EC appeal yet to come about

The rather belated initiation of the appeal process lends itself to all kinds of negative interpretations and speculations. The EC lawyer has pointed out that they are going by the 60-day time frame for filing an appeal, of which three weeks have already gone by. Obviously, one misses the urgency in dealing with this matter of grave importance. On the face of it, the dilatory tactic originally adopted is being accentuated, thereby casting a shadow on a well conducted preparation of the voter roll. It gives rise to an uncharitable interpretation of the EC's intention.

As we observe the dilatory nature of the CEC's handling of the whole issue, we cannot help mention a certain other factor which relates to the occasional illness of the CEC in recent times that added to the overall delay. The court directed on January 4 that the CEC hold a meeting of the Commission with his colleagues but unfortunately he fell sick. Then came the appointment of two new commissioners by the government and in the sequel to it the CEC convened the long pending meeting, fully secure in his belief that he has the majority in the EC to have his way, apparently oblivious of the need for democratic consent. As if to continue in the same mode, when the EU delegation was scheduled for a meeting with him, he cancelled the appointment on health grounds.

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From all these, the only conclusion that one can draw is that if the credibility of the EC was on the line before, it is now clearly placed in a state of jeopardy. And unless things change for the better, we cannot but view the conduct of the next general elections with undisguised trepidation. Time is running out. The primacy of the agenda for holding free and fair elections must be restored to breed public confidence in the EC, an institution that must remain above all controversy.