Since Independence, Nigeria has witnessed several elections at local, state and federal levels which were characterised by a series of problems that affected their credibility. This was attributed to different anomalies such as vote buying, electoral violence, and other election malpractices.
In the current 4th Republic, from 1999 to 2019, a series of issues were said to have tampered with the credibility of elections, particularly ballot snatching, intimidation of electoral officials and violence. However, the narration changed in the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections in which vote buying, ballot snatching and violence were drastically reduced. Voters were given their freedom to vote without intimidation and this made the election unique and most credible in the history of Nigeria.
I pray that the elected president, his vice, senators and other members of the National Assembly will have God’s guidance and the wisdom to deliver beyond expectation.
Usman Suleiman Sarki, Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Federal University Dutse
