The Centre for Democracy and
Development (CDD) has raised the alarm
that desperate and disparate political
actors that are out to win at all costs,
would pose a sizeable threat to electoral
integrity in 2023, despite technological
advances.
The organisation also noted that
worsening insecurity across the country
remains a threat to the poll.
CDD’s Director, Idayat Hassan, in a
statement, yesterday, observed that the
2023 elections would be one of the most
challenging elections to be conducted in
the country, which is battling diverse,
complex challenges.
According to her, Nigeria may be
experiencing its longest run of
uninterrupted democracy, but the quality
of it remains very much in need of
improvement
She said: “Boko Haram conflict that
defined the 2015 election is yet to be
quelled, but with bandits operating across
the North West, violent secessionist
agitation spiralling in the South East, and
farmer-herder clashes ongoing across the
country, the 2023 election is set to take
place amidst nationwide insecurity.
“The 5 June attack on a church in
relatively stable Ondo State, in South West
Nigeria, which saw more than 50 people
killed, was a stark reminder of the
insecurity challenges that will affect the
safety of election materials and personnel,
and a major challenge for Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC)
“Ahmed Tinubu, 70, and Atiku Abubakar,
75, are now the frontline candidates in
the forthcoming elections and both have
significant war chests at their disposal.
They previously worked together in 2007
when Tinubu’s party, the Action Congress,
fielded Atiku, then outgoing vice-
president, as their presidential candidate,
and in 2015, when both were frontline
promoters of the APC. However, with 60
per cent of Nigeria’s population being
youth, and with many among that
generation disgruntled with the ruling
class following events such as the
#EndSars protest against police brutality,
the prospect of an intergeneration divide
widening is clear.
“Potential third forces that could increase
the likelihood of Nigeria’s first-ever
presidential run-off are Peter Obi, 60,
who withdrew from the PDP primary
contest and will now run as the Labour
Party flag-bearer, and Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso, 65. While Obi has cultivated
a significant online following among
younger voters, Kwankwaso is equally
popular among youth in his native Kano
State.
“The attempt to create a formidable third
force seems to have been midwifed as the
Peoples Redemption Party, New Nigeria
Peoples Party (NNPP), National Rescue
Movement (NRM), Nigeria Labour
Congress have all agreed, for now, to an
alliance to run under the banner of the
Labour Party. A joint Obi-Kwankwaso
ticket could shake up the presidential
race.