On Tuesday, Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), a media advocacy group, expressed concerns over the recent cash swap implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). JODER stated that the policy may deny millions of Nigerians their democratic rights, as they may be unable to access their funds and, as a result, may not be able to cast their votes during the upcoming national elections.
JODER explained that many Nigerians work or reside far away from their polling units, and it is a tradition for individuals to travel to their state or community during each election season. However, due to the current cash strapped situation, many Nigerians may not be able to travel to their polling units to vote.
Adeewale Adeoye, JODER’s spokesperson, stated that the CBN cash policy would prevent millions of people from performing the “historic ritual of electoral migration.” Adeoye added that the policy had also annulled access to mass communication instruments like pamphlets, radio jingles, and community and rural meetings, making it difficult for political parties to communicate with voters.
JODER estimated that millions of people would be disenfranchised by the CBN policy, and that the policy would not stop vote buying but rather enhance vote inducement to be paid in areas instead of instant payment associated with past elections. JODER posited that voters might become more desperate for compensation due to the impoverishing CBN policy.
JODER concluded that the CBN had undermined democracy and sustainable development by implementing an ill-thought-out and despotic approach to an otherwise progressive fiscal policy that should have been driven by the overall public good from the beginning.
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