The 2023 general elections are less than two weeks away. Some see the exercise as a game between the candidates and the electorate. Although INEC is prepared for the smooth conduct of the elections, Nigerians are more prepared to play the game as they hold their PVCs and ready to appear in the play grounds (polling units). It’s apparent that some Nigerians use their PVCs as weapons, some use it as commodity while others choose to remain onlookers awaiting the results of the game.
Although in Nigeria voters have varying inclinations in exercising their constitutional franchise, some voters have similar mindset like their counterparts in democratically developed countries. This mindset is to vote preferred candidates regardless of status, religion, ethnicity or gender. The candidate must possess some characteristics before qualifying for their votes. Such votes are used as weapons to bring positive change to Nigeria.
In Nigeria, just as in many countries of the world, free and fair elections constitute the central factor in ensuring the growth of democracy. In Nigeria’s case, politicians have monetised the electoral process and voters sell their votes by voting people who give them money.
On the other hand, there are Nigerians who have lost hope and decided to just stay away from the elections thinking that it is a burden to them. This is due to the politicians’ behaviour of abandoning their people after making a lot of promises which they fail to fulfill after elections.
Therefore, Nigerians should use their brains to cast their votes for the appropriate candidates that will become the remedy for their problems.
Mustapha Abdullahi
Mass Communication Department, Borno State University,
Maiduguri
