JARRETT TENEBE, ELECTION OBSERVATION AND THE POLITICS OF SELECTIVE OUTRAGE
By DAN Osa-Ogbegie
In recent hours , some opposition elements have sought to manufacture a scandal around the participation of the Chairman of the APC in Edo State, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, in the observation of the Ekiti State Governorship Election.
The basis of their outrage is that a serving political party chairman was seen wearing an election observer vest and participating in an election observation exercise.
Predictably, social media has been awash with alarmist declarations, manufactured indignation and the usual assortment of uninformed commentary.
Unfortunately, as is often the case, the loudest voices appear to be the least informed.
The first casualty of political desperation is usually the truth.
Before joining the bandwagon of outrage, it is important to establish the facts.
Emperor Jarrett Tenebe did not attend the Ekiti Governorship Election as the APC Chairman of Edo State. He applied and was accredited in his personal capacity as Jarrett Tenebe.
The distinction is important.
Nigeria’s electoral framework does not strip citizens of their civic rights merely because they occupy political offices.
A person does not cease to be a Nigerian citizen because he is a political party chairman. Neither does he lose the right to participate in legitimate democratic activities merely because he belongs to a political party.
If that were the law, a substantial percentage of politically conscious Nigerians would be automatically disqualified from participating in election observation exercises.
The truth is that election observation is not reserved for politically sterile individuals who have never held opinions, supported candidates or participated in politics.
Such people hardly exist.
Every observer is first a citizen.
Every observer has opinions.
Every observer has personal convictions.
Every observer has political preferences.
The question has never been whether an observer possesses personal beliefs.
The real question is whether the observer conducts himself in accordance with the rules governing election observation.
Was the observer duly accredited?
Did he interfere with the electoral process?
Did he intimidate voters?
Did he campaign during the election?
Did he compromise the integrity of the process?
Those are the relevant questions.
Not whether he has political opinions.
Not whether he belongs to a political party.
Not whether his political preferences are publicly known.
Indeed, if political affiliation alone were enough to disqualify an individual from election observation, then many lawyers, academics, journalists, former public office holders, former legislators, political consultants and democracy advocates who have participated in election observation missions over the years would also stand disqualified.
That has never been the law.
I speak from personal experience.
In 2012, during the Edo State Governorship Election, I was accredited as an election observer. At the time, I personally supported Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
My support for Oshiomhole did not automatically disqualify me from participating in the observation process.
What mattered was my conduct.
What mattered was my compliance with the rules.
What mattered was my ability to discharge my responsibilities professionally.
The same standard should apply to every other citizen. Including Jarrett Tenebe.
Those attacking him have conveniently failed to identify any law, regulation or guideline that he violated.
They have not alleged that he forged his accreditation.
They have not alleged that he infiltrated the process.
They have not alleged that he disrupted voting.
They have not alleged that he intimidated voters.
They have not alleged that he interfered with election officials.
Their entire argument appears to be that because he is APC Chairman in Edo State, he should somehow be prohibited from participating in an election observation exercise in Ekiti State.
That proposition is legally weak, logically unsound and democratically dangerous.
More interestingly, the same individuals who are scandalised by Jarrett Tenebe’s accreditation routinely celebrate former governors, former ministers, former legislators and former party officials whenever they participate in election monitoring missions organised by regional and international bodies.
Apparently, political experience becomes a qualification when exercised by their allies and a disqualification when exercised by their opponents.
Such hypocrisy deserves exposure.
The truth is that election observation does not confer authority to conduct elections.
Observers do not declare winners.
Observers do not collate results.
Observers do not administer polling units.
Observers do not exercise the powers of INEC.
Observers simply watch, assess, document and report.
The administration of the election remains exclusively the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Consequently, the presence of an accredited observer does not compromise an election merely because that observer has known political affiliations.
What compromises an election is misconduct.
What compromises an election is interference.
What compromises an election is fraud.
None of these allegations has been made against Emperor Jarrett Tenebe.
What we are witnessing therefore is not a debate about electoral integrity.
It is a familiar political tactic.
When critics cannot challenge the substance of a person’s conduct, they attack the person himself.
When they cannot identify a violation, they manufacture outrage.
When they cannot establish wrongdoing, they substitute emotion for evidence.
Democracy deserves better.
Public discourse deserves better.
The rule of law certainly deserves better.
Before condemning Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, his critics should identify the specific law he violated, the specific regulation he breached, or the specific misconduct he committed.
Until then, their outrage remains precisely what it appears to be:
A politically motivated search for a scandal where none exists.
Daniel A. Noah Osa-Ogbegie is a Benin based legal practitioner, political & media strategist.