointing and funding authority of a purported "electoral umpire".