Nigeria 2027: Preventing The Return Of Violence

 By Tonnie Iredia

Many analysts who felt they could explain away the poor conduct of the 2019 elections ended up making two irritating statements; first that the nation’s electoral body did not have a server and second that even if there was one, it was not put into use. Considering that it was public knowledge that INEC was funded to get a server, the narrative could have sent the nation ablaze, but it did not.

In 2023, INEC’s claim that a glitch adversely affected only one out of 3 elections that were simultaneously conducted should have led to massive violent reactions as it used to be in Nigeria, but again it did not. It is however naïve to imagine that Nigerians have suddenly become dumb or that the unusual post-election calm has now established the emergence of a new political culture.

The Dying Republic And ‘Go To Court’!

 By Ugoji Egbujo

Soon after independence, election rigging set the western region on fire and brought down the first republic. ‘Operation Wetie’ wasn’t just frustration and impatience; it was a rejection of the courts. In the second republic, malpractices returned to ruin elections’ credibility, and Baba Ajasin saw it better than others. Omoboriowo, who snatched victory from Baba, had to flee.

When that republic fell, the soldiers blamed their coming on economic hardship and rigged elections. The third republic didn’t last. Principal politicians, excluded, others were railroaded into an artificial dichotomy of two sterilised parties. Shorn of natural birth and passion and with a more transparent electoral procedure, the June 12 presidential election lacked edginess, fire and controversy. It didn’t precipitate confusion.