NNAD GENERAL ELECTION 2020: ASSESSMENTS, THE CANDIDATES AND OTHER MATTERS

The Nigerian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) will be the focus of attention from across Deaf communities in Africa and in the United States—the latter from where originated members of the association native language (the ASL). NNAD goes to polls exactly 29th of September 2020 to choose its next National President, National Vice President, National Secretary, National Women, National Youth Leader, and many more. The winning team will lead the umbrella association for the next four years. This is arguably the most consequential election in the history of the national Deaf association. There will never be anything like this in many years to come.

Election Schedule

Although the actual election day is many days away, important activities have already begun and built up toward Election Day. Some aspirants and delegates are already in Kano State where the election is to take place. Between the 25^th and 26^th of September, delegates and Deaf citizens, including the EC, and other important elements and stakeholders are expected to arrive in Kano State. The association’s traditional activities, including the AGM, formal meetings, plenary sessions, and conferences on the 27^th and 28^th. Within these same days will take place sales of nomination forms and assessment and screening of candidates. On the 29^th of September, the election of key posts, including the National President is held and the winner is declared. On the 30^th, delegates and individuals are expected to arrive at their respective destinations.

The Competing Teams

The NNAD currently adopts a two-party system. The UPP and IT teams are the two parties in contention. There are only two independent candidates—Chidi Olujie of the UPP and Luqman Agbabiaka of the ITT. Under each of these presidential aspirants falls other candidates, including candidates for National Vice President, National Secretary-General, and so forth.  In all, there are a total of 14 available positions in contentions, including NP and NVP.

As an illustration, picture two presidential candidates from two different parties. Each of the presidential contestants with its own squad. The UPP Team led by Chidi Olujie and IT Team led by Luqman Agbabiaka. Each candidate is independent of one another for election purposes. A win for a presidential contestant does not mean an automatic win for the vice-presidential contestant in the same party.  The delegates must vote for contestants, including National Vice President, National Secretary, and Youth Leaders. Individually. Winners from both parties must team together and form a Cabinet to lead NNAD for the next four years. While they both belong to two different parties, it is possible that a presidential candidate in Party X wins and its vice president loses. This makes the vice presidential aspirant in party Y the winner. Instead of having a president and a vice president from the same party, we will have a president from party X and a vice president from party Y. This goes for all contenders.

Method of Election and How the Winner Will Emerge

Ordinary Deaf citizens or members of the association don’t get to vote for their candidates directly. Not everyone has a chance to travel to Kano State to vote. Other than voting, there are other activities ordinary Deaf citizens may engage in such as participation in meetings and conferences. Delegates from each state in all the 6 geopolitical zones are the primary voters. This method involves a secret balloting system where all the 216 delegates (multiply 36 by 6) secretly choose their candidates. Delegates are the members of each state Deaf Association’s Execs, which may include the Chairman, the Vice-Chair, the PRO, and the Treasurer., including key others. The Oyo State association of the Deaf, for example, under the aegis of NNAD will select its own delegates from across its ‘excos’. This pattern is achieved in all 36 States Deaf Associations under NNAD. The Electoral Committee is another essential element of the process. One EC is nominated from each geopolitical zones of the Federation. That includes a total of 6 members of the Board of Trustees (BOT). These members are not expected to be partisan. Rather, the EC is essentially neutral elements of the electoral process.

Which Party Will Win?

It is impossible to determine which party will emerge the winner. The system of electing candidates is a secret one and it is impossible to know for certain which delegate is for which candidate. It is a very personal thing. However, there might be certain contributory factors that can help us to determine the eventual winning party and candidate.

1. Candidate’s Test of Popularity
2. Party Ideology
3. Candidate’s Personal appeal and leadership capacity
4. Candidate’s manifestoes
5. Candidate’s quality of the campaign
6. Candidate’s war chest (funds available).

The last one though—we cannot underestimate the significant influence of money in modern politics. It is increasingly becoming an important tool.