Democracy in Nigeria, by Idris Salihu Muhammad
Democracy is a system of governance used by civilized countries across the globe. The Nigerian government adopted the democratic system of governance in the year 1979 which was interrupted by the military after four years, and could only Suphase in 1999 now presently the system used in the country for the governance of the people by the people and for the people.
The 2023 election in Nigeria took place in February 2023 starting with the presidential election, the senates and the reps, and later the governortorial election and their lawmakers took place in March 2023.
The presidential election which took place on 25th February 2023 was free and fair and was conducted peacefully across the nation.
The INEC officials were in all polling stations with their BVAS machines and full-scale accreditation materials for the voting exercise.
The party agents were all present in all polling stations, the voters themselves, and security agents. Also, the foreign observers and the media were all present to cover the exercise.
The Final result was compiled by the INEC and announced by the INEC chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu whereby the candidate of the APC Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate Senator Kashim Shatima got the highest vote of 8,794,726 votes over their opposition of the PDP and the Labour Party who won over 6million votes each, also the APC President-elect and his running mate won 26 states out of 36 states of the federation leaving 10 states and Federal Capital Territory to be shared by the two strong opposition parties.
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The provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that in an election whoever won the highest number of votes and over two third of the number of states is the winner of that election. Therefore Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the president-elect under the platform of the APC with his running mate Senator Kashim Shatima, who satisfied the provision of the Constitution.
The opposition has been crying foul that the president-elect should not be sworn in on May 29 2023 because their case is still pending in court. It is always the best option for any party that feels aggrieved should go to court and seek redress but it is not for them to redeem the president set in a country or to violate the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the years 2003, 2007, and 201, General Muhammad Buhari who was at that time a leader of the opposition went to court three times after his defeat but the winning party was sworn in on the 29th May of each of those years while his case was still pending in court.
Also in 2019, the PDP presidential candidate went to court after the election where President Muhammadu Buhari was going for a second term and he was still sworn in on the 29th of May of that year while the case of the opposition was still in court. Therefore the president has been set and God’s willing, the president elects Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate Senator Kashim Shatima should be sworn in come May 29th, 2023.
In the interim, during the transition period, we hope that the International Communities, the pioneers and now the Masters of Democracy endeavor to support democracy work in Africa and Nigeria in particular, as it is the giant of Africa and the most populated country in Africa. We expect the United Nations, The European Union, and the African Union to mobilize and come to the rescue of democracy in Nigeria. Because the majority of our politicians do not believe in the rule of the game and also, and they don’t adhere to the spirit of Sportsmanship whereby losers embrace and congratulate the winner for peaceful coexistence. I did similar advocacy in 2015 which positively affect the democratic settings in Nigeria but I wasn’t recognized. Now visually impaired, I still repeat the same with my Son as the scribe.
Idris salihu Muhammad can be reached via idsamud253@gmail.com.
