Barring any last minute changes this Saturday, God willing, all Nigerians of voting age, who have their PVCs, are expected to come out en masse and exercise their franchise in the presidential and National Assembly elections which will take place throughout the federation.
Vote- buying is one of the biggest “threats” to free, fair and credible elections in our contemporary democracy. Vote-buying is not only one of the biggest “threats” to free, fair and credible elections, but could also trigger electoral violence. Electoral violence, on the other hand, just as vote-buying, is not only a “threat” to free, fair and credible elections, but it is also a “threat” to the survival and development of our society.
It is important to note that, free, fair and credible elections often lead to good governance. The worst thing that could happen to a democratic society is for its elections to be won by “hook” or “crook”. Winning elections at all cost will never take us to the promised land. Free, fair and credible elections are “fundamental” to attaining good governance in a democratic society. However, without free, fair and credible elections good governance remains a mirage. It is only through good governance that our welfare and security as a people and country will be better off.
There are divergent thoughts on the factors responsible for vote-buying in Nigeria. Some analysts are of the opinion that high rate of illiteracy and widespread poverty in the society are the major causes of vote-buying. On the other hand, some political observers are believe that the menace of vote-buying is because of the high level of “desperation” of our politicians and the greed of the electorate. For votes to be “bought” and “sold”, there must be a willing buyer (a desperate politician) and a willing seller (a greedy electorate). Whatever is cause of vote-buying in our modern day democracy it remains a threat to free, fair and credible election.
In my thought, politicians will continue to seek power by”hook” or “crook” due to the high level of “monetary rewards” associated with our political environment. In my view, desperation for power among our politicians could only be reduced if we curb the “monetary rewards” associated with our political system. We must work hard towards making governance a service to humanity not a business venture that it has been presently turned to.
Politicians from both sides of the divides of the political parties engage in vote-buying.Vote- buying is now a bipartisan practice among our politicians. The menace has become a temptatious phenomenon where everyone engages in in order not to be outsmarted. Some politicians are often “tempted” to partake in the act of vote-buying in order not be outdone by their political opponents. We must continue to brainstorm on how to get rid of it from our electoral process.
It remains an undeniably fact that our politicians are the culprits and we should not expect them to stop it since they benefit from it .We must get rid of this evil from our electoral process for us to get it right. Let us continue to educate the electorate on the undesirability and consequences of votes-buying in our political development. We must fight vote-buying in our society. No Nigerian should cooperate with vote buyers. The electorate must know that having sold their votes for a “token” their moral right has been automatically lost as well. The moral right to ask their leaders for better security, stable power supply, good roads, hospitals, and schools, etc., sold out as well.
In my view, parents, wards, media, civil society organisations, professional bodies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, legal practitioners and all people of conscience should and or must campaign against vote-buying. Vote- buying is an electoral offence and for that it must be stopped.
In my observation, electoral offenders in Nigeria often get away with all manners of electoral offences committed by them. There is hardly a deterrent for would be electoral offenders. For us to get it right, it is high time we established an independent body charged with the responsibility of “investigating” and “prosecuting” electoral offenders in order to serve as a deterrent to others.
May God bless Nigeria!
Nurudeen Dauda,
Kaduna
[email protected]
