Wanted: a conducive atmosphere for general election

• Published date: 16 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Many Nigerians harbour the fear that next month's polls may be in jeopardy in some parts of the country, if the attacks on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) facilities persist.

It is not new. In 2019, Edo elections were postponed due to security challenges. Also, in 2015, elections were rescheduled in the Northeast. Both postponements were at great costs to the country.

The electoral body is being distracted by arsonists at a time it should focus on final preparations for this year's general election.

The motivation for the violence is unknown. Nobody knows the supplier of weapons.

INEC's concerns should be seen in the light of the past disruptions. The nation wants this year's polls to go on as scheduled. For months, candidates have been on the campaign train. There is a growing enthusiasm among the youths. All hands should therefore, be on deck.

Election is a joint responsibility involving many stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, the electorate, the electoral body and security agencies. There are however, speculations that some evil minded persons do not want the elections to hold.

Recently, an official of the electoral agency raised the alarm that a conducive atmosphere does not exit for the conduct of the polls in some parts of the country. The statement generated controversy. INEC refuted the claim made by its official. Later, Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed clarified that the polls will hold as scheduled.

The denial, clarification and assurance not withstanding, many Nigerians know that there are flashpoints, judging by reports by security agencies about incessant attacks and violence against INEC resources in some parts of the country.

What is required is that as INEC is working hard to conduct hitch-free exercise, the onus is on security agencies to do their job, which is to safeguard the electoral climate, provide security for the process and personnel, and rekindle hope about free and fair polls.

Generally, elections create nightmares in Nigeria. It is a periodic hurdle. This is due to the do-or-die attitude of many politicians. The polity is usually enveloped in anxiety as players are unwilling to play by the rules.

Voters often doubt that their votes would count. They act from the vantage of experience. In Nigeria, elections have been marred with malpractices.

There have been instances when elections were stopped abruptly and postponed due to certain challenges, although INEC had prepared for months to conduct what it envisaged would be seamless polls. Family members of INEC officials fear for their loved ones on electoral duty. The job of an electoral officer hardly elicits envy in Nigeria. It is laden with thorns and twists because all the stages elections are always problematic.

However, INEC is rising to the occasion and the current leadership of the electoral umpire has been working assiduously to overcome identifiable pitfalls. The public is never sparing the electoral body for gaps in role fulfilment. Also, the commission has also tried to purge and purify itself by surrendering its officials for prosecution.

According to observers, INEC is determined to satisfy the national yearning for transparent polls, judging by the series of programmes it has...