What is The Political Climate in Nigeria in Readiness To the 2023 Election?
Figure 1Source; thenewbeam.com
With the adjustment in the electoral Act that reinstates the transmission of election results electronically, we can say that Nigeria has made some political shifts. However, according to a report released by the Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL), Lagos, in partnership with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), and supported by MacArthur Foundation; titled Ethics and Standards in Electoral Process in Nigeria (guiding tools/principles), an election is confirmed credible when it is devoid of riot, political apathy, or hostility. The result of such an election will be acceptable to the majority of the electorate and the international community.
Furthermore, election laws must not only exist; they must also be operational and enforced if elections are to be free and fair. In addition, the power of choice granted to electorates must be absolute and unquestionable.
Nigeria’s previous elections were conducted by her electoral body periodically, and her citizens and diasporas closely monitored the polls. The elections featured different aspirants from different political parties and voters from the nooks and crannies of the country. Moreover, the votes were marred with differing degrees of malpractices and fraud.
The conclusion is that the electoral process in Nigeria is prone to misuse by political parties, particularly those in power, who aim to manipulate the system to promote their party and personal interests through primary rigging and other forms of electoral fraud. As a result, elections, which are an essential component of the democratic process, lose their actual worth and become merely a tool for gaining power.
Here is the big bang – 2023 is at the corner!
Figure 2Source;businessday.ng
A time for another political feast!
Many Nigerians look forward to seeing the disorder that occurs every four years.
Political parties are gathering momentum!
The country’s atmosphere is filled with jingles of election bells.
Political aspirants are visiting their party stakeholders and traditional leaders.
Who will receive the baton from the incumbent President?
Who will be the country’s next messiah?
These questions fill the country’s atmosphere like oxygen, and the citizens breathe it in and breathe it out day by day.
In this article, we will examine the country’s state in readiness for the 2023 election. You will understand the in and out of the country in preparation for that great year – 2023.
You will not want to miss this!
Let us get started!
The Nigeria Labour Congress Demands in Preparation To the 2023 Election
Figure 3Source;thenationalonlineng.net
Nigeria Labor Congress, in a statement released by its President, Ayuba Wabba, said, “We would demand from politicians and the political class the dividends of the investment of our hopes for a stronger, inclusive and resilient economy; a Nigeria that is secured, stable, sustainable, peaceful and united; a Nigeria of equal opportunities where the child of the cobbler can still aspire to reach the top through a dint of integrity, resourcefulness, hard work, and faith; a country where public infrastructure works and inspires pride in citizens; a Nigeria where workers and pensioners reap the fruits of their reward on earth especially through prompt payment of decent wages cum pension benefits; and a land where the things that sustain a productive and full life are available, abundant and affordable.”
According to NLC, “a few days ago, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released a statement warning that with the increasing siege of insecurity all over the country, there is a considerable risk that the 2023 general elections might not take place. This is serious. Nigerians would recall a similar situation during the last governorship election in Anambra State, where an upsurge in killings, kidnap, militancy, thuggery, and sit-at-home directives from non-state actors elicited concerns from a spectrum of stakeholders on the possibility, feasibility, and viability of the elections. Fortunately, given the massive deployment of security forces all over the country to Anambra State, INEC could conduct free, fair, and largely peaceful elections in Anambra State.
He continued, “Clearly, the current state of insecurity in the country is now no longer a threat just to life and economic activities but also constitutes a potent danger to Nigeria’s democracy. Unlike the Anambra State elections, the variables would not likely be the same in the prosecution of the 2023 general elections as the polls are expected to take place at the same time all over the country and security resources would be thinly spread. There is no gainsaying the fact that all hands must now be on deck to solve once and for all the escalation and persistence of insecurity in different parts of the country.”
The congress desires to use this document to demand the country’s necessities from political leaders as we move into the 2023 elections.
There is no doubt that cheap sloganeering is an act of the past. Now, Nigerians are ready to press pertinently for the country’s development.
Let us move further!
Politicians Acknowledged as Nigeria Next Messiahs
We have less than 560 days to the 2023 Nigeria presidential election.
Many politicians have been positioned to take the baton from the incumbent President – Muhammadu Buhari, and lead them to their promised land.
President Muhammadu Buhari was also presented to the nation in 2015 as the game-changer during his campaign. However, his tenure is winding up, and another set of individuals are warming up to come into his shoe.
Who will be Nigeria’s next President?
Let us not delve into this topic because it will take us to another angle different from the intent of this subtopic.
Interestingly, politicians touted to be the next President are household names in the country. Some have indicated their interest in the position, while some are yet to do so.
1. Ahmed Bola Tinubu
Figure 4Source;Premiumtimes.com
Tinubu’s campaign is all over the street. All that is left is for him to officially declare his intention to contest for the country’s presidential position.
A significant campaign group fostering Tinubu’s presidential intention is the Nigeria Diaspora for Asiwaju (NDA).
In a report delivered by the group a few months ago, Tinubu was described as a leader of leaders, an embodiment of progressive politics, and a political giant.
According to a statement by the group’s director-general, he said “Tinubu stands out as one politician with the best résumé to consolidate on the next level milestones of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
He continued, “NDA is a partisan group aimed at garnering support in the Diaspora and across the length and breadth of Nigeria for Tinubu presidency, come 2023,”
“As a bridge-builder with a great personality and mentality that recognizes all and sundry, there cannot be a better replacement for President Buhari come 2023,” he said.
Asides from Tinubu being campaigned to be the next President, it has also been suggested that there was an agreement between Mr. President and Tinubu in 2015. It is stated that the deal bounds Buhari to hand over to the former governor of Lagos State – Ahmed Bola Tinubu, in 2023.
In addition, the Pioneer National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Rufai Hanga, stated in an interview with Daily Trust, “There was an implied agreement that Ahmed Tinubu would take over. That is why he didn’t back out after the first tenure. If Tinubu knew that he would not benefit, he would have backed out during Buhari’s first tenure. But he knows there was an agreement.”
2. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
Former vice president and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is being speculated to run for the 2023 presidential election.
Figure 5Source;dailypost.ng
Although, he is yet to declare his intention formally. Besides, no group has come forth to create an awareness towards his presidential aspiration. Moreover, when the APC’s spokesman, Akpan Udoedehe, claimed Jonathan would be given a chance to succeed Buhari if he joined the party, he seemed to confirm the rumors.
3. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
Although the Vice President is yet to express his intention officially. However, different groups are marketing him to be the future of Nigeria.
Among others is the Osinbajo Grassroots Organization (OGO).
Figure 6Source;dailypost.ng
According to a statement by its national convener, Foluso Ojo, he said “We have identified in the vice president a leader of unimpeachable character; someone who can continue on the good works already started by President Muhammadu Buhari. We do not need anyone to tell us that Prof Osinbajo is a pathway to Nigeria’s future from 2023.”
4. Atiku Abubakar
Figure 7Source;dw.com
Atiku Abubakar was the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 presidential election. However, he lost to the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.
He has expressed his intention to contest in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election; A campaign group was inaugurated in Asaba, Delta State, to foster his campaign mission named CASGI ATIKU 2023. In addition, a memo was released some months ago where he thanked the party members for supporting him during the last election.
Part of the memo states, “We are fully prepared to work in synergy to restore hope, pull Nigeria back from the brinks and relive the patriotic spirit of our founding fathers! I believe that together we would rebuild our broken fences, mend our cracked walls, restore hope, and return Nigeria to the path of greatness again. Surely, we can, and we must!”
We have gone far, but I have got a lot more for you!.
Now that you know the different presidential aspirants let us figure out something intriguing related to the 2023 election.
Stirring Debate on Zoning
The zoning of political offices, particularly the Presidency, has never been respected by Nigerian politicians until 1999 when the country returned to democratic governance.
Although the Constitution does not recognize zoning of political positions, politicians of all stripes agreed that the Presidency should be cycled between the north and the south that year.
Moreover, the issue of zoning is a significant problem in the country’s major political parties in recent time. Different party stakeholders are giving their views on this matter.
The President’s nephew, Mamman Daura, is the first to stir up the waters. He reinstated that competence should be the primary deciding factor for selecting the next President, not geography.
“This turn-by-turn selection was made once, it was done twice, and it was done thrice. This country should be on, and it should be for the most competent and not for someone who comes from somewhere.” Daura said.
Although, many perceived Daura’s statement to be the thoughts of the Presidency.
Similarly, in the Nigerian major opposition party, PDP, this matter on zoning is a significant issue in their round-table discussion.
The governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, who is also a significant stakeholder in the People’s Democratic Party, said, “it doesn’t matter who is the President in Abuja, but all that matters is a restructured Nigeria where every part of the country will feel the impact of the presidency.”
However, another party member went against his notion. Bode George, the former national deputy chairman of the party, said, “the nation’s democracy may be scuttled, and its unity jeopardized if any attempt is made to dump power rotation.”
Here is the big issue; WILL APC AND PDP RESPECT ZONING?
The APC released a statement that they have no problem with zoning, but they are yet to fix the zoning position.
According to an interview with Premium Times, the APC’s deputy spokesman, Yekini Nabena, said, “We don’t have any problem about zoning. At the appropriate time, stakeholders in the party will meet and decide on the issue of zoning. It is not a one-person show.”
On the other side, PDP is not ready to be drawn into the issue of zoning for now.
“Our party is yet to decide on zoning. It is not about maturity or pre-maturity,” Mr. Ologbondiyan stated in an interview with Premium Times.
Conclusion
The stage is set for baton change. Incumbent political office holders are winding up their tenure to hand over to whoever becomes their successor.
Political aspirants are preparing their way and fixing the necessities towards their aspirations.
Religious leaders are offering prayer against the repetition of electoral misconduct and malpractices, which has become a norm.
Media stations are not left out in this shoe – political jingles here and there.
The political cloud of the country is thick, and it’s about to rain! However, 2023 is the allotted time for the downpour.
THE TABLE IS SET! WHO ARE THE COUNTRY’S NEXT MESSIAHS?
THE CITIZENS AWAIT!
