Afrigather Regardless of the quite a few guarantees of the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) of a free, truthful, and credible election, Nigeria’s election continues to be in a decriable state. Plainly the nation has not parted methods with the lengthy historical past of flawed and controversial elections, regardless of efforts to reform the electoral system.
That is evident within the voter suppression and intimidation that characterised the gubernatorial and state meeting elections in a number of states throughout Nigeria. Experiences from Lagos revealed that some polling items within the Ajiran space of Agungi, Lekki, Eti-Osa Native Authorities Space in Lagos State have been attacked by hoodlums, who snatched poll packing containers. This amongst many different indicators are the reason why the Nigerian election continues to be horrible. Let’s check out a few of them:
Voter Suppression and Intimidation
That is usually performed by political events and their supporters to stop folks from voting for his or her opponents. In varied elements of Lagos, voters weren’t allowed to carry out their civic duties. The Labour Social gathering Guber Candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour after casting his votes mentioned there have been circumstances of voter intimidation and harassment in areas like Ojo and Oshodi/Isolo. He mentioned, “Since morning, we’ve been getting widespread studies on voters’ suppression, voters’ intimidation in locations like Kosofe. Now we have comparable conditions throughout Ikate, a number of locations, Ojo, and Laptop Village I’m listening to as effectively. We’re coping with it in our state of affairs room.” Newsmen additionally noticed that the hoodlums attacked PU 108, PU 007 and PU 028 within the space. A resident of the realm, who was attacked and flogged by the hoodlums with blood dripping down his head, mentioned he was accosted whereas attempting to solid his vote.
Snatching of poll packing containers
That is one other menace that has characterised the Nigerian elections over time. The pattern repeated itself once more right now as thugs from nowhere stormed a few of the polling items in Ijesha-Tedo, Surulere, Lagos and made away with the poll packing containers at gunpoint. A celebration agent from the opposition social gathering, PDP, who spoke to newsmen right now, defined that the “thugs have been transferring from polling unit to polling unit snatching poll packing containers and scaring the voters away at gunpoint.” Additionally, the police confirmed that some political thugs destroyed electoral supplies together with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine and different delicate supplies in Omege Ward, Ezza North Native Authorities Space of Anambra state.
This undermines the credibility of the electoral course of and makes it troublesome for sincere candidates to compete.
Lack of a clear electoral fee
The electoral fee, INEC, is meant to be impartial and neutral, however there have been studies of political interference prior to now. Confirming that the operations of the fee are usually not clear sufficient, LP Guber Candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour mentioned “At VGC, INEC officers are refusing to enter estates. They’re telling property folks to come back to the categorical highway which isn’t a authorized place for a polling unit to be.” There have been additionally studies that the Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machine for Osborne 2 property in Lagos was preloaded with votes.
These components undermine the credibility of the electoral course of and make it troublesome for sincere candidates to compete. If Nigeria desires to enhance its democratic credentials and construct a secure, affluent future, it should handle these issues and work in direction of free, truthful, and transparent elections.
