…the frontrunners are also becoming desperate to get as many groups and voters generally to themselves. This is further exacerbated by our agelong divisive issues of ethnicity and religion, which are rearing their heads again. In an attempt to sway support, candidates are appealing to the sentiments of: ‘I’m your own, give me your votes, and I’ll treat you specially’, reminiscent of the provincial and cabalistic government of President Buhari.
Last week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), disclosed that it has 93.4 million voters in its voters’ register. Not all these people will vote due to some intervening forces or the other, but it marks a significant leap in the registration of voters, in comparison to previous elections. It also shows that voter consciousness is improving day by day, in addition to other factors that will make the next presidential election the most competitive and dramatic.
With improved technology, as allowed by the 2022 Electoral Act, came the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which have made rigging nearly impossible, on paper, so far with the exception of some governorship elections, even though the presidential election is hugely different from governorship elections. In the past, massive rigging was perpetuated by politicians who used all means — fair and foul — to help themselves to power. Those so elected are still in power lording it over us, but in the course of time and with improved technology, the bad eggs masquerading as leaders will be weeded out. I’m that optimistic. Already there are indications that it is no longer business as usual. The days of writing results in private residences or election results changing enroute collation centres are over.
This election means a lot to those contesting and voters. It has turned former friends into foes; that is Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; and Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, all tearing themselves apart to get ahead of the other, and voters are eager to see their votes count. The social media and burgeoning youth population are huge reservoirs of voters to draw from. The youth, who now constitute a quarter of the voting populace of 37 million according to INEC, are eager to exercise their franchise, which they had been systematically denied over the years.
The Peter Obi factor has been a big push in the ongoing presidential campaign. Obi, who is turning out to be a disruptor, has also become a rallying figure for the youth, who are vociferous on social media and aggressive on the field. It is not a surprise that he is also receiving pot-shots from the conventional political parties and gladiator-candidates like Atiku and Tinubu. At no time since the return of civil rule in 1999 has the nation seen a ‘pragmatic’ candidate giving established figures a run for their money in political campaign, as it is today. Obi is the real game-changer, the real deal that may upset the apple cart. Not to talk of the Kwankwasiyya movement giving the Northern political establishment reasons to rethink its campaign strategy.
By this time in 2015, pundits could predict where victory was tilting towards. That was the era of the Buhari phenomenon. However, with this election, no one has a crystal ball clarity to categorically predict the winner.
As such, while the leading candidates are scrambling to outdo one another in a desperate bid to become president, they are utilising everything at their disposal, including patronage, material things and monetary inducements to court and draw voters and influencers to themselves.
Understandably, the frontrunners are also becoming desperate to get as many groups and voters generally to themselves. This is further exacerbated by our agelong divisive issues of ethnicity and religion, which are rearing their heads again. In an attempt to sway support, candidates are appealing to the sentiments of: ‘I’m your own, give me your votes, and I’ll treat you specially’, reminiscent of the provincial and cabalistic government of President Buhari.
In this category, many of them have been caught pants down. From Tinubu’s ‘emilokan’ to Atiku’s alleged rhetoric to Northern sentiment during his Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) engagement to Peter Obi’s subtle appeal to Christian voters. All of them, without exception, are guilty by association.
Therefore, for the players in the industry, the 2023 election is a make or mar one. Atiku has been contesting for the presidency since 2003 or since he was in his 50s. Now as an old man in his 70s, this is probably the last chance he has before he throws in the towel and bows out.
So, for him, it is either now or never, supposedly. The same thing applies to Tinubu, who claimed the presidency has been his lifelong ambition, has thrown a lot of money into it and is equally advanced in age. Although, Obi is relatively young, there is no candidate from the South-East that has a fanatical following and is as acceptable across the country as he is.
As such, while the leading candidates are scrambling to outdo one another in a desperate bid to become president, they are utilising everything at their disposal, including patronage, material things and monetary inducements to court and draw voters and influencers to themselves.
While their campaigns are about personal attacks, whose corruption is bigger and direct insults, the slippery slope of the economy, the sky-rocketing costs of food and reduction in the quality of lives, against the impunity around us, do not matter much to them or so it seems.
Look at the embarrassing revelations by a so-called former Atiku associate, Mike Achimugu, about diverting contracts and that of Tinubu’s Support Group Coordinator in Kano State, Baffa Dan Agundi, on how Tinubu’s daughter gave him the sum of N10 million as appreciation for the success of Tinubu’s outing in Kano. There is no length the candidates and their henchmen would not go to win hearts and minds.
So, if you think the election is about the progress of Nigeria or good governance, think twice. With what we are seeing now, the patriotic ones are not yet born, and national interest is still a mirage.
END
Be the first to comment