Insecurity: How safe is Nigeria for the polls?

• Published date: 01 February 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

By Mukhtar Ya'u Madobi

As the President Muhammadu Buhari's presidency winds down, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has almost concluded plans to organize a credible, fair and transparent 2023 polls.

But with terrorists, armed bandits, kidnappers for ransom, ritualists, oil thieves, and IPOB criminals still holding the country to ransom, no thanks to their violent activities, patriotic and concerned Nigerians will be forced to ask: is the country safe for the general elections?

In recent years, Nigeria has been facing unprecedented security challenges that continue to threaten its corporate existence. These security bottlenecks are becoming albatrosses to the realization of the country's development agenda.

Lately, INEC raised an alarm saying that the worrying insecurity may force the commission to postpone or cancel the forthcoming polls if not properly addressed by concerned authorities. Noting that the development could hinder the declaration of election results and precipitate a constitutional crisis, the electoral umpire called for concerted efforts to stem the tide of violence.

As expected, the statement was trailed by disquiet and condemnations from citizens, civil society groups and socio-cultural organizations across the country.

However, 30 days to the presidential and National Assembly elections, INEC summoned courage and vowed that the time table will not be changed, saying that the issue of postponement or rescheduling the election is not on the table.

Speaking on Thursday, January 26, in Abuja at the 20th Daily Trust Dialogue with the theme, ' Interrogating the 2023 Presidential Agenda', its Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye said that as the electoral umpire, it has the competence and the courage to go on with this election, just as he vowed that commission would going to go ahead with the election.

Even with this assurance, one cannot be oblivious to the different kinds of security threat that is facing each and every part of the six geopolitical zones.

For example, in the Northwest where the banditry and kidnapping and industry is blossoming, several thousand people were killed and others were dislodged from their ancestral communities and forced to settle in makeshift tents or IDP camps. Up to now, these marauders are still having their field days especially in states like Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Katsina where the trend is more pronounced.

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