By Folaranmi Ajayi
Some Nigerian students have expressed optimism ahead of Saturday’s polls, confident that the elections would go well and that security preparedness on the part of government looks good.
On Saturday, February 25, voters across Nigeria will choose a new president and members of the national assemble who lead government affairs of the country nation for a four-year tenure.
Concerns are that elections in Africa’s most populous nation are often tainted by ethnic and religious rhetoric, with past votes marred by violence and fraud, something many election watchers hope does not repeat this year.
Many Nigerians are however concerned about the state of security of voters and corps members participating in the electrical process as INEC officials have their hopes very high.
Recall that, In the early hours of February 1, unknown gunmen set fire to an office of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission and a police station in the country’s southeastern Anambra state.
Days earlier, gunmen had attacked and killed soldiers and policemen at checkpoints along a road that connects nearby Enugu and Ebonyi states. The incidents underscored broad security concerns for Nigerian citizens—and journalists—leading up to elections for a new president and federal lawmakers on February 25 and for state governments on March 11.
Nigerians have endured a variety of serious security threats for decades now, something that is a source of concern to political leaders and the international community ahead of presidential and general elections on February 25 and gubernatorial elections on March 11.
However, reacting to the security preparedness ahead of the elections, students, and corps members from Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti told Edugist correspondent that the situation is calm and everyone is in the election mood.
Yinka a corps member in Ogun, said “I am happy that the national security council which comprises of the chief of defence staff, service chiefs, inspector-general of police, some ministers, among others advises the President on public security issues, for me that is a rest of mind”.
Frank a media student in Lagos disclosed that in his area he noticed the influx of security men in their armoured tank two days ago.
“If you check social media you will see videos of security men within their armoured tanks moving here and there, I noticed them around the Otedola Bridge and I have seen them close to my area.”
“My area is Okinni before local govt, Osun state, election is not a do or die affair. We stay at peace here just go out tomorrow exercise our franchise and go back home peacefully, my area is very calm.”
Korede a Mathematics student of Federal University Oye, Ekiti expressed that the readiness of people most especially voters in his area in Oye is commendable making the area serene.
“What I have seen so far is a people very anxious and eager to go the polls as all hopes are very high and you will see the election written on everyone’s faces”.
Electoral violence remains a threat global observatory, students say
According to a global observatory report, in December, Nigeria’s Electoral Commissioner said there were 50 attacks on their regional offices and other facilities since 2019. Armed conflict location event dataset data indicates this is a gross underestimate, with the minimum being 134.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently admitted it is unable to hold elections in at least 240 polling units because of violence.
Civil society groups in Nigeria such as Enough Is Enough, Situation Room, and YIAGA Africa are spreading messages to deter electoral violence. The US, for its part, announced visa bans on Nigerians involved in undermining Nigeria’s elections. And former Assistant US Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, who has deep knowledge of Nigeria, will lead the election observation mission ahead of the election.
Some students have lamented that there are certain people whose aim will be to cause electoral violence in some areas across the federation.
They want the government to put every security architecture in place so that the issue of ballot snatching, voter intimidation and electoral violence be reduced.
Speaking with Edugist correspondent in Ogun,Dele a political science student said “The security situation here is very pleasing but we must not forget there will be a plot by some political errand boy to cause trouble or disrupt voting activities in their opponent areas, this must not be condoned, that’s why security must be in place to tackle any security challenges”.
How to sustain progress
Nigeria’s political reformers have made progress over the past two decades, and a free and fair election is an important step forward.
However, reducing insecurity—much like efforts to advance democracy—requires international collaboration around shared goals of peace and democratic participation.
“We want the government, media, security, to be very responsive to any issue during the process and the media should collaborate with the electoral body as it is a call to national duty,” Dele said.
The students pleaded with the security to prevent a breakdown of law and order and to protect the lives and property of electoral officers, corps members, students and all eligible voters and election observers.
