By Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”- Eleanor Roosevelt ·
The 2023 general elections in Nigeria will reshape the political architecture in all aspects of political manoveuring, calculations and activities because of various interests involved and aiming at getting the best leader for the country.
All stakeholders in the political processes and procedures have put their hats in the ring to ensure seamless and successful conduct of the elections going by the assurances so far given by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Mohammodu Buhari and the INEC as umpire through the invention of novel ideas that can guarantee free and fair General elections such as Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, (BVAS) machines for the elections, Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), Automatic biometric identification system (AIS), Automatic fingerprint identification system (AFIS) and Electronic Transmission of Election results in line with sections 60, 62 and 64 of the Electoral Act
At different stages of preparation, INEC has given updates on its preparedness both with the PVCs collections and election materials needed for the conduct of the elections.
It is not only noteworthy but also commendable the recent consultations made by INEC leadership to all stakeholders in the process of organizing credible elections: the presidency, National Assembly, CBN, NURTW (for the purpose of transportation of election materials) and Leadership of all security apparatus in the country purposely to ensure hitch free elections
In this regard, the disclosure made by the INEC leadership on progress recorded in the distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) is not only cheering but also re-assuring that the new generation of Nigerians have developed a very strong confidence in the electoral umpire and our democratic culture which is still undergoing processes towards perfection.
The Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently announced that a total number ninety three million, five hundred and twenty two thousand two hundred seventy two( 93,522,272) voters will participate in the forthcoming elections.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during presentation of the National register of voters to political parties said of this cumulative figure, 49,054,162 (52.5%) are male while 44,414,846 (47.5%) are female.
While the distribution by age group shows that 37,060,399 (39.65%) are youths between the ages of 18 and 34; 33,413,591 (35.75%) are middle aged persons between the ages of 35 and 49; 17,700,270 (18.94%) are elderly voters between the ages of 50 and 69 while 5,294,748 (5.66%) are senior citizens aged 70 and above.
The implication of the population of the active group ( youths) is that Nigerians between the active ages of 18 years and 49 years will account for 75.40% of votes in Nigeria i.e (37,060,399+33,414,591) = 70, 474,990, if only they are ready to exercise their civic duties and obligations.
In terms of occupational distribution, students constitute the largest category with 26,027,481 (27.8%) of all voters, followed by 14,742,554 (15.8%) Farmers/Fishermen and 13,006,939 (13.9%) housewives.
In the same vein, voters distribution per state revealed that Lagos state leads with 7,060,195 registered voters; followed by Kano with 5,921,370; Kaduna 4,335,208; Rivers 3,537,190; Katsina, 3,516,719; Oyo 3,276,675; Delta 3,222,697, Plateau, 2.78 million; Benue, 2.77 million; Bauchi 2.74 million, among others.
Again, INEC further revealed that data on disability was not collected for previous registration. However, the cumulative figure of 85,362 persons from the recent CVR indicates that there are 21,150 (24.5%) persons with Albinism; 13,387 (15.7%) with physical impediment and 8,103 (9.5%) are blind.
Available records showed that this was not the first time Nigeria has had a huge number of voters. Nigeria had a voter population of 84,004,084 in the 2019 general election. But following the cleaning up of the data from the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise held between June 2021 – July 2022, ,9,518,188 new voters were added to the previous register resulting in the preliminary register of 93,522,272.
Inspite of the encouraging percentage voters turnout in the 2019 election stood at 35.66 % with a total of 84 million registered voters and a turnout of 28.6 million.The Northwest had the highest voter turnout in the 2019 elections which was won by Muhammadu Buhari. For instance, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states came first, second and third with a voter turnout of 1.96million; 1.71 million and 1,62 million respectively. Lagos came fourth and was the only Southern state among the states with the highest voter turnout with 1.16 million votes. Jigawa, another Northwestern state comes fifth with a total vote of 1.15million.
The South had the least voter turnout in the 2019 presidential election. Bayelsa topped the list with a vote of 336,000 votes and Abia comes second with 334,000 votes. Ebonyi, Ekiti and Cross River followed.
To this end, 18 political parties will field a total of 15,307 candidates, including 1,553 women for 1,491 offices, including the presidency; 28 governorship offices; 109 Senators; 360 in the House of Representatives; and 993 seats in state houses of assembly.
It is very imperative to State that voting will take place in 176,846 polling units nationwide located in 8,809 wards or registration areas in 774 local government areas. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it has acquired at least 194,464 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines for the election to be managed by over 1.4 million ad-hoc officials. This is to show that INEC is solidly ready for this election.
According to the data from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (I-IDEA), the rate of voter turnout in the 2019 elections in Nigeria was also the lowest of all recent elections held on the African continent.
Voters are blameless in this circumference, because some of the underlisted identifiable factors are attributable for the voters apathy which include but not limited to the following:
“Lack of enough civic education,
Lopsidedness in voter mobilisation,
the fear of violence during elections, lip service to promises by elected officials and public mistrust in Government institutions, electoral malpractice, electoral violence, lack of confidence and understanding with government officials and their candidates during. elections.”
With the recent socio economic and political developments in Nigeria there would be an increase in the level of voters turnout in the forthcoming election compared to the previous elections due to the level of consciousness among the youths and the harrowing experience other segments in the society have passed through in recent past.
Without mincing words, the political consciousness among youths and Nigerians is incomparable to the past political activities because they have had part of the pound of flesh in the hands of our political elites; is it 8 months of ASUU strike action? trial and error economic Policies? is it political manipulation and Policy / programmes somasault ? is it Naira for Naira exchange ? is it Fuel scarcity ? all these maladministration are endless.
Refreshing our memory on the #EndSARS# movement that triggered socio political consciousness among the Youths, they are conscious enough to know that they have to be part of nation building and the socio-political re-engineering of the country.
Arising from the above, the logical and legal way to contribute to nation building is to participate in the democratic process and that process includes exercising their franchise of voting”. There must be no lamentation from their segments.
To ascribe relevance and protection to students in tertiary institutions that form 26% of voters in the forthcoming 2023 General elections according to Data provided by the independent National electoral commission the regulatory agency for universities in Nigeria, the National Universities Commission has ordered a closure of universities across the country to enable students participate in the 2023 general elections.
In a letter addressed to Vice-Chancellors of all universities and Directors of inter-university centres, the NUC noted that the directive was based on the directive of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
“As Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Director/Chief Executive of Inter-University Centres are quite aware the 2023 General Elections have been scheduled to hold on Saturday February 25, 2023, for the Presidential and National Assembly, and Saturday March 11, 2023 for Gubernatorial and State Assembly, respectively.
“In view of the foregoing and concerns expressed on the security of staff, students and properties of the our respective institutions, the Honourable Minister of Education, Mal. Adama Adamu has following extensive consultations with the relevant security agencies, directed that all Universities and Inter-University Centres be shut down and academic activities be suspended between 22 February and 14th March, 2023.
“Consequently, Vice-Chancellors and chief executives of inter -university centres, are by this Circular requested toll shut down theirl respective Institutions from Wednesday 22nd February 2023 to Tuesday 14th March 2023.
From the foregoing, voters who are in the age bracket of 18 years to 49 years have no reason to lament again politically and on the present socio-economic upheavals in our polity because opportunities beckon on them to make Nigeria better through their civic duties and voting exercises, the best candidate among the array of candidates from various political parties and for various positions should emerge. People on these age groups shall be held accountable and responsible within this period of political history of Nigeria because of their numbers among the qualified voters (73+ million out of total number of 93+ million registered Voters)
Clarion call to Nigerian Youths
Nigerian Youths, going by the confirmed statistics affirming their electoral value of over 75.40% of qualified voters in the 2023 General elections, should coordinate themselves and engage political class on how best to cater for them by entering into treaty , charter of agreement and commit the political gladiators into their programmes of action that will make youths relevant in the process of good governance in Nigeria.
It is never too late to begin this process of meeting with presidential candidates and other contestants into various positions at all levels before the general elections.
What is the place of Not Too Young To Run bill signed into law by President Mohammodu Buhari of Nigeria on May 31st 2018 ?
Youths should by this clarion call brace up; you are Leaders of today not tomorrow because that tomorrow begins today: we all remember that General Yakubu Gowon was the Head of State likewise Rt Honourable Dimeji Bankole was the Speaker of House of Representatives when both of them were yet to get married then among other innumerable leaders of both Genders, hence, Youths should henceforth retrace their paths responsibly.
Your generation must not be wasted!!!
As patriotic Nigerians, we have to make our country great through our sincerity of purpose and direction devoid of ethno-religious sentiment.
I will conclude my submission with Nelson Mandela Quote from his book Long Walk For Freedom “I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.” –Nelson Mandela; this is a challenge to Nigerian Youths.
Let us perform our civic responsibilities!!!
Nigeria must be great by the grace of God!!!
Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo , fcia fipma JP
Trade Unionist and industrial relations practitioner gbengaolowoyo3@gmail.com
08033570338