Ndidiamaka EdeElectoral malpractice has become a common trend in Nigeria’s political system and perhaps, has been the reason for the observed political apathy exhibited by the citizens over the years. When it comes to going out during elections to exercise the civic duty of voting, it has become a come occurrence to see many people who are reluctant about doing that.
This is blamed on electoral rigging, ballot box smuggling, vote-buying, and many other forms of electoral violations, which discourage the voters who often express the feeling that their votes do not count at the end of every poll.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelOn many occasions, people are always making such statements like: ‘The winner has been decided already’. ‘It is still going to be what it used to be, so why should I bother myself? Will my vote count?’
Even though Nigeria recently has witnessed an unprecedented turn out of people for voters’ registration, many are still skeptical about what will happen in 2023, considering the outcomes of some recent elections. First, the primary elections of political parties ahead of 2023; the Ekiti gubernatorial election in June, and most recently, the Osun gubernatorial election that was alleged to have witnessed massive vote-buying.
Notwithstanding the electoral offences punishable by law that was released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prior to the Osun 2022 governorship election date to ensure a free and fair election in the state, there were reports of vote-buying.
According to reports, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arrested three suspected vote buyers ( Adeyemo Bahir, Kazeem Jimoh, and Abidogu Ismali) on Saturday 16th July, at polling unit 002, Ward 2, Ababu Isale Osun Osogbo.
Also, CLEEN Foundation non-governmental organisation accused security operatives who worked at polling stations during the Osun election of failing to arrest agents of political parties that were openly involved in buying votes for as low as N3000. The foundation had about 60 citizen observers deployed across the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State to monitor how security agencies and other critical stakeholders complied with electoral guidelines governing the conduct of the elections and they observed massive vote buying.
So the question is why do people sell their conscience and vote for money?
According to a Twitter space discussion hosted by Daily Trust on 16 July 2022 with the title” #Osun Decides 2022: do you think INEC is ready for coming 2023 election?”, different speakers explained the reasons behind vote buying.
Aisha Akali, one of the speakers stated that electoral malpractices have reduced drastically when compared to what it was before, therefore, INEC is ready for the coming 2023 election. According to her, the question should be: “Are the electorates ready for the coming 2023 election? As the only electoral violation that remains to be tackled is the issue of vote buying which is quite dependent on the masses to be eliminated. Akali also pointed out how she happened to be a member of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) appointed in 2011 to sensitize the people down to the grass root on how to exercise their franchise through which she understood that the main reason why people collect money at polling units is “Lack of trust for candidates”
“There is the issue of vote-buying, and there is also the issue of fake promises. The same sets of politicians go to the people once the election approaches, promising them basic amenities, and when they occupy positions, would leave the poor masses that elected them in suffering. The masses having understood the politicians’ tactics, have decided to be collecting the little token offer to them as inducement at polling units as no candidates can be trusted” she stated.
Expressing a contrary view, Ibrahim Rabiu argued that “INEC Is the brain behind vote-buying” as the commission has refused to make vote-buying a crime. “INEC may have put in plans, but there is no implementation. People who are engaged in vote-buying have never been punished. INEC is never ready for any election as the commission has been the one fighting democracy and has in many cases aided election rigging,” Ibrahim lamented.
Another speaker, Odale Eloja, a civil servant conceived the main reason behind vote-buying to be “indiscipline.”
“Discipline means doing the right thing in the midst of temptation. Poverty is not necessarily the reason why people sell their rights and vote for money. It is absolutely a Lack of self-discipline and ignorance of the effect of the act” he said
Sada Dansabo a speaker from Kaduna State, said “Actually, electoral malpractices have reduced drastically. It is no more what it used to be previously when the smuggling of ballot boxes, thugs influencing electorates against their wills, etc. are at high rates. The issue of vote-buying is absolutely dependent on the masses to say no to desperate politicians who have subjected the people to abject poverty to consistently manipulate them by buying their votes. One thing is getting the PVC and another is using it to vote for the right candidate. It is time Nigerians stop approaching elections with sentiments, ethnicity, regionalism, and religion. Selling conscience and votes have drastic effects on individual, community, and national development. Is that what we want for our children?” Dansabo asked.
Obviously, elections should be a way of punishing bad leaders and not the other way round. Both the citizens and INEC have a role to play in the process of mitigating vote buying. INEC should consider punishing those caught in such an act.
On the other hand, Nigerians should know that it is their right to be part of the electoral process and not be mere recipients. Best candidates in this case should be considered and not best parties.
Patience Ndidiamaka Ede is a Prime Business Africa Journalism Mentee
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