By Musa Muhammad Hadejia
HOTPEN – The bell for the 2023 general elections has rang, and the key players seem to be poised to reap the “rewards” of their “efforts” and political permutations. It is now not only a question of who is the best to win the contest, but what much can be done to ensure the positions ate clinched of grabbed. The power grabbers ate already on the prowl – leaving nothing to chances.
There are many disturbing and equally frightening outstanding issues not yet fully addressed – that can make or mar the 2023 general elections. As the entire world eyes will cast on Nigeria come February/March, 2023, the need to ensure free and fair elections is highly essential and more than desirable. It is non-negotiable at all costs.
However, of recent, there have been vituperations from various angles of Nigeria’s political climes that suggest things are “no longer at ease”. To start with, the Coalition of Nigeria’s Political Parties (CUPP) through its national president, Ekenga Ugochinyere has lamented that the INEC chairman – Professor Yakubu Mahmud may be removed from office begotevthe fays of the general elections in 2023.
Further to this, Ugochinyere decried that the Bimodal elections facility that is to be key in the success of the general elections will be ‘compromised”. He said plots for the undemocratic antics (emphasis mine), are ripe. Now if these allegations ate correct and valid (and I hope not so), then the road to 2023 is tortuous, bumpy and leading to emergency precipice.
Then INEC in a recent press statement has also lamented the fact that the Northeast and Northwest insecurity challenges may greatly hamper the smooth conduct of the 2023 elections. This by extension implies that, four months to the elections many key stakeholders are not fully comfortable with how things fare so far.
Daily Trust reports indicate that some top politicians and persons close to the seat of power in Abuja “are said to be firming up the plot as a last ditch plan, should the INEC chairman fails to accede to their demands regarding the conduct of the elections. And if this turns up to be true, it is going to be one the biggest political blunders of the century.
Then Justice Ariwoola – CJN of Nigeria at his inaugural investiture said he is committed to putting his best to the judiciary, as well as hope to achieve a lot, and make a difference in his tenure. He again prayed for non interference in the judicial system and operations.
In essence therefore, bringing all the factors together, and of course plus the indication of the possibilities of electoral violence in a number of States ( before, during and after the elections), by the major political parties – it is but a very worrisome development, of which if no effective measures are instituted, these purported tendencies and vestiges of violence will compliment the already existing and tensed insecurity challenges and thus bungle up the last hope of Nigeria for a Democratic growth and development.
Talking with the Action Alliance (AA), Jigawa state chapter chairman, Alhaji Isma’il Usman said working collaboratively and objectively by all stakeholders will pave way for a greater democratic discourse and initiatives that will make the much desired difference in Nigeria today and tomorrow.
Let us pray …
Musa Muhammad Hadejia writes from Dutse in Jigawa state and can be reached on 08036270116 or musahd2005@yahoo.com