Echoes of a new beginning, By Dakuku Peterside

Last Saturday’s presidential election marked a new beginning for Nigeria, if not literally, then clearly symbolically. Nigerian voters, challenged by hunger, the Naira crisis and considered the moment as a clear point from the past. He embraced the election as if his life depended on it. High levels of public enthusiasm boost voter turnout and strengthen confidence in democracy. Young people see it as an opportunity to “take back their country”, affected by leadership and backwardness. The joy and passion with which Nigerians engage in rituals that may not have rewarded them in the past but still keep them hopeful for a better future is electric. The presidential election shows a divided, disillusioned, and unhappy Nigeria. Regardless of the outcome of the election, most Nigerians believe that the electoral process is a radical improvement on previous exercises, given the size and complexity of the country. Previous polls have been anticlimactic in process and results.

Nigerians hope that this election will bring a true democratic leader who represents the people’s choice and voice. Elections were generally peaceful and orderly, with the exception of pockets of fighting in flashpoint states where thugs disrupted polls, ransacked ballot boxes, or targeted voters tactically.

Unfortunately, the bad habits of bullies and violent interference in the process resurfaced. Violent hooliganism evident in states like Kogi, Lagos and Rivers overwhelms security arrangements.

According to media reports and from the accounts of observers, the youth voted. The voter turnout from observation, in general, may be better than in the past, where voter apathy was evident, and there was a continuous decline in voter turnout in each subsequent general election. Most of the poll watchers I spoke to are cautiously optimistic that this will be a relatively free and fair election, thanks to recent amendments to the electoral law that provide legal support for the Bimodal Voter Identification System (BVAS) and other technological devices. From the footage of the results, the old political area seems to be collapsing. Nigerians reject the politics of hate, violence, and intolerance. If that happens, it will mark a watershed in Nigeria’s political history.

Wise people should be aware of the four different echoes and echoes of election. The first echo is that INEC prepared better this time when compared to previous elections. The level of organization before and during the polls shows the better operation of INEC. INEC conducts voter sensitization, conducts mock drills and pretty much assures the public of its best intentions. The use of technology is good, as voters can find polling units online. The method of identification in the polling unit is remarkable, and we must commend INEC for using this technology in remote areas of Nigeria. BVAS technology generally works, with failures in a few places. Overall, the quality of the elections conducted has improved. This is proof that Nigerian institutions can work if we are prepared to do the necessary work to improve them.

However, there is also an elixir of mixed feelings about INEC’s preparations for this election. INEC allowed many familiar slip ups in logistics. Backup batteries for BVAS devices are not available in many places. INEC staff arrived late in some places. Voting starts late or not at all

even take place in isolated incidents. But due to the tripartite problems of cash shortages, fuel shortages and infrastructure shortages, one can only imagine the huge challenges of managing this election in nearly one hundred and seventy thousand polling units nationwide. Given the ongoing logistical challenges in our elections, INEC must develop better ways to resolve these issues to improve the electoral experience of Nigerians. It is not fair for voters to come out to vote and not see INEC officials or officials arrive late.

This leads to some disenfranchised voters completely, or the vote spilled over to the next day. Also, INEC officials could not upload results from polling units. This is a critical point in the election. Election fraudsters will probably “doctor” the results to their advantage – the same complaint of all Federations.

The second echo is the high level of youth voter participation. Typically, Nigerian youths are not happy with politics and the electoral process. This is a shame, because they belong to a more important part of the population. In previous elections, voter apathy among young people was high, and most young people would rather do nothing than stand in line to vote in the elections. Post-mortem analyzes of previous elections have often blamed the youth’s lack of interest in the electoral process. The number of young people participating in this election is remarkable and it is a sign of the backsliding of the parents. The huge number of youth strengthens the future as a youth domain.

This is important in three ways: first, it can be a sign that young people suddenly understand that they have a role in choosing the country’s leaders. The involvement of youth in social media enables them to share their political views and pursue political ideas. The second is that this large audience means rebellion against orthodoxy. Young people are dissatisfied with the status quo and decide to influence the future through political mobilization and participation. Students of political sociology may need to draw the political consciousness of the youth through various conflicts between the youth and the system (institutions, agencies, government), as seen in the ENDSARS rebellion and other pro-youth agitations. The movement has crystallized in youth political advocacy. The third is the growing number of youths who have shown their willingness to use their power to take political control from the older leaders who have seized power in Nigeria for generations. We hope that the extension of this significant youth turnout in the next few years will be a signpost of young people presenting themselves in more significant numbers to vote and metaphorically take back the country.

The third echo is that many Nigerians have shown faith in the electoral process.

There is also a higher-than-usual awareness of democratic rights as voters assert these rights and oppose those who violate them. The level of political awareness is encouraging and remarkable. The mantra in this election has been that “vote counts”, and with the new voting technology, election rigging is brought to a minimum. This has inspired confidence in many people to vote. This will deepen our democracy and corollary good governance in Nigeria. It is also important to note that this is the first election since 1999 that no presidential candidate has come from the military. Nigeria’s democracy is slowly drifting away from the control and influence of former military generals who seized power and have defined our politics for over fifty years. Nigerians in this election have demonstrated their love for democracy and are willing to participate when they believe in the process. I hope that the actions and actions that the political gladiators and post-election institutions do not take will be democratic. The call of the election results, the declaration of the winner, the litigation and appeal routine, the transition process and the formation of the new government are all flashpoints that must be done carefully and due to democratic principles to maintain the democratic bubble created by this election.

The fourth echo is that Nigerians want a new Nigeria and are full of new expectations from the incoming president. The new leadership faces high expectations from Nigerians who believe that we are at a breaking point and are no longer comfortable. Nigerians expect the president-elect to chart a new path for the country towards economic, technological, social, and political regeneration that will improve the standard of living of Nigerians. Nigerians are tired of suffering and living in hope of a better Nigeria which is honest leaders can build from our endowments. Whoever is the president has been stripped of his job and should act quickly before Nigerians lose patience. Whoever is declared victorious has no choice but to initiate radical reforms in all spheres. They should initiate policies and programs that address youth issues, especially education, job creation, insecurity, infrastructure, and good governance.

There is no doubt that Nigerians, at home and abroad, are looking forward to a new and better Nigeria. The election has sent an echo across time and space for a new beginning – a new beginning for something more extraordinary. Building the Nigeria of our dreams is a task for all and getting the right leadership is the first step to achieving a greater Nigeria. We must continue the enthusiasm and optimism of the election and use it better in productivity and innovation. I hope our young people are awake and in tune with the reality of today. The future is for him, and he must work hard to build it. Economic and political participation is necessary for such growth. I call on all Nigerians to dare to dream of a better, greater, and prosperous Nigeria.

Dakuku Peterside is a policy and leadership expert.