POLITICAL PROGRESS AND ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA – THE NEED FOR REFORMS

Source: thewillnigeria.com

The whole essence of election in a democracy is to give legitimacy to political office holders and make them accountable to the electorate. This underscores the importance of free and credible elections. Although the elections in Nigeria have come and gone, it is important to review some of the merging issues and learn the necessary lessons for the future. The elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states among other come easily to mind. The case of Rivers sate was particularly worrisome where elections were said to be marred by massive irregularities. Never has there been a time in recent history when impunity and lawlessness has characterize the processes, structures and outcomes of elections like the last election in Rivers State. You do not need to be a political researcher to find littered in media (online and offline) references to the collapse of the whole electoral system in Rivers State during the last election.

There is a lot to learn by relevant stakeholders unpacking the factors that contributed to the worrisome outcome of the elections in that state. Local and international observers have voiced concerns as to the level of violence and electoral malpractice that occurred in Rivers State. The leader of African Centre for Leadership Strategies and Development, Mr Humphrey Bekaren said ''we request all lovers of democracy to join us in calling for the outright cancellation of the phony election. Unless this is done, we would have sown the seed that could eventually grow into providing a shade of fear and death over us.''

These concerns deserve to be addressed for obvious reasons. There is need not to create a precedent with the abysmal level of decency, insecurity and loss of life that took place during the election. If a society allows impunity to thrive, it has sown the seed of destruction given that future contenders will be hard push to abide by the rules knowing that winning at all cost is the one and only rule of the electoral game. This will breed violence and huge loss of lives.  If elections in civilised societies are allowed to be a Hobbesian war of every man against every man, then leadership becomes a survival of the fittest and the destruction of the unfit. Can we afford to allow tyranny of election exist in a democracy? After 16 years of the new democratic dispensation, can we talk of electoral progress if we allow this electoral anomaly to stand? What are we creating for posterity?

In every society, the death of 99 innocent citizens will cause an outrage. Even when natural disasters occur, decent societies mourn the loss of even one citizen. But in the last gubernatorial election in Rivers State, 99 citizens were murdered and their murderers are free and unperturbed. Some of the murderers are even gloating on their electoral successes and taking offices of leadership. The shenanigan and brigandry of the protagonist of electoral mayhem in Rivers State is putrefying. How can leaders be blood guilty and be expected to lead efficiently and effectively? There is bloodguilt in the land and unless justice is given to the 99 souls that perished, we have sold the state to the God of injustice and death.

Democracy only works when there is rule of law. The law has been trampled upon and thrown to the dogs with impunity. People are behaving as if they are above the law. In fact, they are for now, unless the law grows teeth and bites back. Justice purveyed by the law must be allowed to prevail. If the law cannot be enforced, sooner or later, the state will descend into lawlessness and chaos.

The case for electoral reforms by the Buhari-led administration is absolutely proven. This electoral reform will start by revisiting the last election and correcting the electoral defects in it. Buhari should not pander to people filled with cynicism who cast doubt to the ability of Nigeria getting it's electoral processes right. Those who question his motive and will rather want he allows the status quo with all its fraud may fill the social media and other public fora to voice outrage to change. As a leader who cannot be cowed or shy away from making difficult decisions, I hope Buhari will stand his ground and salvage our electoral process. A public enquiry into the violence and killings in the last Rivers State election should be conducted and people found guilty must be punished to serve as a deterrent to others in the future.

Written by Geoff Nkemakolam.

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