As the March 28 and April 11, 2015 re-scheduled polls draw nearer, the reality or otherwise of the election taking place remain to be seen.
While politicians mainly across the ruling PDP and the main opposition APC are involved in media cross-fire on sentimental issues and hate campaigns on National print and electronic media, there are strong indications that should the election hold as scheduled, the turn-out of eligible voters will be abysmally low.
Despite the claim by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC that it has recorded over 80% collection rate in PVCs, statistics show that the rush that followed the collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs before the elections was shifted from February 14 and 28, significantly reduced and indications are that quite a number of Nigerians managed to collect their PVC to enable them perform other forms of daily transaction should the need arise as well as the fear of the unknown, rather than for voting purpose.
Experience over the years have shown that no election in Nigeria has recorded up-to 50% participation of the electorates and if the records are anything to be taken seriously, then there are indications that should the March 28 and April 11 polls take place as scheduled, Nigerian politicians and indeed the elites should expect poorer voter participation.
There are several factors that are likely to increase voter apathy in the forthcoming polls. The factors include: a disillusioned populace occasioned by perceived bad governance, fear caused by insecurity across the country, the desperation of politicians and hate campaigns, lack of belief in the electoral process, the uncertainty whether the polls might be re- scheduled following unending reports of INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega’s stay or exit, the near zero voter education at the grassroots by both INEC and the political parties as well as the practicability of the use of Card Reader.
Whether we like it or not, a vast majority of the Nigerian voting public do not know how the Card Reader works and the barrage of litigations on whether the PVC or Temporary Voter Card, TVC should be used if the polls hold, is another uncertainty beclouding the electoral process that will negatively affect voter participation.
Until political actors, particularly in the ruling PDP and main opposition APC address the issues outlined above, a major surprise in terms of voter apathy awaits us.
Editor-In-Chief
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