In this report ERNEST NZOR writes on menace of vote buying and selling in light of the governorship and state legislative elections and the task before the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Recent elections have been defined, in part, by the menace of vote buying and selling, hate speech and fake news. Other issues like intimidation of voters by contending groups and the role of security agencies have also remained topical.
In the build up to general elections, there was little doubt that these issues would form the bulk of the concerns in the quest for peaceful polls.
With the Presidential and federal legislative elections over, the focus now lies on the states, some of which have been indentified as flashpoints.
However, barely days to the rescheduled polls, the focus of critical stakeholders was fixed on a seeming older challenge to the electoral process; ballot box snatching.
This menace resurfaced at the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting where President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that he had told the military and the police to deal ruthlessly with any person who snatches ballot boxes. He drew the attention of the opposition to the matter when he underscored that he had given a directive to the military and police to shoot any person who snatches ballot box.
Expectedly, the opposition feasted on the statement, claiming that the president was wrong to issue such a directive because it was unconstitutional. Leaders of the PDP at their National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting took turns to condemn the directive, noting that there is a laid down law for dealing with such crime. The presidential candidate of the party, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, at the meeting, challenged the military not to obey the order because it was an unlawful order. They further cautioned that any security operative who kills a voter would be reported to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.
Ballot box snatching had been a major threat to the electoral process. It was a prevalent challenge for INEC between 1999 and 2007. But with the introduction of more technology, like the card reader and the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in the electoral system in 2011, there was a remarkable decline in ballot box snatching. Evidently, the process of stealing ballots for mass thumb printing became much more cumbersome because of the increased technological integrity of the electoral process.
Still, instances of ballot box snatching have occurred since 2015. According to analysts, where such incidences occur, the aim is more likely to cause a depreciation in the voter of an opponent than to write results as the case used to be.
The Ekiti State governorship election last year, recorded cases of ballot box snatching. Unidentified persons snatched the ballot box at polling unit 22, ward 6 of Efon Alaye Local Government area. The ballot box was snatched while electorates were gathered.
At ward 3, unit 4 of Ikole Local government area an attempt was reportedly made by three persons to snatch the ballot box at the polling unit. One of them was arrested.
In Osun State governorship election there was also cases of ballot box snatching. In Orolu Local government area, ward 9, polling unit 001, the election was cancelled after hoodlums snatched ballot boxes. Also in the same ward, at polling unit 004, ballot boxes were snatched resulting in cancellation of the votes.
But with ballot box snatching become less rampant, a new menace emerged.
Vote buying and selling as a means to gain political mileage has become quite common place with the turn of the 2015. With the introduction of the electoral franchise with its one-man, one vote mantra, politicians of all hues, believing that the end justifies the means, have perfected the art of using ignoble means to attain political power.
In order to have advantage over their opponents at the polls, some politicians have resorted to all manner of inducements to get voters to cast their votes, obviously not according to their conscience, but according to the weight of the largesse doled out by each of the contesting parties.
This trend had manifested majorly in the Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti, Osun governorship elections. The issue had generated a lot of concern for stakeholders. While the major political parties traded blame over the menace, the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a bid to tackle the issue, banned the use of phones at the polling booth.
The federal government had also weighted in on the issue as it assured Nigerians of necessary security and logistics in ensuring that there is no vote buying or selling during the polls.
National Orientation Agency (NOA) who took up the task also embarked on campaign against fake news and hate speech, urging all candidates of the political parties to have one interest; to stop buying and selling votes in 2019 general elections.
It is on the need to end vote buying and selling that National Orientation Agency (NOA), flagged-off campaign deploying peace building programmes and peace messaging through state and unit to sensitise the public on the need for collective commitment towards peaceful general elections.
NOA and the other critical stakeholders, under the aegis of the National Stakeholders Committee (comprising all major governmental, non-governmental, religious and security organisations) appealed to Nigerians to work in partnership with the INEC to end vote buying in 2019 general elections in Nigeria.
NOA thereafter embarked on enlightenment programmes to educate Nigerians on the process for voting. On January 15, 2019 it began its enlightenment or voter education campaign from the 774 local offices of the agency simultaneously.
The observations by the agency showed Nigeria’s preparation for this year’s elections are several, including eagerness to build on the gains of 2015 especially in the area of peace and order; eagerness to gain information on the methods and procedures for election; and constant readiness to participate fully in the whole process.
In line with these observations, the agency fully mobilised its staff and partners spread across the 36 states and 774 LGAs, to carry out mass sensitisation programmes that centred on the three critical issues; reducing voided votes; ensuring peace and order during elections; and campaign against vote buying and selling. These target areas follow a very successful though still ongoing campaign against hate and fake messages.
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The director general of NOA, Dr Garba Abari said, “I am convinced that the quality and composition of the National Stakeholders Committee is not only in adept but far reaching with members drawn from political, religious, security and other strategic stakeholders of the country. Therefore, we must realise that it is only us, the Nigerian people who can proffer lasting solutions and chart a path towards ending vote buying and selling for peace and stability of our country. There cannot be meaningful national development without an atmosphere of peace.”
Responding to question at the National Stakeholders “Dialogue for Peaceful and Violence Free 2019 General Elections,” the Abari added “Election periods in Nigeria have come to be characterised with great anxiety, usually heightened by the reckless utterances and sometime, action of some politicians and their followers.”
”As patriots and lovers of our dear country Nigeria, we must realise that we have no other country like Nigeria. Therefore we have a duty to promote peace, enhance security, national unity and integration, using our diversity and our fault lines as a source of strength rather than a reason to commit violence or selling our right.
“Our youth who are easily used by unscrupulous politicians as cannon fodder for the perpetration of violence on vote and selling must be called to order. This responsibility lies on parents, guardians, religious leaders, opinion molders, traditional rulers and youth leaders across the country as we draw near to the commencement of the general elections,” he added.
He urged youths across Nigeria to say no to greedy, selfish politicians who would want to tempt them with the lures of money and other material benefits to lead them to destruction of lives and property, before, during and after the elections.
However, while reacting to the ugly trend of vote buying and selling, head, Transparency International, Nigeria, Musa Rafsanjani, noted that “The first way to go in stopping the monetisation of votes is to comply with the Electoral Act. The Act is very clear about offering money for votes of electors . These laws must be enforced in every election cycle.
The government must be above board . They must not be found indulging in such practices or even condoning such acts .
“The police must also shun partisanship and be empowered to carry out their duties without fear or favour regardless of how highly- placed the perpetrators of such acts are. The police have a responsibility to bring law breakers to book . It is dangerous to allow the commercialisation of votes . It is a danger to our democracy and the survival of the nation .
“The failure to sanction those who indulge in this open bribery will only give rise to the normalisation of this abnormality. Unfortunately , political parties have also failed in their responsibility to sensitise their followers and this has promoted this irresponsible behaviour which is undermining the credibility and legitimacy of our elections. So , the political parties must begin to educate and sensitise the general public.
“If people collect money for votes , then how can they demand the accountability in government ? How can you thereafter challenge your leaders when they are taking the improper steps? There will be no moral courage or grounds to demand efficiency from the elected persons . This has a serious implication for the country.
It is important that the National Orientation Agency, political parties, the Civil Society and the media begin the work of educating the people to stop this culture of vote – buying.
The security agencies must also support this orientation by arresting those who want to tamper with the credibility of our elections through the use of money,” he stated.
Chairman , Conference of Nigeria’ s Political Parties , Kwara State chapter, Adebayo Lawal, said
“As things are in Nigeria today ; where the literacy level is low , poverty is endemic and unemployment rate is very high , vote – buying cannot be eradicated . With all the said social and industrial inadequacies bedevilling our society , people generally are happy to receive pittances in exchange for things of great value so as to take care of their immediate needs .
“Any legislation put in place as a check would be unenforceable as every segment of our society is full of people who live for the now.
A large section of Nigerians want something for the moment because of the poor economic situation. Nigerians are naturally proud of whatever they have been able to achieve, so they believe in their self – esteem before the degradation of our social standards to the point we are today. People will continue to grab what comes their way.
“However, if we have a government that is committed to the welfare of the people , things would gradually improve in areas such as education , health and infrastructure to uplift the standard of living in Nigeria.
When a citizen can have three square meals a day and access to housing and health care services, he or she would have sufficient confidence to reject offers of immediate gratification from politicians.
Our governments have a lot to do in terms of providing the enabling environment for an average Nigerian to be self- reliant, so as to be courageous enough to say no to all things that are inimical to human dignity . The politicians too should guard against vote -buying and security agencies must be impartial in discharging their duties . These are the things we must do to stop vote – buying,” he added.
The national coordinator , Election Monitor, Saheed Olugbon
Abiodun Ajijola, said “I would say vote – buying has different aspects ; the first thing that I think is important is the criminalisation of it . What do I mean by that ? When we talk of electoral offenders , everybody thinks of ballot box snatching which is of course a criminal offence.
They think , if you disrupt a polling unit , you may be arrested but why is it that when you go to the same polling unit to share money , nobody arrests you ? I think that’ s where the problem is.
“Many believe people overseas are more lawful than Nigerians , it is not so . The major difference is the way we implement our laws . If you break traffic laws overseas, they will fine you , whether you are a governor or a movie star . The first thing I ’ m not happy about is that security agencies refuse to act when they see people paying for votes.
“As long as that happens, no matter the other procedures you put in place, they are not going to work . I think there is a provision somewhere in the Electoral Act that criminalises vote -buying . The point is that our security agencies must not condone vote – buying . The second step is that polling officials should not in any way encourage vote – buying .
“The polling officials have been trained to ensure that voters vote and go away quietly , but now you see them allowing party agents to stay close to the polling booth so that they can see who voters voted for .
“So , the polling officials have a role to play to prevent vote -buying and they have the power to do so with the support of security agencies . We should see vote – buying as a national emergency which requires the involvement of traditional and religious institutions. We also need the involvement of civil society groups and the media to enlighten the citizens about the adverse implications of vote – buying on the future of the nation,” he said.
