The Off-Cycle Elections: Again, we must learn – Our Security, Our Peace by Prof. O.E Bassey

The expectation was that with the widespread discontent off the last election in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) along with other election authorities will bring their A-game to the table during the off-cycle election to redeem their image and put the country in such a better light with the world watching.

But what do we get from polls held in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi over the weekend? Same old tale that has now degenerated into a farce that brings nothing but ridicule to the nation. Allegations of vote buying, ballot snatching, manipulation of results, delay in collation were some of the anomalies that defaced the election and exposed to us our residual in the same spot for years on end with little or no hope for a change in sight.

While two states have had the winner of their elections announced as of the time of filing in this column for publication, Bayelsa state would have to wait one more day to uncover who the winner of the poll therein is. You almost expect the same fallout of election tribunals to trail the electoral outcome with our courts being besieged with electoral dissatisfaction, opposition and vendetta to oust and recover ‘mandate’. It is almost predictable every now and then how elections in Nigeria will pan out, and to think that the prediction is untoward rings even louder how dire the situation is and why we all need to have both attitudinal and structural change towards elections.

And to think that having a peaceful and successful election is so much of a rocket science is delusional, as countries around the world who have found a perfect blueprint to stage an election without hassles and heckles didn’t have to transform day into night to record an exemplary election.

From INEC down to the politicians and down to the electorates, while we don’t necessarily lack funds to put in place structures for an impeccable election, we are lacking in attitude that achieves such a peaceful leadership transition. INEC, as a body, must live up to its constitutional duties of being independent and indifferent to players by ensuring its umpire duties are carried out without fear or favour for any party or power-that-be. Allegations of manipulation of results as a result of technical glitches and operational hitches should not be reports that should fly around in the public space to undermine the integrity of such a body. More is expected and more should be seen to be done to fix these loopholes. Politicians, on the other hand, must also hold themselves responsible to fairness and good conducts before, during and after elections. They must not be seen instigating hate on the altar of opposition, fueling tension and promoting violence. Their supporters see them as models of conducts, as such, their influence in terms of actions, inactions and words go a long way to conditioning what happens on the street. Therefore, the politicians have a decisive role to play if we are to actualize for once a peaceful election. The electorates, themselves, who are chiefly used to perpetrate some electoral malfeasances are yet important in the structure of achieving a peaceful election. It’s no doubt that we all have our different electoral choice, but then there is a thing called electoral tolerance where you aware of the other person’s different choice from yours and you accord the choice respect. There are also guidelines to adhere to for your safety during the election, and the overall success of the election; but what you find are people flouting these guidelines and wanting to help the authorities do their jobs, whereas the only duty the electorates are saddled with is to vote and go back home to await the outcome of their choice. But you find some loiter around, some get themselves involved in tense argument, some intimidating and bullying other voters to vote their own choice candidate, some wanting to bribe others against their will, and from all these and more culpable of some electorates, election becomes compromised and peace threatened.

This is why, more than anything else, as we prepare for the next round of elections in the country, the federal government should take it up as a responsibility to carry out a nationwide electoral sensitization geared towards electoral attitude to correct the anomalies in behavioural pattern we keep seeing from electorates prior, during and after elections. There should also be look-in into the electoral body for a ramp-up of the system to fix the loopholes therein to avoid compromise as alleged during the off-cycle elections and the general elections which were not too far away. The politicians, on the other hand, also must be focused on, with stiffer punishment introduced for anyone of them found to be in violation of proper electoral conduct due a candidate or member of their party.

The truth is, we will keep on having these issues resurfaced itself time and again if we don’t take actions on attitudinal change regardless of whose ox is gored. Nigeria will be better for it, and that is all that matters.

I will also advocate that the electoral laws be looked into to scrap off-cycle elections from the system. It does not help having elections take place in a political climate where everyone is settled for governance after court cases and electoral disputes have been dealt with. We should find a way to eliminate such from the system as they are more distractive than contributive to governance in the country.

Meanwhile, congratulations to the governors-elect who made it as winners from their concluded elections. It is my hope that you make good your office for a brighter narrative for your people.

Proverbs 21:3: To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Professor. Ofonime Emmanuel Bassey is a Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution Coach with decades of experience in the practice and promotion of Law Enforcement, Peace and Security through the Nigeria Police and the United Nations.

He is an advocate of Peace Leadership and Child Protection.

He has served and interacted at the top level management of the Nigeria Police as well as internationally as a United Nation’s Monitor/Mentor in Kosovo, Europe.

A professor of Peace Advocacy and Conflict Resolution, Dr. O.E Bassey is a certified United Nation’s Trainer, and currently the Director of ICOF Institute of Leadership, Peace and Conflict Resolution in Africa.

With his marks well-established in Peace Leadership both in Nigeria and Africa. Currently, he is the President, NISSI Safety Management Institute: An Institute of Peace Leadership.

Presently, he is spearheading a campaign tagged “The Next Peace Leaders”, a campaign that is billed to run from 2022-2023 with a target of training 37,000 young peace leaders.

For peace and security tips, consultations and trainings, reach him via:

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