Section D: Remodeling of Political Culture
The inducement of voters (before, during or after primary & general elections; around or outside voting venues) is a criminal political culture that is prevalent in Nigeria and requires more than lip service to tackle. Save for the shabby planning and implementation of the currency redesign by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and its consequent needless hardship on majority of Nigerians, its intention to stifle the ability of corrupt politicians & political parties to procure votes with already-stashed naira notes is welcome. Nonetheless, it is important to stress that not all monies expended during elections are for electoral malpractices as INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) officials and party agents legitimately require logistic support, via funds, for smooth conduct of elections.
However, the morally decadent and generally destructive behaviour of voters-enticement at primary elections as well as at the general polls (with cash/kind) instituted by the major political parties over the past years of our democratic life continues to deprive our elections of fairness and credibility. Nevertheless, socioeconomic poverty is not a valid excuse for voters who lay in wait for these bribes. Imagine a House of Representatives candidate expending as much as three hundred million naira to win both primary elections and the general elections, whereas over 70% of this huge expenditure is committed to inducement of voters and 30% on genuine campaign logistics. Humans – not goats, take the bribes! In any case, candidates who procure votes would do all it takes to recoup their investments at the detriment of voters and their constituents if they make it to public office. Temporarily, e dey sweet us; but unknowingly, e dey kill us!
To arrest the shameful trend of votes-buying and remodel our political culture, what additional recommendation would you convincingly put before Nigeria’s next President?
a. Massive sensitization of all political parties and Nigerians by quoting relevant sections of the Electoral Act 2022 and translating same into 20 local languages to be disseminated via text messages (SMS) and whatsapp
b. Encouragement of whistle-blowing around primary election venues, polling units and other covert spots where cash is stashed around the country for the purpose of suspected or ongoing votes-buying activities
c. Speedy prosecution of both vote-sellers and vote-buyers by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF, Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or Independent Corrupt Practices & other related Offences Commission (ICPC) as scapegoats
d. All of the above
Dr. Adetolu Ademujimi is a Medical Doctor, Author, Reformer, Coach, Public Policy expert and social entrepreneur, who wrote in from Akure in Nigeria. Email: ademujimi@yahoo.co.uk; Website: www.adetoluademujimi.com
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