2023 General elections: Checking against violence amidst primaries
Electoral violence remains one key soar attribute of elections in Nigeria. That the 2023 elections would be expunged from same have not shown any reflections. The likelihood of such deformities not taking place would only be borne by enlightened democratic culture which would inform citizens conducting and moderating themselves with decorum, without being compelled by force. This seems to be far from the Country, and as such, expectations of violence should be very much in view.
However, since the democratic culture in the Country is still very poor, and as may be said, still far from the majority, the possibilities of violence which cannot be ruled out, must demand that the Government and all relevant bodies put in measures to prevent and mostly, fight to repeal such misadventures which could disrupt election processes and its credibility.
As political parties have commenced their primaries, flashlights of clashes have begun to echo with bellicose show of aggression. Pandemonium at the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took the stage in Ogun State on Wednesday, 25th May, 2022, with sporadic gunshots that rented the air. journalists and party delegates who had stormed the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, would only have to scamper for safety as loyalists of two governorship aspirants, Oladipupo Adebutu and Jimi Lawal reportedly turned to clash over the delegate list to be adopted for the exercise.
According to report, the exercise which commenced around 5:00p.m was disrupted following a shouting match and clash over the delegate list. It was reported trouble started shortly after the PDP electoral panel, headed by Prof Akase Sorkaa had announced the mode of conduct of the exercise. The clash which lasted for over 30 minutes saw security operatives helpless while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) temporarily relocated from the hall.
Recall that earlier projecting the disposition of stakeholders to foul play, INEC had in February warned political parties of resort to violence in the build-up towards the 2023 General elections. The National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Barr. Festus Okoye at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop for the Commission’s staff of Voter Education and Publicity including the heads of Departments and Publicity Affairs Officers from the Northern States on Strategic Communications and Operationalisation of the Communication Policy facilitated by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES-Nigeria), had while commenting on such subjects bearing relevance to the regulation of conducts said, “Political parties are reminded that they must conduct valid primaries, in the venue chosen by them and communicated to the Commission. The primaries must take place in the constituency where the election will take place and on the day indicated in their letter to the Commission and using the mode of primaries voluntarily chosen by them. Those that engage in ‘trucking,’ ‘storage’ of Permanent Voters Cards and corruption of the electoral process must realise that the Commission has a robust clean-up process that detects multiple and double registrants. Double or multiple registrations whether innocently done or not is a violation of the law that attracts sanctions.”
It is pertinent that the Government leave up to expectations to ensure the sacrosance of smooth transition of power is achieved through the instruments of election adjudged free, fair, and credible as the standard calls for under a democracy. The moderate use of security forces to tame the display of violence by charlatans who would only have it the bellicose way is pertinent. Fear of violence and insecurity have formed a sensation around the 2023 General elections which stakeholders have continued to express worries about, as potential threat to disrupt the credibility of the election. Such fear has been noted as a potent force which may deter even citizens from the polls, and as such, a pre-imposed disenfranchisement. It is important for the Government to put all measures in place to dispel such forces capable of disorganising the peaceful conduct of the elections.
More importantly, it is essential for political stakeholders to conduct themselves in the most acceptable mode of conduct in decorum, to give civility its utmost expression during the elections. The prevailing gimmicks of bellicose dimensions of contests have only accorded the Nigerian political space status of perception as a warfront contested by thugs and miscreants, who only believe having it the undue way is the most suitable approach. It is thus, important for political gladiators to call their supporters to order for the course of civility. Their silence over belligerent face-off between and among support groups may be tantamount to an approval to such conducts. Hence, it lies on political gladiators to, in their posture as event makers in the political landscape, bring their supporters under the sociological sensations of moderation as they drum their supports for electoral aspirations, henceforth as the primary take course.
