As the Presidential and National Assembly elections draw closer, tensions are rising. Political parties are perfecting their strategies. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not leaving any stone unturned to make the process hitch free. At various fora, the electoral umpire has been giving assurances of its preparedness to conduct a free, credible and transparent election. Only recently, the Chairman of the Commission Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had at Chatham House London, affirmed the commitment of the agency to make the elections the best it has conducted in recent years. All the Political Parties are also on top of their games. That much is expected with few weeks left to the elections already predicted to be more consequential than previous ones. But as the campaigns head to the homestretch, there are concerns for the major political parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). They have been at each other’s jugular with accusation and counter accusation of corruption against their respective presidential candidates. This is overheating the political space, raising doubts about violence during the elections and post-election management. Just a few days ago, the convoy of the Labour Party Presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi was reportedly pelted with stones by thugs in Katsina State after a successful rally at Muhammad Dikko Stadium in the state capital. Though Obi and other occupants in the car were unhurt, this is unacceptable.
Also in Lagos, the campaign train of the PDP candidate AbdulAzeez Adeniran aka Jandon was attacked. His running mate Funke Akindele sustained injuries while another member of the party was reportedly stabbed. It calls for tight security around their campaigns as well as a thorough investigation by security agencies to find out what happened. These attacks are condemnable. The Obi/Datti Campaign remains the only campaign that has been issue-based, focusing on the issues that Nigerians want to hear and proffer solutions. Beyond this, there are allegations of plans to disenfranchise many voters through the collection of Permanent Voters Card (PVC). There are moves in some states to emasculate voters through monetary inducement or outright purchase of their PVCs as has been reported in some states. Since many of the new voters are youths as shown by INEC figures, and since many of them are youths and schools in session, many of them may be denied the opportunity to vote unless government should give a break during the election period to enable the school take a short break and vote. If this is not done, that will be a massive denial for many of them that have reached voting age and desirous to cast their ballots for the first time. Election is a celebration of democracy and human freedom. The underhanded methods being used by some politicians at these closing stages of the campaigns are indications that our political leaders have learnt little and forgotten much.

It is also a danger signal that some of the politicians are in the race, not for the interest of the people, but for their own selfish advancement. Certainly, some of them are not coming to ameliorate the sufferings of the people. This is why most of their foot soldiers are going the extra mile to create unnecessary tensions. Sometimes, people fail to do what they should do to guide their votes, they turn around to blame the electoral body. For instance, vote buying takes different shapes and dimensions, thanks to the social media that do not hesitate to expose these negative signals through publication of such strategies for the world to see. Though INEC has said that it has test-run the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System( BVAS), eternal vigilance should be the watchword to ensure that desperate politicians do not manipulate the technology and other devices deployed to ensure transparency of the electoral process. INEC should prepare against the likelihood of cyber attacks on its facilities. Nothing should be left to chance because some of our politicians can stop at nothing to win at all cost. The BVAS should be subjected to integrity test before put to use otherwise, people’s efforts to achieve transparent success could be jeopardized. All these are some of the ways desperate politicians want to win the election at all cost. Although they are bound to fail, according to the electoral umpire, all hands must be on deck as the clock ticks for the elections to commence. INEC and security agencies should also take great cognizance of vote buying.
Vote buying is what some of the candidates intend to use as last resort. There are reports that in some States, some political parties have begun subterranean plans for buying PVCs. Also, in some Local Government Areas across the country, some political parties in connivance with some mischievous INEC staffers are allegedly engaged in ensuring that some people do not get their PVCs. INEC should investigate the alleged withholding of PVCs in a place like Lagos state. There are concerns that during the election proper, some political thugs could coerce voters to vote for particular parties/candidates. This could result in violence or voter apathy. To stop this, INEC should deploy military personnel to identified troubled states across the country. Already, INEC said it has identified at least 14 states where violence may erupt during the elections. Recently, away from the shores of Nigeria, a Presidential Candidate of one of the Parties was heard dishing instructions to his supporters that power is not given ala carta in a Restaurant. He urged them to “grab it and run with it”. This is why security agencies should disband the formation of militia group known as “the Jagaban Army” by the APC presidential candidate. This portends danger if not stopped immediately. It is an invitation to anarchy. It bears repeating that this year’s elections are critical to Nigeria and Nigerians that nothing should be allowed to derail the democratic process. No individual or political parties, is bigger than the country. The eyes of the international community are on Nigeria. The outcome of the elections will have far reaching implications for the country and the African continent. Nigeria needs a clean break from past elections and bad leadership.
• Maduka Nweke, a journalist writes from Lagos.