The 2023 presidential election is a few days away and the stakes could not be higher.
The nation is facing numerous challenges, including a festering security crisis, and pockets of political unrest. In addition to these challenges, recent events have added more complexity to the election, including the cash crunch brought about by the naira redesign issues which has stirred protests in different states.
Also of great concern is the destruction of INEC offices and lately there have been some killings which many believe are not unconnected to the forthcoming elections.
Bearing all these in mind, many Nigerians have been forced to ask the question will the Presidential Election hold?
Historically, Nigeria’s election periods have been marred by violence, irregularities, and other forms of electoral malpractice. However, more recent elections have been relatively peaceful but many believe that the factors at play at the moment have heightened the tension around this election.
An American Warning
A few days ago, the United States Embassy in Nigeria alerted its citizens in Nigeria on possible protests and restricted movements on February 25 and March 11.
In a notice on its website, the Embassy advised its nationals to avoid rallies as “they can turn violent with little or no notice”.
The Embassy also advised American citizens in Nigeria to have three days of food and water at home in case movement restrictions are extended beyond election days.
The notice which was titled, ‘Security Alert – Possible Protests Leading to Elections and Restricted Movements on Election Days’, stirred some concern among Nigerians as people continued to ask themselves if there is intelligence that the Americans have seen which the ordinary citizen might not be aware of.
An official fear
Perhaps no development has triggered more fear regarding the election being cancelled like the report suggesting that an INEC official said that the polls face serious threats of cancellation.
At the Validation of Election Security Training Resources, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru who was representing the INEC Chairman, highlighted how certain growing concerns could hinder the conduction of the election, however, the statement was taken to mean that the electoral umpire had said the polls will be postponed.
“Moreover, if the insecurity is not monitored and dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder the declaration of elections results and precipitate constitutional crisis.
“This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen,” the INEC official had told those present and this sowed the seed of doubt in the heart of many Nigerians.
The signs say otherwise
People are very concerned about the coming elections and rightfully so, we all should be concerned, as the outcome holds a lot for the future of the country.
However, there are some reasons to believe that the 2023 election will hold as planned, and in peace. First, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is responsible for organizing the election, has been working to improve its systems and processes.
For instance, the commission has introduced new technologies (BVAS and IReV Portals) to enhance the integrity of the electoral process, reducing the incidence of electoral fraud.
Furthermore, the current government has shown a commitment to ensuring that the election holds as scheduled. President Muhammadu Buhari, has repeatedly assured Nigerians that his administration is committed to conducting a free and fair election in 2023.
The President has also reiterated his commitment to ensuring that INEC has all the resources it needs to organize a credible election.
We are good to go
Perhaps the greatest morale boosters as regards if the election will hold or not, are the assurances from the electoral umpire themselves, and the security agencies.
A few days ago, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu visited the Training Centre for Presiding and Assistant Presiding Officers and also inspected the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, venue for the final collation of the 2023 general elections results.
Upon finishing the inspections, the INEC Chairman dismissed reports of any planned postponement of the general elections, declaring that the “commission is good to go.”
When questioned about the recent protests across the country over the new naira scarcity and how it might lead to the postponement of the election, Prof Yakubu dauntlessly said the role of providing election security is the sole responsibility of security agencies.
He, however, disclosed that the commission would meet with heads of security agencies to discuss more on safeguarding the environment for a peaceful election.
Are the security operatives ready?
Indeed, the security agencies have said that they are ready to ensure peace and tranquility even as citizens carry out their civic responsibility. The right to vote and be voted for is key in a democracy and the security chiefs have been assuring Nigerians that this right will be protected at all cost, and the nation’s territory will be well guarded.
The Army on Wednesday released the approved Hotlines to monitor and report any suspicious act or acts of violence by unscrupulous persons or group of persons capable of disrupting the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election, as well as the conduct of troops deployed to provide security during the election.
This came after Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, gave a marching order to all commanders to identify vulnerable locations in their jurisdictions and take full control of those areas ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The COAS issued the directive while formally flagging off Operation Safe Conduct in all Nigerian Army Divisions and formations across the country.
He reiterated the resolve of the Nigerian Army to strictly adhere to its constitutional role by supporting the Nigeria Police, which is the lead security agency in the 2023 elections security architecture.
Handing down similar orders, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, charged navy commanders to embark on sustained surveillance of Nigerian waterways to forestall breakdown of law in the maritime environment before, during, and after elections.
Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has updated its list of emergency contacts of all Police Commands, and officers of the force have been made to partake of a seminar on curbing electoral violence.
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba says the Force will deploy 310,973 of its personnel to the over 176,846 polling units nationwide, adding that this number would be augmented with 51,000 personnel from the National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), 21,000 from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 11,336 from the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), 9,447 from the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and 350 personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Earlier in February, President Buhari commissioned some equipment for the force including operational vehicles, crowd control and anti-riot gadgets, and high capacity desktop and laptop computers which were acquired to ensure proper enforcement of electoral laws and seamless electioneering process and stabilizing the public space before, during, and after the general elections.
These gadgets were also purchased for the purpose of enhancing the capacity of the NPF to manage civil disorder in line with acceptable national legal framework and global law enforcement protocols.
At the commissioning, the IGP tasked a team of Strategic Police Managers to safeguard the public space for the elections in active synergy with other security agencies.
While charging them to make certain that the quasi-security outfits created and owned by state governments are precluded from the election duty, he stressed that national security interest overrides personal interest and as such, in line with the directives of Mr. President, the election shall be policed in a civil manner with full compliance with the rule of law.
A date with the future
The 2023 polls is perhaps one of Nigeria’s most anticipated elections yet, and as many Nigerians are ready to make their vote, with millions believing that nation will on February 25th, have a date with its future.
The world also has its eyes on the polls, with nations hoping that Nigeria gets it right and that in the end only the will of the Nigerian people will triumph.
Speaking on the elections, US President Joe Biden called for peaceful and credible 2023 general elections in Nigeria, saying the citizens deserve a chance to do so.
Similarly, U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Nigerians have a chance to make their voices heard in during the February 25th election.
In a video message, Blinken said the people of Nigeria have a chance to make their voices heard and to choose their future.
Pivotal moment
In conclusion, the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria will be a pivotal moment in the country’s history, it is essential that the election is conducted peacefully and that the winner is accepted by all Nigerians.
Though there are a few concerns that the election may not hold as scheduled, however, there are many more reasons to be optimistic that it will hold as planned.
All seems set to ensure that the election is free, fair, and transparent, and that it is conducted in a safe and secure environment. Ultimately, the success of the election will depend on the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including the government, political parties, and the citizens.
