Avoiding Violence, Vote Buying In Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo elections
By: Nurudeen Dauda
Tomorrow being the 11th day of November, 2023 is the day for governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states. Governorship Elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun are off seasons in Nigeria.
As we prefer for governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states there are two undesirable “issues” that have come to dominate our elections in the recent past being elections “violence” and “Vote -buying” which often lead to inclusive elections. As a people and as a country we must find a way of getting rid off these twin menaces.
There is gainsaying the fact that our politicians due to their high level of desperation for power are essentially the triggers to elections violence . It is sad to note that, our politicians from all political divides often employ “violence” in areas that they are not politically strong as political “tactics” in order to “suppress” the votes of their opponents. This often leads to cancel votes or inclusive elections where the merging of lead is less than the cancelled votes.
The electorates must be reminded that their lives is more important than the ambition of any politician whether on the basis of ethnicity or religion and or financial benefits. No politician will let his child die for his ambition; as such no one should contemplate dying for the ambition of any politician.
Vote-buying is another issue that is very disturbing in our present-day politics. In my thought, it has more to do with the “character” of our politicians. Our politicians from all political divides are the culprits to the alleged Vote-buying and so do not expect them to stop the menace especially where they benefit from it.
Some people attribute the issue of vote buying to high levels of poverty and illiteracy among the people as factors responsible for votes selling by some electorates. In my thought, greediness among our electorates is equally responsible. For votes to be “bought” and “sold”, there must a willing buyer (a desperate politician) and a willing seller (a greedy electorate).
The electorates must be told that having sold their votes for a “token” they would have automatically lost their moral rights for demanding for better security, electricity, roads, hospitals, and schools etc.
However, our security agencies must be patriotic enough in order to stop elections violence and Votes -Buying on elections day. Our security agencies must not compromise. The security agencies must rise to the occasion. Let them be patriotic enough not to be party to the alleged crimes. They must do their work with all sincerity and patriotism.
The INEC, media, civil society organizations, religious bodies, legal practitioners, and the people of conscience have a lot of work to do in order to stop the twin menaces of elections violence and Vote -Buying. Let them continue to educate the electorates on its undesirability and consequences.
All hands must be on deck towards preventing elections violence and Vote -buying. The electoral umpire INEC should and or must remain Independent, fair, transparent, and neutral in its conduct.
May we have credible and peaceful elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states.
May God bless Nigeria!
Nurudeen writes from Kaduna, nurudeendauda24@gmail.com
