THE 2023 general elections  are  few weeks away. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Nigerians would decide the political fate of the gladiators, who are on the campaign field in search of endorsements from the citizens.

     THE Hope , however, expects that this election would be a watershed in the nation’s electioneering history and experience, and produce a Representative/Followership democratic experience rather than the Lord/Vassal relationship that pervades the nation’s ‘democratic’ interactions. Certain issues have however been observed that may affect the participation of Nigerians beyond the social media platforms in the forthcoming elections. Unfortunately, the ecology of election administration exhibits the promotion of political apathy, come February 2023.

IN the first instance, we observe that even though the total number of registered voters in Nigeria may have risen from 84 million to 96.2 million, many Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have not been collected by many Nigerians. Ondo State, which boasts of 2.047.598 registered voters have 313,200 uncollected PVCs; there are 460,643 uncollected PVCs in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as at December 24 and 1,693,963 uncollected PVCs in Lagos State as of December 29. The  unsavory statistics is recurring in all the states of the federation. These worrisome statistics portend great danger for this year’s general elections. In the first place, many duly registered Nigerians are being disenfranchised, while the temptations to lure INEC officials to part ways with these cards for monetary gain is also high, and not impossible.

BEYOND this, the various arson and attacks on INEC facilities may lead to the eventual destruction of these cards, thereby preventing participation in the elections. While we, at The Hope, encourage Nigerians to troop out and collect their PVCs, the various state governments can also initiate short term policies that would encourage the citizens to collect this vital voting tool. Political parties, religious organisations, the media and civil societies should also educate Nigerians on the need to collect their PVCs for the forthcoming elections and encourage them to shun political apathy. It is also important for INEC to develop strategies that would ease the process of the collection of the PVCs. With the data of electorates at their disposal, technology can also be employed in the dissemination of information to the people on how, where and when to collect their PVCs.

THE Hope  painfully observes that the number of attacks on INEC’s facilities in the past four months had risen to seven and spread over five states of the federation. These occurrences of arson also portend more dangers than the destruction of INEC election data and equipment. A tactical warfare against the conduct of the elections is already rife in five states, and the figures may increase, except proactive security measures are taken to nip the situation in the bud. Already, psychological violence is being waged against the electorate to dissuade them from venturing into the voting exercise, and this is a negative turn in the nation’s democracy.

ADDED to these attacks on INEC are the inflammatory remarks of gladiators and supporters in the forthcoming elections. While it is legitimate for political parties and their candidates to solicit for votes, we strongly state that it is unhealthy to regurgitate ‘information’, letters, banters, wisecracks, songs, histories and or passing remarks that promote violence in the political system. We have insisted in the past, and still reiterate that campaigns should be issue based, stipulation of clear objectives and intentions, as well as appraisable programmes for the people. Character assassination at this point is not only diversionary but inflammatory and may promote events that hinder large voters’ turnout.

WE are also concerned that increased cost of living, ill-timed cash change policy and the attendant backdoor cashless policy may promote impoverishment, and thus susceptibility to vote merchandise especially at the grassroots. While vote buying has been seen by some politicians as getting supports by other means, we insist that this end does not justify the means. Vote buying is unethical, promotes corruption, erodes political accountability, and promotes inefficiency in governance.

IT is the expectation  and responsibility of all Nigerians to make the general elections violence free and successful. The global attention is on the most populous  black Nation in the world  as it hobbles towards the election  and it cannot and must fail the litmus test.

THE  2023 elections are too vital to the development and existence of Nigeria and must not be trivialized. We therefore implore the citizens, government, INEC, political parties and other groups in Nigeria to do all things legally possible and contribute our quota to the success of this forthcoming elections. Nigeria shall be great indeed and in truth.