It is no longer news that political parties have concluded their elective primaries within the acceptable time limit set by the electoral management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that produced candidates at different levels. In generally assessing the conduct of the primaries, the provisions of the country’s Constitution, the Electoral Act and Electoral Guidelines of same political parties were substantially complied with; a development that will further help the country in consolidating on the gains it has recorded in her quest towards having elections that are credible to the satisfaction of the generality of the citizens.
However, there are monumental blunders committed in the process of the elective primaries that are calling for concern even in the post primaries era especially as parties’ field candidates for election. What is evidently clear for any unbiased mind was that even with the efforts of stakeholders in the electoral process in the country in putting together the recently enacted electoral legal framework, politicians are devising ways through which they can circumvent same; putting to question the sincerity of politicians in playing their part towards the actualization of credible polls that represent the choice of the majority in the 2023general.
Therefore, there is certainly a lot to talk about especially regarding some salient issues that could make or mar the country’s efforts towards having a system that promotes and guarantees the inclusion of Nigerians in the electoral process that is anchored on the ideals of observance of laid down laws,strengthened electoral institutions, resilient citizenship among others that will guarantee the conduct of free, fair and credible polls.
As Nigerians follow keenly and with enthusiasm developments relating to the Presidential candidates that emerged through a valid process, majorly their choice of running mates or Vice – Presidential candidates, what is very evident is that some of the Presidential candidates have proven to be unprepared and not ready to govern this country even if Nigerians entrust them with such a responsibility. The candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress has not finally settled for his running mate weeks after the conclusion of the election that made him a candidate. This put to question his readiness to take tough decisions when he emerged as President as the office requires taken toughdecisions in the interest of good governance. The development that is also begging for answer is that how can same man that admitted at different fora that the Presidency is his life’s long ambition cannot even prove to his compatriots that he has friends across the different ethnic and religious divides that would have guided his choice of a running mate within a short period. This matter should not have been a problem for a man who wish to be President of the world’s most populous black people. The same show of lack of preparedness applies to the Presidential candidates;notably Peter Obi of the Labor Party and Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party that selected what is now new to our electoral process and lexicon as “Placeholder” and or “Dummy” for this very important position.
Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress with government at the Federal center is guilty of deliberately trying to circumvent the law by fielding candidates that did not in any way participate in the process, an act that can better be described as a clear violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. The suspense and high drama that accompanied thefielding of the trio of the President of the SenateAhmed Lawan, Former Minister of Niger DeltaAffairs, Godswill Akpabio and Governor of EbonyiState David Umahi as Senatorial candidates amused, puzzled and bewildered Nigerians. The ruling party that is supposed to lead in setting the pace in the observance of rules and regulations was somehow shellacked fielding her candidates that were trounced even by the party members and aspirants that duly contested and emerged as winners and the party in show of shame responded especially through its National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu with invectives and threats to punish such duly elected candidates that demanded the right be done; damning the disastrous consequences the action could have on the fortunes of the party in the 2023 general election. However, President Buhari’s stance as the leader of the party earned him kudos from many Nigerians for not imposing candidates on the party; who thought it was a welcome idea to allow party organs do their jobs without inference. Yet, by far, the greater share of the blame for the fiasco must be placed at his doors as the party leader because he cannot be absolved from the controversies created by the party leadership of which he was supposed to provide guidance and direction at a critical time like this.
The sheer display of ignorance and lack of understanding of the provisions of the Electoral Act as demonstrated by substantial members of the National Assembly in pursuit of their political aspiration before, during and after the parties’ primaries, after taken part in the process of putting together thesame piece of legislation that span years of intense commitment provided a very confusing scenario and speaks volumes as to the quality of legislators we have in the 9th National Assembly. However, deducing from the actions of the Federal Legislators, the knowledge and understanding of legislators with respect to the provisions of the Electoral Act at the sub – national level can only be better imagined.
The attitude of Nigerians towards encouraging impunity is totally unacceptable and must be stopped. It defies logical reasoning seeing Nigerians either as delegates or electorates ready to give mandate to politicians with questionable and dubious academic and track records of accomplishments and in some instances, politicians that are morally bankrupt and ready to circumvent laws to be part of the process. The same delegates and Nigerian electorates even going extra mile to canvass support for such candidates that did not emerge through a valid process of nominationdue to unbridled personal interest.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as the electoral umpire must wield the big stick against erring political parties and candidates alike using the powers bestowed on it by the relevant laws in the country. Failure to demonstrate and exert its independence will put to question its integrity and its determination to conduct a free, fair and credible polls especially the general election of 2023. So far, the decision taken by the Commission not to recognize candidates fielded that did not emerge through a valid process is commendable and we urge INEC not to falter on this trajectory. By this development alone, the electoral umpire has restored the shades of confidence it has lost in the hearts of citizens.
And lastly, there is the need for stakeholders in the electoral process to begin advancing education and enlightenment initiatives that will help in bringing to the fore the salient issues as contained in the Electoral Act 2022 to guide the conduct of both political parties, candidates, electorates and security agencies that have stake in the conduct of elections in the country. New ways must be evolved and speedily assemble the means through which this task must be accomplished.
Abubakar Ahmed, a Political Journalist & Researcher with Liberty Television and Radio, writes this piece from Kaduna.
