The saying that ‘when two elephant fight, it is the grass that suffers’ best describes the situation of Nigeria electoral process.

Nigeria politics is a “do or die” affair, with incumbents doing everything to hold onto their power and opponents doing as much as possible to clinch their desired seat.

It is easy to understand why.
Members of the National Assembly become automatic millionaires once they enter the legislative body as they earn millions of Naira from their salary, more millions from their government-issued allowances and possibly billions from brown paper bags and duffel bags containing the occasional b***e.

Same thing goes to other office older from the apex rank in the political chain to the least.

Many people goes into politics in Nigeria solely because of two things, to acquire wealth and to increase their fame and popularity.

Analysts are of the opinion that the major problem with the country’s electoral process is the will to hold on power at all cost regardless of who gets hurt in the process.

The numbers of lives that had been lost in politics is the second to that of terrorism.

Ideally, the election season should be a political celebration of the Nigerian democracy in the manner that Americans describe their election season as ‘a celebration of American democracy’ . But the reality we live with is a political environment unduly charged by the desperation of partisan gladiators.

Some politicians make inciting statements that are capable of tearing the country apart in the name of campaign, while some of them who have lost their shame engage in physical combats. .

The masses are always at the receiving end, as the ruling party and opposition party meet on the election field.

Funny enough, INEC seems to have always jilted the electorate by playing the script of its employer.

Antidotes to this problem

The National Assembly should legislate through a bill empowering the judiciary to appoint members into the board of INEC, people that are non- partisan with unquestionable character.

Secondly, it will be of help if all elected officials should step aside four months or at most three months to the period of the general elections. This will also go a long way in solving the problem of intimidating any Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) from doing a thorough job of conducting a free and fair election.

There is also the need for all political parties to draw up sections/laws to discipline any member who makes careless statements; these sanctions must be enforced to ensure compliance.

Nigerians have a role to play and the responsibility is shouldered on them to determine who wins the elections but this will not happen if they don’t vote for the right candidate. They must shun thuggery and any form of violence, regardless the pressure.
With some of these points put in practice, Nigeria will be a better place for everyone.

Once again Remember,

*******Don't sacrifice your life for any of these politicians... Your life is more than trillions of naira
*******Get your PVC so as to vote for the candidate of your choice...

Lalasticlala,Mynd44 , OAM4J Please move to fp

Politics gives people so so much money and power to oppress others in this part of the world