Events of the past few days are throwing up indications that the battered Nigera’s democracy may be resuscitated with the forthcoming general election, a possible new level.
With the recent signing of the amended Electoral bill 2022, into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, barely five (5) days to the constitutional 30-day provision within which the nation’s president must assent to a Bill transmitted to him or have the National Assembly veto him, is a possible indication that the unsavoury narrative of the Niigerian people may be changing to the right.
Like a magical twist, the non-compliant, old fashioned and ‘go-slow’ president signed the amended Electoral bill, into law, probably as a result of irresistible internal and (or) external forces or a much more harder pressure from the gods.
But, it is an ugly recitation that, this administration, since, its inception barely six (6) years ago as a government, has been on the wrong side of democratic history with virtually all its actions and reactions ticking in opposition to all known democratic practices, measuring from global democratic index.
Nigerian democracy experience, has in the past six (6) years been synonymous with the like of a nation waiting for shipwreck to happen, particularly with the incessant crises, restiveness and terrorist activities that may have caused the decision by the government to unleash the military on the rebels which has enflamed passions and hardened resistance, resulting in dozens of innocent civilians caught in the unfortunate crossfire.
This administration, has made a mockery of the legislature and the judiciary with no iota of respect for judicial pronouncements and orders especially when they are against the government.
Over the years, legislative bills, not in the interest of the Executive, do not receive the president’s or governors’ assent except under intense public pressure.
Certainly, this government has done nothing, over time to resolve the festering sore of conflict that has engulfed virtually all segments, zones, districts and tribal components of the nation.
Governors who secured the gubernatorial seat by crook or fraud have converted civil and public servants in their respective states to private and domestic staff; reducing their salaries to stipends and pay same to them as if it were out of their magnanimity.
Futhermore, an abysmally low turnout of voters during elections, reveals the fractured relationship between politicians and populace.
I remember with nostalgia, a popular pop star, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who once described Nigeria’s democracy as “demon crazy.” For me, he obviously got the description right.
While signing the amended Electoral bill, into law last Friday, President Buhari, admitted in his speech that “There are salient and praiseworthy provisions that could positively revolutionize elections in Nigeria, through the introduction of new technological innovations. These innovations would guarantee the constitutional rights of citizens to vote and to do so effectively.”
He also held that “The Bill would also improve and engender clarity, effectiveness and transparency of the election process, as well as reduce to the barest minimum incidences of acrimony arising from dissatisfied candidates and political parties.”
The president, however, expressed his reservations about the practical application of section 84(12) of the Electoral Bill, 2022, advising it will, “if assented to, by operation of law, subject serving political office holders to inhibitions and restrictions referred to under section 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
He said, “Section 84 (12) constitutes a disenfranchisement of serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at Conventions or Congresses of any political party, for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election in cases where it holds earlier than 30 days to the National Election. The section provides as follows:-
“No political appointee at any level shall be voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election”.”
But, it is apt to note that, once the integrity of elections begin to improve, the expectation is that the trend would have an impact on the nature of political parties and the general public by extension.
The Electoral Act, would also return the popularity principle which will assure that parties with more popular candidates shall begin to win elections in response to the stimuli.
But, very unfortunately, most serving State governors in the country and their loyalists, do not realise that the new Electoral Act, has stripped them off the undue advantage of using their appointees as automatic delegates to deliver their interests during party primaries, congresses and conventions. An input that is wind-breaking for political office holders.
