How safe is Nigeria for the 2023 elections?

As the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari draws to a close, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has almost concluded its plans to hold credible, fair and transparent elections in 2023. But with terrorists, armed bandits, kidnappers for ransom, ritualists, oil thieves and IPOB criminals still holding the country to ransom, through their violent activities, patriotic and concerned Nigerians will be forced to ask: is the country safe for the general of 2023? elections? In recent years, Nigeria has faced unprecedented security challenges that continue to threaten the existence of its business. These security bottlenecks become albatrosses for the realization of the country's development program. Lately, the CENI has sounded the alarm, saying that the worrying insecurity could force its Commission to postpone or cancel the next polls if not properly addressed by the authorities concerned.

Noting that the development could hamper the proclamation of election results and precipitate a constitutional crisis, the election arbiter called for concerted efforts to stem the tide of violence. As expected, the statement was followed by concern and condemnation from citizens, civil society groups and socio-cultural organizations across the country. However, with 30 days to go until the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the CENI showed courage and promised that the timetable would not be changed, saying the issue of postponing or rescheduling the elections was not on the table. Table. Speaking on January 26, 2023 in Abuja at the 20th Daily Trust Dialogue on “Interrogating the Presidential Agenda 2023”, Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye said that as election arbiter, he has the skill and courage to continue this election, just as he swore the commission would go ahead with the election.

Even with this assurance, one cannot ignore the different types of security threats facing each of the parties in the six geopolitical zones. For example, in the Northwest where banditry, kidnapping and industry flourish, several thousand people have been killed and others have been dislodged from their ancestral communities and forced to settle in makeshift tents or displacement camps. So far, these marauders still have their days on the ground, especially in states like Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Katsina where the trend is more pronounced.

Relentless clashes between farmers and herders have ruined several communities in north-central Nigeria, particularly in Benue and Nasarawa states, which are suffering the consequences. The confrontation is still ongoing between the two opposing sides as they continue to fight over land resources which they both consider essential to their livelihoods. Extending to the northeast region where the insurgency of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists has emerged over the past decade, especially in the BAY states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. It is remembered that the former administration of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had to postpone the 2015 general elections in order to free certain communities from the control of the Boko Haram insurgents, which made it possible to conduct polls in these areas. Although they are daily decimated thanks to joint military operations around Lake Chad and in various theaters of war, these terrorists are still very much alive and can seize the opportunity to scuttle the electoral processes.

Moving to the hottest area, the activities of unknown gunmen, especially the militant wing of the terrorist organization IPOB, posed a threat to elections across the region. Activists have sworn that elections cannot be held in any state in the Igbo territory.

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Making their threat a reality, the militants destroyed, setting fire to INEC offices and other facilities throughout the geographical area while killing its staff.

The so-called unknown gunmen are recently known to have abducted traditional leaders, high-level politicians, businessmen and other influential actors in the region and then executed them.

Additionally, to further compromise security architectures, members are well known for destroying police headquarters, divisions, and other on-site security equipment.

Over the past four years, the Independent National Electoral Commission has so far recorded 50 attacks on its facilities in 15 states, with the majority in the southeast, with Imo State alone recording 11 incidents.

According to verifications by Leadership Newsp...