In the recently concluded local government elections in Kaduna State, the opposition party—Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)— declared that elections did not happen. In Soba LG, the electoral officer signed a report stating that the elections did not occur. Many polling units reported that no election materials were delivered at all. Some places where materials were delivered showed video evidence of paper vandalisation because return sheets were absent. Electoral offices were burnt in places like Lere.
But against all odds, and with no fear of consequences, the state’s electoral commissioner announced that the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), had won all 23 seats in the chairmanship election and 255 in the councillorship election. The announcement was made as some people on social media reported voting was about to start at their polling units in Zaria Local Government Area.
Unsurprisingly, the voters have gone quiet, like in all the other council elections in various states. They have gone back to their usual position. As they usually do, they have conceded and are looking forward to the next event.
It is frustrating to see how voters have recently adopted a habit of docility whenever they witness a clear abuse of power by the government during elections. Their surrender tactic is now to say that next time will be different. No, it will not. “Next time” may not even provide a level playing ground for the people to have a say. If the voters have no response plan now, then they are expected to have no plans the next time another voting abuse happens again. And it will.
Many argue that voters will channel their anger toward 2027. But as they say, a good Friday can be predicted since Wednesday. If they cannot stop a state’s impunity, how can they stop the federal force?
The 1999 Constitution gave the federal government more powers than state governments. Despite the powers granted to the federal body with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where elections could be manipulated, we still find an illusion of justice at this level. Some degree of sanity is demonstrated because the people get a say on who they vote for among the offices of the President, Senate, House of Representatives, Governors and State Houses of Assembly.
On the contrary, voters have been conditioned to think that state governments are more powerful when manipulating elections. Voters must look inward and accept that they gave this power to the state governors and their electoral commissioners.
Until the electorate realises that it is less challenging to demand justice from the state and local governments than from the federal government, the false consolation will remain the only tool they have. The false consolation that next time will be different has remained with the electorate for 10 years now, and it is already becoming a way of life, especially for the youth who are not conversant with the events before 2015.
What will the voters do if INEC declares that all the seats contested in the 2027 elections have been won by the APC? If Nigerian voters cannot plan against the impunity of state electoral bodies during the council elections, they will not be able to do anything when the INEC chairman declares the president, 109 senators and 360 House of Representatives members by 5pm on Saturday while voting is ongoing. The same thing could be repeated for the gubernatorial elections and the state assembly.
Here is what the voters can do.
On many occasions, I bring examples from societies where we borrowed this democracy of ours. But today, I want to stay local and use the build-up to the 2015 elections, which should be fresh in our memories. I use the word “should” because people have been conditioned and gaslighted to think some events never happened.
The ‘Change Mantra’ of 2015 now seems unthinkable. In fact, mentioning the word “change” seems like an abomination. If some things were repeated today, newspapers could be sued for publishing it. Some things may even be termed treasonable if individuals repeat them today.
I will use the example of the APC, which started pushing for free and fair elections to the point where it provoked a debate to justify adopting a parallel government to satisfy the “will of the people.”
It started with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, then a vice-presidential candidate, at a town hall meeting in America where he was asked if the APC was planning a “parallel government” should the party feel aggrieved by the result of the 2015 presidential election.
He defended the statement by calling on the ruling government (PDP) to ensure that elections are free and fair. He even made a warning statement by mentioning that there is no crisis every time there is a free and fair election in Nigeria. He gave an instance of the June 12 elections.
Similarly, Rotimi Amaechi defended the statement in 2014 when he spoke in Abuja. Saying that the APC had met and agreed to “install their own government” should the party sense any foul play. Amaechi said, “If you rig us (APC) out, we will rig ourselves in. If you think you can rig us out in 2015, we will form our own government. He confirmed that the “APC has met, and we have agreed on it.” They plan to install their own government, and there will be two governments instead of going to court. He said there was no point in going to court when the federal government does not obey the law.
Lai Mohammed supported their position by saying the only way to avoid a parallel government is to have a free and fair election. He accused the incumbent of using the police as if it were a private agency or company of the government.
Therefore, if these statesmen can say this, there is nothing wrong with voters repeating it and referencing them. But that’s not the point. People must make credible demands and follow up on the plans, starting from the LG elections.
Conditionalities and an action plan must be established. If they do X, then Y will be done. For example, if the electoral commission requests the withdrawal of the phantom declaration and sets another election day, there will be no problem. Otherwise, people should revisit Osinbajo’s and the APC’s ideas at local councils.
If people allow state governments to keep exploiting their rights, the federal government will not hesitate to tamper with its own elections when the time comes. Voters must continue to blame all those governors who rigged the LG elections for institutionalising impunity. They must persevere and refuse to be intimidated.
When state electoral bodies are determined to undermine the will of the people through electoral fraud, voters must stand against it. People should not think of “next time” because there may be no next time.
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