By Lois Otse Adams
Since the return to the civil rule on 29th May, 1999, Nigeria has held six general elections apart by from the sundry re-run elections and local government polls. Out of the six general elections conducted, none has met both the local and International standard.
However, the distributing trend is that each general election was worse than the preceding one.
This trend indicates that the country is faring very badly at each passing election as nobody can talk of consolidating democracy in such an environment. This is owing to the fact that leaders seem to have forgotten that conducting a ‘free and fair’ election is vital to the growth and development of any democratic process.
Also, an average Nigerian voter is interested in immediate rewards and will easily trade off votes when appropriately induced. This can be explained by the crippling poverty facing the people in the absence of government’s provision of the basic amenities required for decent living, as well as justified distrust of the political leaders.
The efficiency of democracy in Nigeria, citing the premise of the irrational voter, or a voter who makes decisions without all of the facts or necessary information in order to make a truly informed decision has always been a matter of criticism, as democracy in Nigeria still struggles to focus on long-term problems and usually remain mired in short-term policy approaches, democratic politicians are averse to imposing near-term pain for long-term gain due to their need to keep voters happy for the next election. Also, Lack of proper civil governance has slowed down processes because of the amount of input and participation needed in order to go forward with a decision.
This owes solely to the fact that an individual in search of a political office is ambitious, desperate and cunny, whose statements are a mirage to blindfold the electorates. These individuals are Inclined with the tradition of giving peanuts and having their ways through elections over and over.
The strength of the electorates is the power of Democracy, that is to say there is no strong Democratic government that lacks the strength of the electorates, a virtue which has been sold out to the individual in power who trades with the votes of the electorates who are willingly happy to receive peanuts and bribes, a blunder which occurs over and over again.
The need to engage youths in democracy and not make them feel excluded and marginalized cannot be over emphasized as it is important to note that young people have much to offer to the society, ranging from innovation, to creativity, to new thinking; their participation in democracy promotes active citizenship, strengthens social responsibility and can enhance democratic processes and institutions. Today’s young citizens are tomorrow’s leaders and decision-makers yet young people’s engagement with democracy faces significant challenges threatening the future of healthy democracies.
Most promises made by political parties could be termed ‘empty’ as they do not have the ability or the authority to pass the legislation or to promote the policies they promise. When most politicians make promises, they create a rod for their own backs and then turn the backs on the electorates, electoral politics and elections are often laced with fractious violence, which often compromise the integrity of elections.
Returning to democracy in 1999 has multiplied rather than diminish the incidences of electoral violence in Nigeria. However, Political parties take advantage of young folks in the country, forcing them into terrific actions; killings, kidnappings and all sorts of diabolical acts, executed for the sake of an individual fighting for power.
The 2023 elections should therefore serve as an avenue to provide opportunities for young people to participate or be involved in planning, democratic decision-making and partnerships, as young people should be offered involvement in responsible and challenging actions that meet genuine needs.
Therefore, the foreign culture of holding those in political positions accountable for all of their actions should be fully imbibed.
