The seventh general election since the nation’s return to democratic governance 23 years ago has taken place on the 25th of February 2023. The current period of democratic rule in Nigeria is the longest in the country’s history. Even though this is the case, there are still a few obstacles to overcome on the road to a stronger democracy, Entrepreneurng report.
An important sign of a democracy is the regular holding of free, fair, and credible elections in which citizens can cast ballots to select their leaders.
While there have been many reasons to celebrate, the nation must also face challenges as it continues its path toward a more mature democracy. Among others, the necessity of including underrepresented groups in the process, the impact of religion and ethnic identities in politics, the price of politics, etc.
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Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a southern Muslim, has contested as the presidential candidate for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), and Alhaji Kashim Shettima, a northern Muslim, will be his vice. Given that religion continues to play a significant role in Nigerian politics and society, this sparked a lot of discussions. On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is running former vice president and northerner Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate, defying expectations that it would do so. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, a Christian from the South, will serve as the candidate’s vice. Another Peter Obi from the labor party presidential candidates is also a Christian from the east and his vice Yusuf Baba-Ahmed from the north and also a Muslim. The three parties contend that the selection of their candidates is based on calculations that would ensure victory in the elections and while it will be interesting to see how voters have responded.
Law Reactions Against Rigging At Polling Unit
It’s critical to inform the public that the relevant section of the electoral law prohibits anyone from attempting to “obtain in a polling unit information as to the candidate a voter in that location is about to vote for or has voted for.
The laws were intended to prohibit a third party from inquiring into another voter’s choice and disclosing that information to others.
The law does not intend to impose limitations on people who reveal, independently and of their own free will, which candidates they supported. So the incident that happened in Lagos, Edo, Bayelsa, and most especially at the president( Muhammed Buhari) polling unit revealing who they voted for and the destruction of ballot boxes from thuggery attacks was totally against the Nigeria law constitution and an eyesore.
Additionally, the freedom of speech and the right to join legitimate associations are guaranteed by the constitution.
Nigeria Collation Of Election Results Process by INEC
The National Collation Center for the 2023 General Election in Abuja has been officially opened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While officially opening the center, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu also established the procedures for the collation process.
The Results for each state of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be presented by the State Coalition Officers for the Presidential Election through some guiding rule. Some of which include accredited agents, observers, members of the press, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and security agencies shall occupy the seats designated for them as results are been collated. The coalition Secretariat at the collation center will receive the SCOPE and set up the presentation order.
The SCOPE will announce the votes received by each political party in the state loudly after the format for the presentation of the results, along with any reports of cancellations and any areas where elections were not held.
The returning officer must display the sealed copies of result sheets EC8DA, which serve as a summary of the election results on a state-by-state basis after each SCOPE has presented its results.
An EC40G3 summary of registered voters in the polling places where elections were either canceled or not held is included in the EC8E for the declaration of election results.
The returning officer must fill out the EC8DA and declare how many votes each party received. After that, we’ll ask the poll workers to sign the forms. The returning officers fill out the form ECAE and declare a winner if they are satisfied.
The final step is for the returning officer to invite representatives from each political party to receive duplicate copies of the final results declaration documents, the ECADA, and EC8E.
Conclusion
In anticipation of who is going to be the next president of the republic of Nigeria that will soon be announced by INEC. All Nigerians should be full of hope that indeed the successor is who God has chosen for us and to make Nigeria great again is worth the race of this 2023 election.
