RE: Request To Fix Presidential Election On Exclusively Separate Day.
Sir,
In recent times, presidential elections in Nigeria, have always been slated together with other National legislative elections.
Specifically, from 2015 till now, successive elections have witnessed the combination of Presidential, Senates and House of Representatives, elections being fixed on the same day.
This particular decision by INEC has helped, encouraged and promoted the menace of Vote-buying, by major political parties in Nigeria.
And has thereby, made it virtually impossible for ordinary Nigerians to freely vote for a president of their choice, devoid of political party interests.
Sir, here are the practical ways it works in our local communities in Nigeria: The National Assembly seats are 469 combined. It consists of a Senate with 109 members and a 360-member House of Representatives. The two major parties in Nigeria already have the financial war chest to struggle for these 469 slots. Meaning, that 469×2 equals 936 powerful contending legislative aspirants from the two major political parties. All of them have Police and Military officers attached to them, plus a litany of other hangers-on and paramilitary groups around them. That is what they call structure.
So, because the presidential and these powerful 936 legislative elections are usually fixed on the same day, there’s always that personal evil task of delivering their own various political parties on that same day. Hence, the evil job of Vote-buying has been officially distributed to these 936 strong aspirants.
Practically, manpower from both INEC and security agencies who are already overstretched cannot be able to effectively monitor or stop even 5% of the criminality of Vote-buying on that single day. Remember, the 936 strong Aspirants will be fighting for their own personal political survival, while buying Votes for their parties. Even when these 936 aspirants are really not interested in their party’s presidential candidate winning, they will simply be motivated by their own personal interests on the ballots that very day.
But, the situation will never be the same, if the Presidential election is fixed on a separate, exclusive date when no vested interests of the 936 powerful men are at stake.
Chances are that 90% of them will never engage in Vote buying for their parties, on a day, their personal political interests are not at stake. Chances are that majority of them will allow the masses to make their informed decisions and choose their president. Chances are that most of these 936 Aspirants are even tired of these perennial very worst presidential candidates in their parties, who got their tickets via buying of Delegates. Most of these 936 Aspirants earnestly desire the best presidential candidates to win, irrespective of the party. Many, many of these Aspirants are totally unhappy with their presidential candidates. Most of them genuinely feel the urgent need to allow Nigerians to choose their president.
But INEC has not helped them. They wish it could have been separated, because they are hamstrung and tied down by their own personal interests that are usually tied up by INEC, on the same day of the election. That’s why on the day of the election, they buy votes for their Parties, thereby protecting their own political survival. They can’t possibly tell their constituents to vote only for them as Aspirant. INEC, police and EFCC can’t be everywhere on that day. This is exactly the danger of their structures. That’s how bad presidents emerge and the confusion continues in the country.
Consequently sir, I passionately appeal to you, to kindly fix this coming Presidential election in 2023 on a separate date, preferably on the first day.
My Chairman sir, kindly do this for Nigeria. Do this to save this country. Do it for it accords with international best practices. Do it, just like France, Canada and other civilized countries. Do it, for it is the most patriotic thing to do! Please, apply for additional funds if necessary. There’s always room for little supplementary budgets.
Nigerians will definitely prevail on the government to support your efforts in terms of additional funding. Seek for the funds NOW, if necessary and needed.
Chairman Sir, posterity will definitely judge you right if you positively heed and comply with this passionate appeal.
Let us work together to #EndCashAndCarryPolitics and #VoteBuying since INEC has already noted it to be a major issue hampering credible elections in Nigeria.
Azubuike Ihemeje Esq.
