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Vote buying during elections; its implications
By Boniface Chizea
Vote buying during elections in Nigeria is not a novelty. It has been with us for quite some time now. In fact money politics rules the waves of politics in the country. Those who have been privileged to occupy political office over the years in the country usually have deep pockets which they are prepared to spend to perpetuate themselves in office.
This explains why the same faces have taken over and dominated the corridors of power over so many years since the prevalent scenario has been winner takes all. In fact, if the truth must be told , it has been an across the board, barefaced looting of the treasury. And this has been perpetrated with so much impunity as no one is concerned with accountability.
In fact the evolving paradigm today is the evolution of political dynasty. Today we have several instances whereby members of a family occupy various key political positions; the father of the house is a high ranking political office holder, say State Governor and the wife, the sons and daughters also occupy various political offices or are being programmed to do so. And this is only made possible not because of exceptional attributes but because structures have been built over the years and these structures are available to be borrowed by any member of the family as the structure owner pleases.
By the way , there have been loud decibels expended on what structures mean. From where I stand structures simply mean individuals in various locations who are beholden to the structure owner come rain come sun shine because he has been a serial benefactor. Where ever he goes they follow almost blindly even if he is headed for the pit! But as we are now getting to know; movements, tsunamis, revolutions often powered by shared visions, mission, goals, passions and aspirations are proving to be much more potent than your usual structures just as it is now showing up in Nigeria.
But lately, money politics in the country has assumed very worrisome dimensions. This started with the primaries of the parties particularly the Presidential primary where what really determined vote count was the amount of money one had to spend. Humongous amounts of monies were alleged to have been spent often in dollars which in turn put unprecedented pressure on dollar supply in the economy worsening the rate of exchange situation. And therefore it was no brainer locating those who won. They were those known to have really deep pockets.
Then now the just concluded Ekiti State elections with report coming out indicating that vote buying was pervasive, blatant and barefaced. And what is worrisome is the fact that the law enforcement agents would appear to be complicit as they were reported to have simply looked the other way. The three main parties in the election; APC, PDP and SDP, were all caught in the Shenanigan. What only differed was the fact that APC the party in power in the State had much more at stake, was in possession of larger purse, out spent the others and as should be expected carried the day. Well the usual contestation after the election might follow in court for the court to be the final arbiter. What manner of democracy is that? There is now a comical dimension to this ugly situation, if not that it is mightily condemnable; that of recourse for refund of bribe money by those who failed in the elections!
But this narrative has now got to change. Nigeria without being alarmist is in serious problem and business as usual can no longer be an option. There is an urgent need for new kids on the block if the trend is to be altered. This is the view we now expect all patriotic Nigerians to Share as they decide on whom to support as they cast their votes during election 2023. When votes are bought positions, to say the obvious go to the highest bidders not necessarily to those better qualified. We therefore might sacrifice merit in the process.
Corruption as it is clear to all concerned has been the albatross to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy. This practice is worsened when votes are bought as money which was mostly in the first place ill gotten, must be recouped. And this is only possible through the perpetration of corrupt practices.
What needed to be done is that vote buying must be thoroughly criminalised before election 2023 by making culprits now in custody scapegoats. Punishments mated must be punitive and widely publicized to serve notice of the fact that such practices will no longer be countenanced. It is reported that Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given INEC seven days deadline to initiate prosecutions against offenders or be taken to court. One expects that INEC is fully appraised of the far reaching implications of the current scenario for the quality of the elections that it should not require that much prodding to act.
And as we look for solutions what readily comes to mind is the urgent need for State police. Control of police from the Centre has undermined its effectiveness and left the police with no option but to act as instructed by the Federal authorities. The time has come to answer to the dictates of a Federation in this respect. It bears emphasising that Nigeria is at crossroads and therefore the imperatives of transparent, fair and equitable elections in 2023 cannot be over exaggerated. Shalom.
Dr. Boniface Chizea is a development economist and consultant
