The Nation Newspaper

Tag: elections

  • Promise of free and fair elections not enough

    Sir: President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his commitment to a free and fair election come 2019.  Based upon his promises, eminent Nigerians including Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakr III has called on Nigerians to hold Buhari to his words. Nonetheless, I want to point it out that holding Buhari to his word is not enough to guarantee free and fair elections.

    The above is premixed on the elections thus far under President Buhari’s watch. May God grant the soul of late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua a perfect peace. He was about the only president committed to free and fair elections. Jonathan also followed suit when he took the reign of government after the demise of Yar’Adua. Thus far, President Buhari has not shown any commitment to free and fair election and this is quite unfortunate. Before he won election to become president, he tasted rigging to the extent that he ordered his supporters not only to be vigilant during the polls but asked them to police their votes. Many of Buhari’s supporters before 2015 therefore believed that election process in Nigeria would be sanitized if Buhari became president. First, because of what he experienced. Two, because of his perceived love for the greatness of the nation.

    However, many have been disappointed by the conduct of elections under Buhari so far. Instead of moving forward, the nation electoral process is going from bad to worse with the unfortunate and degrading slangs like ‘vote and get money to cook stew’ among others. The collaboration of security operatives and electoral body to favour ruling party is another feature of the elections so far.

    So if President Buhari promises free and fair elections in this context, one should think before holding him for his words as the Sultan urged. Unless, there is clear evidence that their votes would count, next election will witness a low turnout never experienced in this nation.

    If we are to get free and fair  election next year, opposition parties have to make it clear to the ruling government as Buhari did in the past that nothing sort of free and fair election can sustain the corporate existence of this nation beyond 2019.

    Nigeria has a long way to go in achieving free and fair elections. Our leaders have seen political power as a pot of honey. They are not ready to forgo it. That is why elections have been war in Nigeria. One only prays that God will give us a leader that will sanitize the process. The crops of leaders in Nigeria today are too myopic and closed their eyes at history but obsessed with ephemeral power and its ancillaries than to give Nigerians a say in who rules them. This is why once they leave government, their memories are obliterated and consigned into abyss of thrash.

     

    • Adewuyi Adegbite, Ayekooto05@gmail.com

  • Elections, migration  and power

    It  sounds far  fetched to link migration of people  with  the quest for power in any  democracy. This is because on the face of it migrants are like gypsies who never stay put and are not likely to be around or registered for elections if and when due. I  remember  a favorite  quotation of mine  that  I  pasted  on the wall of my room at  Unife  that  says ‘Time,  you  old gypsy man, will  you not stay, put  up your caravan, just for one day?  But  that  now is an ancient myth. Nowadays in the  global  village we live in migrants dominate  global politics  in a way  and manner  never  seen before.  In  recent times it was a phenomenon  started by the invasion of Iraq in  2003 in the Middle East but  it blossomed into the violence of the Arab Spring in 2011  and crystallised  in    a desperate  avalanche  of  migrants  heading to Europe, fleeing the war  in Syria to dislodge its president.

    That  led to the emergence of ISIS  and the massive Arab influx  into Europe through Greece and Italy as  well  as Hungary. That  has had  a massive influence on  recent  elections and distribution of power in European  nations based on those for and those against migration. We shall  see  more of that later. It  is the import of  migration on past  and coming elections in both the US  and  Nigeria  that  attract  my attention today and since elections involve  voters in a nation I  want  to discuss the  issue of census and  migration  and how both will impact the 2019 presidential  elections  in  Nigeria as well  as the 2020 presidential  elections in  the  US.  In  Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari  came to power  in  2015  on a crest of popularity based on his reputation for discipline, integrity and  huge potential  and experience  to fight corruption  and  create  security in the face of  persistent  Boko  Haram  terrorism. In the US, President Donald  Trump  came to power on a bandwagon of anti establishment and anti  political  correctness and  the nationalist creed which  he finally agreed this week  to – Make  America Great Again. Both  leaders  and gentlemen  are to defend  their records and performance in their two nations in 2019  in Nigeria and 2020  in the US respectively. Both  of course  are confident they  have done well but they  have not become complacent about it. They  are  both looking at the population and its shifts in terms of migration and registration of voters as well as both the increased enfranchisement as well as disenfranchisement of voters,  if  possible so that they can get more votes than their contestants and  competitors  to stay in power for another term of office. That  is the crux of the matter  we shall  look at  today.

    In  Nigeria the Boko  Haram menace is still on  but  the President feels that the  terrorists have been cut to size  and are operating more like guerrillas. He  feels that the fact that they  are not involved in regular battle shows that they have been vanquished. Yet they  still  use  girls as suicide  bombers to kill innocent people in Maiduguri  near Army barracks.  Boko  Haram  still operates in the former  North  East  from where six  states  were carved out after the census of  1974 put the population at 15m. The states are Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe.  The  North  East of Nigeria is a vast  area but it is very  arid and there  was great controversy  that it could sustain  the census  figure  given  for it then  and even more  so  now. Especially  now  that we  have the Fulani Herdsmen migration for  water  to the south  and the clashes between  the Fulani  herdsmen  and  farmers  who  have been killed and maimed in states like Benue and  Plateau so  much  that the governor of Benue left the ruling party because of lack of support from Abuja. Although the presidency  has attributed the Fulani herdsmen and farmers clash to the search for water  and  the influx of non Nigerians from Libya  after the collapse of the Gaddafi  regime there  is no denying that the tension between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers will affect the security and voting turn out in the affected areas in both North East  and Middle Belt of Nigeria. It  is pertinent that the Fulani  herdsmen umbrella organization  has stated clearly that it is in support of the reelection of the incumbent president which makes the organization not only a migrant welfare body  but a powerful political  organ  on its own. But  the organization should look at what it is up against in the main opponent of the president in PDP’s  Abubakar  Atiku  and his running  mate  Peter Obi  a  former governor  from the East  and  an  Igbo.

    In  terms of  migration in Nigeria, not many ethnic groups can  match the Igbos. Whilst  the Fulani  herdsmen or cattle Fulani  are looking for water down south with or without grazing rights,  the Igbos are all  over  Nigeria  looking for  business in the North especially  and mostly in Lagos. A  true census in Lagos  state  will show  the population strength of  the Igbos  and if that  is translated to voting rights, it is bound to favor any party they belong to. So  the  Atiku/ Obi  PDP ticket  is a potent one that  the

    APC must  strategise  to confront and contain and  the ruling  party needs to dust  off not only census figures on migration in Nigeria but also  sales figures of major marketing companies who  know where their consumers are all over the nation. Such  data  may  be more productive  and votes yielding than  campaign  promises this time around.

    Interestingly  the 2020  census in the US  is  already  being targeted by the Republicans so  that they  can get  rid  of migrants  so that  they  cannot  vote for  the Democrats who  are the usual party of such migrants and blacks –  that is if you believe  the Liberals or Democratic  Party of the US. This is because a new form on census form  asks  for citizenship  and the Democrats say  this is not necessary. I remember reading  an article by the Obama Administration Attorney  General  Eric  Holder  that said census is for those  living in the nation for planning and economic purposes and not for citizens.  Now  with  Trump’s ant migration war it  tallies  that  the Republicans will want to get the votes by cutting off  illegal migrants who may not want to expose themselves by  coming  to  vote. Which  really is difficult  to  understand  for a Nigerian like me who thinks that if you are not a Nigerian  you  should  not vote.

    Yet  in Nigeria all  residents turn out to vote at  our  voting centers including  mostly Okada riders and security  maigads  from Niger,  Chad    and neighboring  nations, who  at times outnumber their  Nigerian  bosses  and  other  bona fide  Nigerians  at polling stations at election time. So  really  who is doing the right thing here between the US  and Nigeria?  I  wonder  what  the professors at  INEC  have to  say  on this as we approach  the 2019 elections. That is if it is not too late. Once again long live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • Parties pick Duke, Mimiko, Ezekwesili, Al-Mustapha, others as presidential candidates

    More presidential candidates were unveiled yesterday, the last day of primaries according to the Independent national Electral Commission (INEC) schedule of activities for the elections.

    Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke was elected the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Pary (SDP0 in Abuja. He defeated former minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana.

    Former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Miniko was elected the Presiodential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)  in Abuja at its national convention.

    The presidential hopeful said he would levearage the party’s social democratic ideological orientation to convince Nigerians to work with him.

    According to him, with the party’s pedigree and those of its leading lights, he would not have trouble convincing Nigerians why the party is the preferred option for them in the elections of 2019.

    “As a social democratic party, committed to the enduring principles of good governance, utilitarianism and a restructured federal system for Nigeria, ZLP is set to capture the imagination of Nigerians.

    “The party will lead the process of renewing the Republic.

    “I am resolutely committed to a programme of restructuring the Nigerian federation.

    Mimiko urged members of the party not to be intimidated by the big parties, but concentrate on the size and weight of ZLP ideas.

    “We must focus on our compassion for the weak and the poor in society.

    “We must focus on the clarity of vision and thought that we bring to the fore for Nigerians, as we go into the elections,” he said.

    Mimiko had earlier declared his presidential ambition on Labour Party platform but defected to the ZLP.

    The Chief Returning Officer and the Chairman of the party Dan Nwanyanwu said Mimiko fulfilled all the party’s requirements and obeyed the constitution of the party.

    The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) yesterday adopted Dr Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education and co-convener “Bring Back Our Girls movement”, as its presidential candidate.

    The party also re-elected its National Chairman Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima and other national officers for another four years.

    Speaking after her endorsement as the party’s presidential candidate, Ezekwesili said if voted as the country’s president, she would ensure an all-inclusive government.

    She also promised to offer equal opportunities to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or gender.

    Ezekwesili, a former Vice President of the World Bank, said the 2019 elections would be a defining moment and would provide opportunity to unite and galvanise the potentials of the country.

    The 55-year-old Ezekwesili christened her campaign mantra as “Project Rescue Nigeria”.

    “I bring you a message of hope, that I and millions of supporters will march in solidarity to ensure that Nigeria gets a new focused leadership in 2019,” she said.

    Duke polled 812 votes to defeat Gana who polled 611 votes

    The Convention Returning Officer, Dr Abdul Isiaq said Mr. John Dara, scored 104 votes. Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher 72 votes and former Ambassador Felix Osakwe scored 10 votes

    Duke said “we will reawaken in Nigerians that yearning that we are destined to be, but we cannot do this alone.

    “What divides us is inadequacy and wants, because in the face of this survival of the fittest comes in, which ought not to be so because there is more than enough for everyone.

    “This is what good governance is all about and that is what I stand for.”

    The National Action Council (NAC) elected its National Chairman Dr Rabia Cengiz as its presidential candidate.

    Cengiz emerged through a consensus vote by the delegates to the party’s National Convention in Abuja.

    Cengiz said “the men may have the money but we women have the hearts. There is a saying that they are rich in the pockets buy their hearts are poor.

    “Nigerians need mothers with good hearts that can build this country, the way we have built good men and women.”

    Cengiz said she was ready to deliver quality leadership and real change that Nigerians had been waiting for, if elected in 2019.

    The Accord alos yesterday unanimously presented the party’s flag to Isaac Ositelu to contest against President Muhammadu Buhari

    At its national convention in Abuja the delegates from the thirty six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ratified Ositelu to be the party’s candidate.

    In his acceptance speech Ositelu said he took interest in the presidential election because he believes that Nigeria should be mindful of the kind of future to bequeath the upcoming generations.

    He lamented the high level of joblessness, lack of basic infrastructures like road and social safety facilities in the country, adding that if elected, the government of Accord will create six million jobs yearly. This he said, is achievable if the government has both the right policy and political will to implement such policies.

    Former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha has clinched the presidential ticket of the People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN).

    According to the Chairman, PPN Presidential Primary Elections Committee,  Mr. Dare Adekolu, Al-Mustapha won with 3,564,262 votes to beat Dr. Imuetinyan Igbinnosa (2,183,856 votes) and Chief Isiaka Olorunnimbe (1,400,755 votes).

    Adekolu who collated election results from the 36 states and the FCT at the PPN Presidential Primaries/2018 National Convention in Ado Ekiti, declared Al-Mustapha as the party’s presidential candidate.

    Adekolu, who is Ekiti State PPN Chairman, urged party members and other Nigerians to support and vote for the party’s flagbearer for the 2019 presidential election.

    He said: “PPN has come to redeem Nigeria. PPN has come to save Nigeria from poverty, lack, unemployment and underdevelopment, hence the need for support”.

    In his acceptance speech, Al-Mustapha, who was represented by Mr. Zakaria Husseini, promised Nigerians good leadership and promised to salvage the country and put it back on the path of growth and prosperity.”

    PPN National Chairman Razak Eyiowuawi, said “the popularity, wealth of experience and Major Al-Mustapha and his appeal to a wide spectrum will help the party to victory. PPN is a force to reckon with. We are going into this election which we believe we can win with positive mind”.

  • Elections, eligibility and power

    Acquisition of power is the ultimate  goal  of  politicians  and global leaders in all aspects of human endeavor.  In  my first course on political    science  at  UNIFE,  I  was  told  that  politics  is

    ubiquitous, a strange word for a fresh  undergraduate then.  Today I  want  to show that it has taken almost    a lifetime  for me to understand  the import of that  simple  definition, both contextually  and conceptually.

    I  will  do this with the examples of the issues  of the day on the day’s topic. I want to take on election issues both  at home and abroad in terms of eligibility of politicians and power seekers  for  power to lord  authority  over their fellow  citizens  and examine their claims and credentials in their quest  for power. We  shall  also  look  at  the way and manner that those  who  control  elections  as well  as those pick  the powerful  seeking authority,  go  about  their  delicate  and very powerful  role. Which  of course    must  be    in  accordance with the political  culture of each environment  and  bearing in mind the crucial fact  that  this must  be done within the ambits of  the rule  of  law in  each  society; and  also  noting quite importantly that  the law flows  from the tradition  and customs of all

    societies and nations  globally .

    Given  our  paradigm  we  look  at  events in  Pakistan, Nigeria, and  the US      and  see what  happened  or is about to happen  in selected situations  in these  places  and how  they tally with our stated objectives in this piece. In simple  terms in Pakistan a former PM  was  shut out of an election,  jailed  for  corruption and released  after  the elections when  he  was no threat  to those in power  in that nation.  In  Nigeria an election    for governorship  is taking place in  Osun    state    in which one of the candidates  took  an examination  for eligibility  to contest alright, but  had f9  in English    the single  paper  he  sat  for out of the eight  papers  he was expected to write.

    In  the US a lady  professor sprang  out from a University to    charge  that a candidate  for the highest  office of Supreme Court  judge of  the US tried  to strip  her  naked 36  years  ago  and cannot be trusted with the authority  of a judge  of the US Supreme  court. In  Lagos Nigeria  the reelection of the incumbent governor of the state appeared  to  be in jeopardy  as his  godfather shifted  his anointment  to a fresh  candidate.

    These  issues  primarily  show how  politics  has been  described  as  not  only  ubiquitous    and at play  anywhere  but  as the art or science of who gets  what, when  and how  in every  political  system.

    Starting  with  Pakistan  the former PM is Nawaz Sharif,  a leader  I admire  so  much  for  his courage  and political  durability. He has  been PM several  times  and does not fear  for his life in the struggle  for power  and authority in his nation Pakistan. He  had boarded  a plane  before  from  London  to  Islamabad,  capital  of Pakistan  knowing  he would be executed by the military  regime of General  Pavez  Musharaff. His  plane  was not  however  allowed to land as it was diverted  to  Jedda  in  Saudi  Arabia  whose  leaders mediated  to  save his life. Recently  he was jailed  for  corruption on the eve of the last general  elections which his party  lost  but he appealed  and was released  from a 10  year  jail  term  after  the elections and pending the determination of the case which  obviously was politically  motivated  by the army  in control of  Pakistani politics which has become fed up  with his unrelenting criticism  of security  matters in Pakistan.

    Nawaz Sharif  is  a man  ready  to die for his  principles  together with his  daughter both of who  left from prison  to bury  his wife who died of cancer in London  and returned to prison voluntarily  before  being freed  on court  orders for wrong imprisonment  on the charges against  them.  Really  I see and  salute  a powerful  man  with the heart  of a lion  in Nawaz Sharif  of Pakistan.

    In  the  Osun State guber  elections today  the PDP  candidate  was to see the Police on charges of false examination  claims  but  the Presidency  has stopped the Police from going further. Which  really is a violation  of  the rule of law because  the Police  was  acting on a court  order which  queried  the qualification of the PDP candidate  for  the election.  According  to  WAEC  this  candidate had f9 in  English  language, a disgrace  to any educated Yoruba man especially in a state  like Osun  from the former  Western Region which  use  to  set  the pace in educational qualifications and achievements for the rest  of  Nigeria. The  presidency  should  have weathered the  storm  of possible  accusation  of  political victimization  and  stood  aloof since the presidency has a candidate from the ruling party in the elections of today  in Osun  State.

    The law  should have been  allowed  to take its course  as  the  court order  was very  clear  and in the public  interest no  matter how close  the election  was. This  is  a candidate    who should  not be in the race. Stopping the Police  at this point  is like closing the stable  doors after the horses  have  bolted. The  PDP  candidate simply  has no eligibility for this election  as  the court  was trying  to  show  through Police  action  under  the Rule  of Law.

    In  the US  the desperate attempt  to stop  the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s candidate as a Supreme  Court judge is happening  because of  a’ clash  of civilization ‘between  the liberal  and conservative  divide of modern US  Society. These  are the anti abortion  vs pro abortion  and the gay rights  community and their opponents. The liberals  want to  stop  Trump  and  his people from  getting a majority on the bench  if this candidate sails through now  and would  rather wait  till  the mid term elections in November  when  they  expect  the liberals  would  have more seats than the  conservatives in the US legislature. But  the accuser  has refused to  testify  and  we wait  to  see  how an event  that happened 36  years  would  derail  the confirmation of this US judge to the Supreme Court.

    However the  spectacle  of a massive  American cultural  war  exploding  right before our eyes  is something  worth  beholding. We  round  up  with  the  political  suspense  in Lagos APC coming primaries  where  the fate of the incumbent  governor  is hanging in the balance in terms  of reelection. The  currency  of  political accountability  and performance  as well  as  loyalty and respect seem  to  have changed  in the succession equation  as we knew  it  at least  as at the last  election in  the  state. How  this will affect the fortunes of the party in the state remains  to  be seen.

    Incumbents  do always  have their  loyalists and beneficiaries  and the present  governor  cannot  be  an  exception.  The  next few days will  determine whether we  shall  see  a transition of power or a re juggling of it in Lagos APC.  Once  again long live  the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • 2019: Politicians battle over cyberspace

    Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, parties and aspirants are securing the services of social media influencers with a view to winning the emerging intense cyber war, reports Sunday Oguntola

    WITH eyes fully fixed on the screens, about eight males and females, in their early 20s and 30s, worked furiously away on the laptops before them. They spoke as much as their fingerprints performed wonders on the laptops. The fully air-conditioned large office they occupied somewhere in Maitama District, Abuja, was as lively as their conversations.

    “We are getting flopped. We are losing momentum. We need to get cracking and raise the team,” said a bespectacled team leader in the room. Crowding round him, others looked more intently at the screens and let out a collective scream: “No, we have to overtake them.”

    Inside the heart of internet warriors

    Welcome to the expanding world of cyber warriors working for leading political parties and candidates ahead of the 2019 General Elections. Investigations revealed these young IT freaks have been signing contracts of engagements with parties and aspirants for domination of the cyberspace in the run-off to the 2019 contests.

    Their main rule of engagement, according to findings, is to stop at nothing to win over potential voters, especially the millennials believed to constitute over 60 percent of the voting population. But the brief is not as simple or straightforward as it sounds. Mounting an electoral cyber-campaign can be dicey and tasking. This is why many involved in the project are deservedly called warriors.

    Their mandate needs an aggressive, right-in-your-face approach. To get noticed in the internet political space means being unconventional, witty and sometimes militant. It requires many under-cut strategies and tactics aimed at not only becoming the dominant face but also winning over would-be voters. Richards Eze is one of the cyber warriors in a firm working for one of the leading presidential candidates in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    His definition of the work description offers insights into how the minds of internet warriors operate. “My business is to churn out data and information that can boost the chances of our client. That means being on top of the game. It means being ready to take on perceived opponents and discredit them from time to time,” he stated.

    Our correspondent discovered some of the staff in the image-laundering IT firms earn between N90, 000-N120, 000. The contracts with the engaging parties and aspirants vary from six to nine months up to the election period.

    It was also learnt that some of the contracts are subject to reviews based on prevailing circumstances in the cyber space. For example, an aspirant that wins primary in the next few weeks will most certainly increase his or her social media presence in the run-off to the elections. Once the elections are over, most of the contracts will die natural deaths.

    In 2015, the then candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari, earned increased media ratings as soon he won the primary contest. The party hired Red Media, owned by Chude Jideonwo and Debola Williams, to alter the negative perceptions of Buhari, a former military ruler.

    The dictatorial and religious fundamental image of Buhari gave in as pictures of him in impeccable English suits went viral online. The transformational turnaround shocked even those who engaged the firm, giving the candidate a big boost before he went on to defeat an incumbent to win the presidential contest.

    As 2019 approaches, we gathered that many have not forgotten the huge roles the social media influencers played in the victory of All Progressives Congress’ President Muhammadu Buhari and are determined to benefit too.

    Engagement by parties, aspirants

    Checks revealed that the All Progressives Party (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have taken cognisance of the rise and rise of cyber politicking and have unleashed strategies to dominate the space. Most of the social media influencers, according to investigations, have signed contractual agreements with different aspirants and parties to launder their images and promote their activities.

    Social media influencers with over 50,000 and above followers on micro-blogging platform, twitter, have lately started promoting the campaigns, interactions and activities of parties and aspirants, depending on who they serve. Some of their clients also tweet at them for retweets in an effort to earn amplification, ostensibly to feed off the goodwill and spread of the influencers.

    One of the social media influencers confided in our correspondent: “Well, it is true some of us are under contracts to work for one or two aspirants. The thing is we deserve it because it has taken a lot to attract followers on social media.

    “For me, I don’t promote an aspirant I cannot defend and believe in. I know it is not the same with many others. They would say anything to defend an aspirant because money is involved. But I like to be convinced first before promoting an aspirant or party.”

    Social media plans of aspirants, parties

    Senate President Bukola Saraki few days ago launched the #GrowNigeria movement, which is mainly an online campaign for his presidential bid. He went on to hire an aide to man the campaign. The campaign has been gathering momentum online with many either bashing the promoters or encouraging them.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s social media plan is slightly different. Our investigation shows that it takes the shape of having different official twitter handles promoting his activities and movements. Some of the handlers also make leading statements that provoke discussions tending towards why their principal is the best man for the job.

    The PDP, on its part, has been launching vitriolic attacks on the Buhari’s administration, through several social media influencers that clearly amplify its opinions and viewpoints. Sometimes, they tweet at the official handle of the PDP or vice versa, indicating their allegiances and bias.

    The ruling party, APC, also boasts of an army of volunteers and social media influencers, actively promoting its ideals online. The party appears to have more vociferous influencers clearly because it is the ruling administration with more appeals and resources.

    The litany of ministers, aides and party loyalists, as well as influencers allegedly hired by the party, is intimidating. Many of them gloat whenever the government appears to have scored a big point with a policy or programme. For example, the TraderMoni initiative offers them some bragging space.

    Electoral value of social media

    Most times, as it happens on the political fronts, several of the influencers take on themselves in a bid to defend their clients or attack their opponents. They banter with statistics, data and reports, trying hard to outshine one another in the battle of wits.

    Ahmed Aikali, a political scientist, believes the impact of social media on electioneering can no longer be taken for granted. “Times are changing and politicians have realised they can reach millions in a split second with social media. Since politics is a game of numbers, they will certainly take advantage of the platform,” he said.

    But Phillips Eze, a public affairs analyst, is of the opinion that social media impact on electoral value is mostly overrated. He said most of the active social media users hardly get to vote. “You see, the truth is politics is local. Most of the folks speaking grammar on social media don’t even vote.

    “They are the elites, educated folks whose passion for politics ends with heated cyber argument. When it comes to showing up at voting polls and waiting to exercise your civic obligation in the face of highest provocation, you have to give it to the ordinary traders and artisans.

    “They are the real voters. Most of these internet guys are just warriors on papers. You won’t see them near centres during voting. This is why I think politicians shouldn’t waste much of time courting them,” he said.

    The disagreement notwithstanding, everyone seems to agree that the battle for cyberspace has taken a more significant position in Nigeria’s 2019 political campaigns. Its actual value in the outcome of elections however remains to be quantified.

  • Rage over Electoral Amendment Bill

    The significant role that free, fair and credible elections play as the firm foundation on which to build the solid and stable house of democracy, anywhere in the world remains sacrosanct. Any form of political antics, gimmicks and acts antithetical to achieving that is anti-people and must not be allowed to hold sway.

    In spite of several misgivings against our brand of democracy here in Nigeria, with the rich and powerful hijacking the political space, its benefits skewed in favour of the political class, policies and programmes not emanating from the collective wishes of the vast majority of the largely illiterate electorate, it still remains the hope of the people, Nigerians inclusive.

    Against this background, it is therefore, worrisome that for the third time, President Muhammadu Buhari has declined his assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2018, alleging irregularities and draft issues. That this has come soon after the president also withheld his assent on the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, PIGB, over alleged constitutional conflict and others, including the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2018 calls for concern. In fact, it has a throwback on our recent view that the president should not misconstrue his personal interest for that of Nigerians whose constitutionally-recognized wishes he swore to protect. These fears are genuine and throw up some salient questions.

    For instance, what will happen to the gains made with the card reader, back in 2015, the vulnerability of incidence form and the transfer of election results electronically?

    Should the issue of having the presidential election first, with its bandwagon effects, override the national interest? These questions, as raised by some concerned Nigerians are germane to the cultivation of the much-desired democratic culture, beginning of course, with acceptable elections.

    As expected, the president’s refusal to sign the bill has drawn a groundswell of criticism from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere; Director of Media and Public Communications and the Coalition for Nigeria Movement. Others who have raised their voices against it include the deputy chairman of the Nigeria Intervention Movement, Akin Osuntokun, and immediate past vice president of Nigerian Bar Association, Monday Ubani. To them it poses grave danger to next year’s elections.

    On the other hand, according to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang: “A few of the outstanding issues include a cross referencing error in the proposed amendment to Section 18 of the Bill. The appropriate amendment is to substitute the existing sub-section (2) with the proposed subsection (1A), while the proposed sub-section (1B) is the new sub-section (2A).

    Also, the proposed amendment is supposed to include a new Section 87 (14). This stipulates a specific period within which political party primaries are required to be held. The unintended consequence of leaving INEC with only nine days to collate and compile lists of candidates and political parties as well manage the primaries of 91 political parties for the various elections may not advance the cause of credible elections. That is, according to the president.

    Indeed, the Electoral Amendment Bill does not amend sections 31, 34 and 85 which stipulate times for the submission of lists of candidates, publication of lists of candidates and notice of convention, congresses for nominating candidates for elections.

    It would be recalled that the federal lawmakers amended the nation’s Electoral Act, months ago, reversing the order of the general elections as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The amendments proposed by the National Assembly sought to make some changes in Nigeria’s Electoral Act, including changing the sequence of the 2019 elections. The lawmakers want their election to come up first, followed by that of state lawmakers and governors, and lastly the presidential election.

    But, in a letter addressed to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, President Buhari had stated, among other reasons that the amendments infringed on the rights of INEC.

    However, Isaac Ideh Imudia, a sociology lecturer, wondered why there should be controversy over the issue because the president is well aware that the duty of the National Assembly is to make laws and amend laws they made, if the need arises. He is also aware that his refusal to assent to any bill does not render such bill invalid once the National Assembly is able to muster the required members to pass it into law.

    Critical observers of the polity are of the belief that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no role to play in this matter but to wait patiently for the amended electoral laws to conduct the next elections.  That is what confers independence on it.

    On the order of the elections, with that of the presidential contest coming first, some Nigerians have seen the negative consequences of the bandwagon effect. It may have brought in the incumbent president back in 2015 but may not be in the best interest of the country. Merit should therefore, take precedence over that of a political interest foisting itself on the people using the instruments of incumbency rather than the capacity to perform to the expectations of the people.

    Nonetheless, one sees these developments as a clear test of powers between the executive and the legislature but could be resolved without rancor, at least in the national interest. The truth however, is that  by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly  has the power to override the president’s veto by mustering a two-third majority in both chambers of the National Assembly. But can that happen in the current circumstances, with the lawmakers in recess and the polity heated up by the vaulting ambitions of several of members on both sides of the political divide towards 2019 general elections?

    With the country’s unemployment ratio worsening from 14.8 per cent in 2017 to 18.8 per cent in 2018, the number of school-aged children still out of school increasing from 10 million to 12 million, the debt profile escalating to N21 trillion in over three years and Nigeria overtaking India as home to the world’s poorest people, more has to be done than said on righting the wrongs of the past. 

    The onus therefore, now rests squarely on Nigerians, especially the enlightened electorate to decide where the pendulum of their political loyalty would swing to, come 2019.

     

    • Baje is a public affairs analyst.

  • Elections won’t affect UTME, says registrar

    The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has said the 2019 general election will not affect the 2019/2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    Oloyede, fielding questions from reporters after delivering the 2018 Annual Sobo Sowemimo Lecture of the Abeokuta Club in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had given the dates of the elections, the board would adjust accordingly.

    “I don’t think there will be any need for a shift in the examination date because of the 2019 general election. I believe INEC has done well by giving us a prior notice six months ago.

    “They have given us the date of the elections. So we have no excuse not to have adjusted. We have adjusted appropriately,” he said.

    The registrar decried the rate at which candidates, who were not qualified to write the examination, applied for it, thereby causing what he described as “unnecessary luggage” on the board.

    He said the examination body would adopt stiffer measures to prevent unqualified candidates from applying and writing the examination for the 2019/2020 admission exercise.

    Oloyede noted that JAMB would not allow anyone to take undue advantage over others, saying the board would not repeat the mistake it recorded in the last examination “as regards this development.”

  • 2019: I’m not afraid of free, fair elections, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that as a beneficiary of free and fair elections, he is not afraid of a credible process in 2019.

    Buhari spoke during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community in China.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President also reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the 2019 polls are free, fair and credible.

    He said Nigerians eligible to vote will be allowed to freely elect candidates of their choice.

    Buhari said: ‘‘I have no fear about free and fair elections because that is what brought me to the present position. I know what I went through and very few Nigerians could boast of trying four times (contesting for President).

    ‘‘Those interested in participating in the elections must get their PVCs, register in their constituency and elect anybody of their choice across ethnicity and religion.

    ‘‘The Nigerian police, law enforcement agencies and INEC must respect the people to express their wishes.’’

    Citing recent elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi states, the President said the country had made progress relative to elections conducted in the past.

    On security, Buhari reaffirmed that his administration had succeeded in curtailing Boko Haram insurgents, adding that the terrorist group no longer controls any part of the country.

    He attributed the success to operations of security agencies deployed to counter insurgency in the Northeast.

    ‘‘You will all recall that we contested the last election basically on three issues, which include security, especially in the Northeast.

    ‘‘The Boko Haram used to occupy quite a number of local governments in Borno State but they are not in anyone now. They have resorted to a very dangerous way of terrorism by indoctrinating young people, mostly girls and attacking soft targets, churches, mosques and marketplaces,’’ Buhari said.

    On herders and farmers clashes, the President told Nigerians in the Diaspora that while security agencies were doing their best to curtail the clashes, the media needed to complement the efforts through objective and informed reportage.

    He urged the media to attempt to understand the cultural and historical implications of some of the misunderstanding between herders and farmers.

    ‘‘To my disappointment, there are a number of things which the members of the press in Nigeria do not make enough efforts, in my observation, to study the historical antecedents of issues that are creating national problems for us.’’ he said

    According to him, due to the effects of climate change, a farm that used to belong to five people now belong to 50 people. Besides, said Buhari, the weather condition, particularly the rainy season is now unpredictable.

    The President blamed the farmer’s, herders’ controversy on the shrinking of the Lake Chad, which has forced many to seek greener pastures for their herds in other parts of the country.

    On Nigeria-China relations, he praised China’s generosity and contribution to the development of Nigeria, citing the successful completion of the Abuja-Kaduna railway line, built by the Chinese, and ongoing works on Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin, Abuja, Kano railway routes.

    He said Nigeria and China were also negotiating the Mambilla project.

    President Buhari advised Nigerians planning to travel abroad for ‘‘greener pastures’’ to do so legitimately and not to expect too much from their countries of destination.

    ‘‘You cannot seek greener pastures in a place where you are not respected because of the colour of your skin or your lack of education or other things. Personally, I think you will earn more respect when you remain at home and get a job,’’ he said.

    Acknowledging the material and intellectual support of Nigerians in the Diaspora to Nigeria’s development, the President assured all that his administration will remain focused and committed to providing the needed infrastructure and doing the needful for Nigeria’s prosperity.

    Nigerian Ambassador to China Baba Ahmed-Jidda thanked the President for his support to the Embassy, which led to the completion of the Ambassador’s residence.

    The Ambassador praised Nigerians resident in China for being law abiding, with the exception of few.

    On consular matters, the envoy told the President Nigerians still faced difficulties in obtaining Chinese visas – an issue he thinks the President should take up with the Chinese authority.

    The president of the China Chapter of Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation, Brian Akiti, wishing the country successful elections in 2019, pledged the support of the organisation to the present administration’s development agenda.

    At a separate event, the President also met with Nigerian students on scholarship in China.

    He told them: “I hope you will make the best use of this opportunity given to you. Nigeria is grateful to China for extending this generosity to us.

    ‘‘The Chinese are helping Nigeria greatly with building infrastructure; it is very much appreciated. We are pleased with the training they are providing for our Nigerian students.”

    President Buhari also met with the executives of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), during which he lauded the construction group for its immense contributions to infrastructure development in Nigeria.

  • Direct primary: APC NWC moves to prevent dissent

    The All Progrssives Congress (APC) at the weekend moved to prevent dissent by some of its leaders over the decision to adopt direct primary to pick its candidates for the 2019 elections.

    Governors are believed to be opposed to the system, which allows all card-carrying members of the party to participate in picking candidates. They favour indirect primary, which is the delegates system.

    Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi), who briefed reporters after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday, said the party adopted direct primary to pick the presidential candidate and indirect primary for other offices.

    They added that states that wished to use direct primary would write to the National Working Committee (NWC) for permission.

    But the NWC on Friday said the correct decision at the NEC meeting was the adoption of direct primary for all offices with states which intended to use indirect system to seek the NWC’s permission in writing, supported with evidence of support by stakeholders.

    Yesterday, some state chairmen defied the warning by the national secrertariat to hold a meeting in opposition to the party’s decision on direct primary.

    The meeting, which was initially scheduled for the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja was moved to the Barcelona Hotel, a few meters from the party’s secretariat.

    The chairmen are believed to have bowed to pressure from their governors as they were said to be considering passing a vote of no confidence on the Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC.

    Some governors seeking a second term are belived to be opposed to the direct primary option.

    Before yesterday’s meeting, it was learnt that the NWC reached out to the state chairmen through their coordinator, the Borno State Chairman of the APC, Ali Bukari Dalori to explain its position.

    One of the chairmen who attended the meeting said the party wrote a letter to them on Saturday to clarify the issues. He did not disclose the content of the letter.

    Another state chairman who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed that the state party leaders “will do everything possible to resist imposition of direct primary, including passing a vote of no confidence in the Comrade Oshiomhole-led NWC.”

    While refusing to be quoted, he told reporters that the meeting was essentially to protest “the highhandedness of the party leadership and its insistence on direct primaries”.

    Apart from state chairmen who attended the meeting, one of the national vice chairmen, two ex-officio members and some national officers, were seen coming out of the venue.

    “Majority of the state chairmen are here and those that could not make it sent representatives. We are still talking and our resolutions will be made known to the public very soon but it won’t be today (yesterday) because we are still consulting and meeting,” one of the attendees said.

    The party’s national leadership earlier yesterday raised the alarm over the meeting which it said was an attempt to alter the party’s decision on the mode of primary election.

    An ex-officio member who also attended the meeting said the governors and some national officers were not happy with the direct primary option, adding that as leaders of the party in the states, they would do everything to protect their interest.

    He said: “The state chairmen will do everything possible to resist the imposition of direct primaries on the party, including passing a vote of no-confidence on Oshiomhole and his NWC members.”

    In an attempt to truncate the meeting, the party’s statement by Acting National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena said: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC has been drawn to an illegal meeting scheduled to hold on Sunday at Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja by some members of our Party organs, with a view to fault the decisions made by the NWC followed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) as regards the mode of the Party’s primary elections.

    “We want to state clearly that the meeting which has been fixed for 2pm is illegal and an attempt to puncture the sincere efforts being made by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC to reposition our party ahead the 2019 General Elections and to ensure unity, equity and justice in the Party.”

    The statement said the outcome of such a meeting, which is already known, will be a nullity, adding that members should disregard such meetings in the interest of the Party.

    It also said that it had identified those behind the meeting and would have them sanctioned, unless they retrace their steps.

    “It is illegal to call such meetings outside the purview of the constituted authority.

    “The identities of those plotting such meetings have been identified and unless they desist from such they will be dealt with in line with the Party’s Constitution at the appropriate time.

    “The NWC will resist any attempt to disrupt the current peace and harmony prevailing in our great Party after the exit of some members of our Party.

    ‘We urge any member who is not satisfied with the decisions of the Party to utilise channels provided by the party’s constitution to air their views.

    *We remain focused in delivering good governance to Nigerians and above, all ensuring the victory for our party come 2019 and we will not be intimidated by the antics of a few in ensuring success for our party,” it said.

    Addressing journalists at his residence before the APC NEC meeting last week, National Vice Chairman (Northeast) Comrade Mustapha Salihu accused some leaders of the party from the Southwest to foster what he called “regional imperialism” on the party.

    He said that apart from the fact that the system requires a lot of supervision, the electoral body was not prepared for the system. Saying “Before now, I didn’t have any feelings that there was a possibility of conspiracy, but when I see people planting stories, I now begin to suspect.

    “If one region feels that was what is best for them, I think they can canvass that at the regional level and they now give us reason why they need that I want to believe that in a democracy, the majority have their way and the minority have their say.

    “So, they have the right to wish and if we decide to make it flexible, definately what they want will be given to them at their own various states, but one thing I want to assure you is that we will not succumb to regional imperialism so long as we are acting within the constitution.”

     

  • 2019: It’s direct primaries for all polls —APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) will adopt direct primaries in choosing its candidates for all of next year’s elections, contrary to earlier reports that it had opted for the indirect mode for elections other than the presidency.

    Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who briefed reporters at the end of Thursday’s sixth meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), had said the meeting agreed to use direct primary only in picking the APC presidential candidate and indirect primary for other candidates—state/national assemblies and governorship.

    Lalong was, however, contradicted yesterday by the party’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, who told reporters that the APC NEC actually resolved to use direct primary in all cases while also allowing states who prefer indirect primaries to convene a stakeholders meeting and agree on it.

    He said: “The 30th August, 2018 resolution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) on the mode of primary election has been subject to inference and misleading interpretations.

    “As an update to the earlier released statement, we wish to make the following clarifications on NEC’s resolutions on mode of primary election:

    • Primary elections into all elective offices shall be by direct primaries.
    • NEC resolved to adopt direct primaries for the nomination of the presidential candidate and all other primaries.
    • The party’s constitution though provides for indirect election and consensus, however, the use of indirect primaries is conditional and dependent on logistic impediments, peculiarities and need of a given state that makes it unable to use direct primaries.
    • The State Executive Committee (SEC) shall in consultation with aspirants and other critical stakeholders of the party in a given state forward for the consideration and approval by the National Working Committee (NWC) if indirect primary is to be adopted. The adopted mode shall now be applied to all categories of the party’s primary elections i.e. state assembly, Senate, House of Representatives and for the governorship elections.
    • The request for indirect primaries must be signed by majority of the State Executive Committee and critical stakeholders in attendance at the meeting where such resolution is reached.

    He added: “Direct Primaries will, among others, ensure fairness, create a level playing ground for contestants, eliminate corrupt tendencies usually associated with the delegates system and ultimately ensure full participation of party members at all levels.”

    Governors elected on the platform of the party and state chairmen are strongly in favour of indirect primaries which confer on them tremendous influence to determine who gets nominated.

    On the other hand, majority of the party’s legislators, particularly those who are not in the good books of their governors, are rooting for direct primaries.

    Some of the lawmakers told The Nation that many of the governors are more interested in wielding influence at the expense of party cohesion.

    On Thursday, one of them said: “It will be dangerous to have APC senators who don’t have return tickets, especially in view of the current development in the Senate.

    “It will be a disaster to have senators who are interested in retaining their seats but don’t have return tickets because the governors are allowed to manipulate the process to favour their choices.

    “Why are the governors afraid of direct primaries?

    “They have control of the party structures in their states but should allow the will of the people to prevail. If they are true democrats and progressives, they should not try to impose their candidates on the people.

    “We are waiting to see how the party will address this issue in the coming days.

    “But I must tell you that if they deny legislators who stand by the President and the party in these trying times, they would have started what they cannot finish, because in future, nobody will make that sacrifice again.

    “If the party allows the governors to manipulate the process in favour of their candidates, they would have told us in clear terms that loyalty does not pay. And you know what that means.”

    The Nation gathered that barring any last-minute change, President Muhammadu Buhari may have to pay N55 million to obtain the nomination form for the presidential contest of the party.

    The nomination fee was part of the proposals presented to the party’s NEC at Thursday’s meeting.

    The Nation gathered that although the proposal was not immediately approved by the NEC, it was extensively discussed.

    The National Working Committee was mandated to review the figure in line with the Electoral Act.

    The President and others who contested the party’s presidential primaries in November 2014 paid N27.5 million each to procure the nomination form.

    In the latest proposals, governorship aspirants are to pay N22.5 million each, up from the current N5.5 million, while senatorial aspirants are to pay N8.5 million as against the current N3.3 million.

    Aspirants for the House of Representatives may be required to cough out N3.5 million as against the current N2.2 million while aspirants for the State House of Assembly may be required to cough out N1.1 million as against the existing N550,000.

    The proposed guidelines require each aspirant to sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour and to be vicariously liable for the action of his supporters.

    One provision says: “Where it is established that an aspirant and/or his supporters are responsible for breaches of the peace and or law, the aspirant may be disqualified from participating in the nomination exercise and in serious cases prosecuted.”

    The Nation gathered that the new fees were vigorously debated at the meeting.

    It resolved to allow the National Working Committee take a further look at the figures and agree on how much should be paid for nomination.

    Governor Lalong confirmed that leaders present at the meeting expressed concern over the high fees and the need to review them.

    He said: “We debated the cost of nomination and left it to the National Working Committee to take into consideration some of the views expressed and come out with a reasonable figure. Any figure they bring will be acceptable and we don’t need to come back to NEC to ratify it.”