When on Saturday, July 11, 2009 the then United States President Barack Obama stated that: “Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions” it was made in total condemnation of tyrants on the continent; especially those who enrich themselves at the expense of the poor. That is according to ‘International Articles’ online platform. Back then Obama was on a landmark trip to Accra, Ghana.
Going further, he urged Africans to demand for stronger governments, which of course, begins with free, fair, credible, violence-free elections of international standards. Such elections run in sync with the wishes of the people as expressed through their votes cast at the polling units. Unfortunately, what happened during the presidential and National Assembly polls held on Saturday, February 25,2023, is contrary to Obama’s clarion call.
Ordinarily, elections should not be viewed as a war front scenario, to be fought and won by the jungle mentality of might is right, or by brute force. Also, it should not be won by using the instrumentality of the power of incumbency, by the collusion of those agencies and arms of government entrusted with the mandate to protect the wishes of the eligible voters. That is under normal electoral conditions and more so in a sane society.
But in Nigeria winning elections by the deployment of slush funds, overt injustice, subterfuge, lies, acts of betrayal and intimidation are becoming the rule rather than the exception. The import is that it is most unfortunate because we seem not to have learnt the lessons from our past mistakes.
For instance, in 2010 ahead of the 2011 general elections a Texas, United States of America-based manufacturer of armoured vehicles wondered at the huge demand for such high-profile cars by our politicians. “And the manufacturer asked the troubling question,” Are Nigerians preparing for elections or getting set for war?” The answer should be obvious to many discerning citizens.
In a similar vein, a report titled, “Nigeria’s 2015 general elections: Limiting the violence’’ by the International Crisis Group, a Belgium-based advocacy organisation warned about the influx of wide-ranging firearms, ranging from pistols to assault rifles, portending grave danger for the conduct of the elections. That was some eight years ago.
In the 2023 general elections, there have been several reported incidents of killings of candidates and harassment of voters after the process. For instance, the Labour Party senatorial candidate, Oyibo Chukwu and five of his supporters were burnt to death in Enugu State before the elections.
Similarly, some 13 people were reportedly burnt alive and three others shot dead on Sunday, February 26, 2023 in Tundunwada LGA of Kano State. Also, the campaign office of the New Nigerian People’s Party was set ablaze in the same state.
But one significant issue that has bedevilled the results as released is that of accusations and allegations of complicity and compromise by the Independent National Electoral Commission. By its mandate, INEC was established by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to among other things organise elections into various political offices in the country.
In spite of the N305.5bn budgetary allocation for 2023, its performance on the field has not been impressive.
From the observations of the International observers, the European Election Observers Mission noted that the commission could not upload election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal despite the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System which it earlier commended.
Another issue of concern was raised by Jonathan Rosen, a researcher of the Committee to Protect Journalists. He stated that 14 cases of harassment, attacks and detention were recorded during the elections.
From all the above-stated infractions, concerned Nigerians and political parties have called on INEC to comply with the Electoral Act and indeed, cancel the elections held so far.
As rightly stated by Obama, we do not need strong individuals who would subvert the wishes of the people using the Machiavellian tactics. Rather, we need strong institutions, beginning with INEC to ensure that the people’s votes will always count.
The ball is now in the court of the courts and the time to act is now.
- Ayo Baje, author, journalist, writes from Lagos State
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