We have come full circle with another election period. In a matter of days, people would be tracing their polling booths in order to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice. There are hopes that the apathy that characterised previous elections would not repeat in this election. Many people have tended to stay away from elections because they believed that their votes did not count, which was why it would amount to a waste of time standing in the queue to vote. There have been indications over time of continuous improvement in the elections. I have always held that, but for the violent truncation of the Shehu Shagari regime on the last day of 1983 by the military, in their second and disastrous truncation of democracy in Nigeria, the nation would have moved light years away from this period when people do not believe that their votes count. There are clear indications that votes have begun to count, which is why no one should sit by and assume that it would be business as usual.
Over the years, especially since 1999, there has been improvement in the electoral process. The electoral umpire has improved over time, in spite of political interference in the past, which seems to have abated. The 2003 elections was regarded as one of the worst in this republic, where the late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmni, was said to have scored about 80 votes or so, in his home state of Ondo, when he ran as the presidential candidate of his party. Surprisingly, the late fighter for the masses, who had steadily deployed the instrument of law to fight many high-handed acts in the land, did not go to court on the matter. He had his reasons. The outcome of that election was rather disgusting. In an interview I had with veteran journalist and former governor of Ogun state, Chief Segun Osoba, after that election threw him and virtually all governors from the South-West out of office, he gave me graphic details with ridiculous figures of how that election was rigged. The election did great damage to the psyche of voters in the country. People seemed to have sunk deeper into the recesses of indifference, such that they would rather play football, watch films at home, and engage in all manner of relaxation events than go to the polling units. They lived under the impression that time at the polling unit should be deployed in something else, since the elections were predetermined. The good thing is that such abnormality has not repeated over the years. There has been steady improvement with the deployment of card reader and the vigilance of voters. If it were not so, there would not have been the unprecedented routing of an incumbent president in 2015. Nigerians do not expect anything less than another transparent election and results this time around.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must do all within its power to ensure that it chucks up more credibility to itself. Nigerians have generally begun to believe that their votes can count, in spite of the slight setback with the recent gubernatorial election in Osun, where it would seem that the commission fell short of expectations. The matter is in court, and the court, being the final arbiter in such matters, would do the needful. The courts have always played leading roles in elections in that state. Before the advent of the immediate past governor, His Excellency Raul Aregbesola, there was Governor Oyinlola on the seat before the courts decided that he was not the rightful occupant of the position. It is, therefore, too early to conclude on the Osun matter. The court has not yet spoken. There should be a glimmer of hope that the commission would not allow such seeming misdemeanor to repeat in the coming elections. There is heightened interest by citizens to collect their permanent voter’s card (PVC), an indication that the voter turnout will surpass the 30 per cent that became the figure in some recent by-elections. Although such elections are not known to be have the full compliments of massive voter turnout. However, the poll scheduled to commence on February 16, 2019, is expected to draw large voters given that it is a general election and major positions are at stake. Many states would vote for governors, some of whom are seeking another tenure, like the president. All seats at the Senate and House of Representatives are vacant. Those in the state houses are also waiting for new or returning occupants. The implication is that politicians at all levels would mobilise their supporters to the polling booths to vote them into office. The presidential candidates are traversing the nation, canvassing for votes and convincing the electorate to press their thumbs on the segment of the ballot paper that has their party emblem. There is also hope that the number of void votes would dramatically reduce given that this would be the sixth general election in this dispensation.
There had been large number of void votes in the past. Voter education has rather been on the low side, perhaps the parties or the electoral commission rank it low in order of priorities. The voter, whose vote is voided, has embarked on a fruitless exercise but the irony is that such a voter would never know that they stood on the queue in vain. Greater attention should be paid to voter education by the parties that are direct beneficiaries, and the electoral commission, whose voter education unit seems to be underfunded or simply negligent of its duty. The wasted effort of void votes also translates to votes that do not count. Such votes could turn the tables, if they were properly cast.
I look forward to this election with the optimism that votes would count, and that election violence would not rear its ugly head. I expect to see graceful losers and magnanimous winners. Power is transient. It does not last forever.