As Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency winds down, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is close to planning to hold credible, fair and transparent elections for 2023. But with terrorists, armed bandits, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminals still holding the country for ransom, patriotic and concerned Nigerians, thanks to their violent activities, will be forced to ask themselves: is the country safe for the general election? from 2023?
INEC recently sounded the alarm by saying that the current insecurity could force the commission to postpone or cancel upcoming polls if they are not properly addressed by the concerned authorities. The election adjudicator noted that the development could hinder the announcement of election results and create a constitutional crisis, and called for concerted efforts to stem the tide of violence.
Looking at the appropriate measures taken by various security agencies, it can be concluded that Nigeria can proceed with the 2023 polls, but does not completely ignore the chance of some form of security issue that can be registered here and there, and that has been an integral part of the electoral process from the start.
Again, more attention should be paid to curbing the rampaging activities of terror organizations in the Southeast and of bandits, kidnappers and insurgents in the Northern region, as they are the biggest threat in this year’s polls.
- Yau Madobi Mukhtar, Canoe.
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