In a recent news report, former Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) director Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu expressed concern about the upcoming presidential election in Nigeria.
He stated that his greatest worry is how to contain the teeming youth population who are calling for a new Nigeria if their preferred candidate does not win the election. Ibeanu highlighted the enthusiasm and effort being put into the electoral process by the Nigerian youths, and noted that he has not seen such passion for an election before.
He stressed the importance of conducting a credible election, and noted that trust is critical in election management. He identified some of the major threats to elections, including manipulation of security agencies, trust deficit, fake news and misinformation, and the roles of other agencies in the election process. Ibeanu commended INEC for the progress made in election management over the years, despite the difficulties posed by Nigeria’s parlous infrastructure.
Ibeanu pointed out that the nature of elections contributes to how well they will turn out, and warned that the danger of a tight race is that it makes politicians more desperate to win at all costs, which is a big threat. He also mentioned that when the living standards of the people improve, they would reject vote buying, or even raise the stakes for politicians, which they would find difficult to meet.
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