A Do or Die Politics: Chances of Presidential Election in Nigeria Becoming Slimmer Due to Violence

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Another sphere of challenge and discomfort being faced by Nigerians following the short comings lately as presidential election draws nearer the more. Not just a mere saying that there is a high chance of the presidential election not holding at the accustomed time it has been from time immemorial following the violence and how insecure most part of the country is at the moment.

At least 50 attacks by armed groups against staff and facilities of the electoral commission (Inec) have been recorded between the last election in 2019 and the end of 2022. Most have taken place in the south-east, which is in the grip of secessionist agitation by various elements, especially the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) source

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Looking at how unhealthy the country is in insecurity and economy wise,there is to a greater extent that the election wouldn't once again be a free and fair one again with the onlook of things at the moment. The destruction of election properties and buildings carried out by thugs in most of the Nigerian areas where the election is meant to yield more fruit as these places has the highest number of people which on them creates the results to be seen but as things stands, the derailing of the election is foreseen.

According to the tallies given by the local media in rural areas there has been series of attacks in south-east Nigeria on INEC officers(Independent National Electoral Commission), Nigeria forces most especially the cops as there is high number of more than 100 police officers killed. The attacks rumored to be coming from the IPOBs(Indigenous people of Biafrans) and the ESN(Eastern Security Network).

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James Barnett, a researcher affiliated with the Hudson Institute in Washington DC, said insecurity remained a significant challenge in the south-east. “This is seen in the degree to which residents still adhere to sit-at-home orders, not out of sympathy to the militants, but out of fear for their lives,” he said. “It seems clear that militants, whatever their motivations, remain capable of terrorising ordinary Nigerians in the region with concerning consistency source

Worsening this attack is seen on the rumored attackers denying their act but to an extent their shown works exhibited shows an accusing finger on the attack. The fact that the ring leader of IPOBs has been held captive by Nigerian government for quite some time now has prompted series of responses from his supporters coming in the form of them declaring once in a week a compulsory sit at home which delays and affects the work space of INEC officials and also slows down economic activities.

IPOB being indivisible and concrete in their actions cannot at the moment be taken in an undercover. Looking at how things stand at the moment, opposition leaders are hiding in IPOBs to do their mess by hiring thugs to execute their activities.

Talking about north-East for up to 13years now the security forces are fighting the jihadists which on a constant base attack the villagers and states surrounding them. This being the case the INEC officials has little or no access to these areas which automatically denies the remaining villagers living in that area the access to participate in the forth coming election which is closer and it's situated to hold on the 25th of February 2023.

Elections have also been characterised by low turnout, which dropped from 44% in the 2015 presidential election to 35% in 2019 source

Looking at these conditions and more how then will election be conducted and if it will it's not gonna be free and fair following the disenfranchisement prompted by insecurity and economy.

Reference
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/31/violence-in-nigeria-risks-derailing-forthcoming-presidential-elections



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