INEQUALITY IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Omale O. Samuel argues for a level playing field for everyone
The selection of candidates for the 2019 general elections is in top gear by the political elite. As it is now, it appears that little or no attention is being given to governance and developmental projects across the states as many of our leaders are busy with the permutation for the 2019 general elections to see where they can fit in. We recall the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, February 16, while that of Governorship and State Assembly/Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections have been scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2019. With this reminder and a counting clock on the website of INEC, counting the remaining number of days, hours, minutes and seconds, politicians are on their toes.
Some state governors have started anointing their successors even before the primary elections and some political gladiators are busy aligning and realigning themselves, seeking the favour of their political godfathers. The seemly neglect or slow motion in good governance and implementation of the capital component of the 2017 budget is something to think about. It seems that the commotion for agitations, restructuring and preparation for the forthcoming elections attested to the facts in my write-up on the “2019 polls and capital budget implementation” sometimes in March 2017. Few days to the last quarter of the year, we are yet to know the actual amount disbursed for capital budget execution and the second quarter implementation report of 2017 federal budget. Based on the foregoing, it appears that 2018 capital budget implementa- tions will suffer more neglect compared to 2017 since it will be preparation year.
The political calculation to select the incumbent as an unopposed candidate has done more harm than good in the history of Nigeria politics with impunity called internal democracy. In the name of continuity, they go into the computation of sidelining or closing doors against the most intelligent, honest, and competent and humble individuals from participation in the race for primaries and automatically denying them the opportunity to participate in the main elections. And this is a gross sign of inequality in our political system. This is done to preempt many qualified Nigerians, who are eligible and capable to be our leaders and it happens because of the fear of defeating the incumbent candidate peradventure it is open for competition. Without a level playing ground for all to compete, inequality prevails.
The high cost of nomination form by the political parties is another form of electoral inequality in our political system and a deliberate attempt to sideline some good people from the race, who may not have political sponsors or much money to contest. The ongoing Anambra State gubernatorial election confirmed this assertion, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of interest form goes for N500,000 and the nomination form at N5 million, bringing the total to N5,500,000. And that of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s expression of interest form goes for N1 million while the nomination form is N10 million amounting to N11 million, while each female aspirant will purchase the expression of interest form for N1 million and the nomination form for N5 million which will amount to N6 million as against previous arrangements where female aspirants only pay for the PDP expression of interest form and get the nomination form free. The question is how many honest people can afford these amounts of money, which is the starting point? After a careful look at the cost of nomination form in the entire major political parties in Nigeria, one may conclude that the political ruling class belongs to the “riches” at the detriment of the low class with integrity.
The historical gender discrimination against women is another sign of inequality in our political system. Some attributed the gender disparity to cultural stereotype, abuse of religion, traditional practices and societal structures. Whatever name it is called, inequality should be curtailed in all our electoral processes especially as it concerns the women and young people.
Nevertheless, we end up reaping the pains of asymmetrical treatment by selecting mediocrity to lead and govern us instead of selecting our first-eleven, who have the desirable leadership qualities with technical know-how to lift the people from the circle of poverty that has pervaded our land. These are part of the opportunity cost or other prices we must pay for allowing inequality to subsist in the selection of leadership in Nigeria.
The 2019 general election is around the corner and we should expect such scenarios, where political caucus will impose president, state governors, local government chairmen and counsellors on the electorate in the name of automatic tickets. Thereafter, they will roll out drums to sing songs of wonderful performance for them even though the so-called “candidates” are performing poorly. Definitely, the political jobbers must sell their products (godfathers) with bags of rice and we (docile electorate) will buy them considering the situation of our economy. But the reality of life will dawn on us after the elections when the bags of rice finishes and they all change their phone numbers.
To avert any form of inequality in our electoral processes, the political parties should not raise the bar high in favour of selected few and also ensure to maintain a level playing field for all the aspirants. More so, all the necessary laws should be amended to provide equal rights for all and reduce too much influence of money in our politics. The citizens should all rise up to condemn every act of inequality in totality and demand for level playing field for all contestants in the forthcoming general election.
Considering the high level of hunger, poverty, unemployment, battered foreign exchange and interest rate with negative impacts on the Small, Medium and Enterprises (SMEs) in our dwindling economy, we should all demand performance records of any incumbent coming out as a candidate for any elective positions. The monumental challenge of none payment of workers’ salaries across the states of the federation is something to look into when it comes to select the incumbent leaders or if they try to impose non-performing governors to us.
I look forward to seeing a new Nigeria when money politics will be defeated and competence, integrity and equality will reign in the selections of our leaders.