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It
is a notorious fact that Nigeria had never
witnessed a peaceful electoral process from a
civil democratic rule to another civil rule. The
violence usually experienced during the
electoral process had hitherto constituted a
major catalyst to the truncating of democratic
rule in Nigeria. The women and youths were
usually the tools for such undemocratic
behaviors. Although women and youths formed a
higher percentage of voters, they are also the
instruments for vote rigging, election violence,
vote sales, multiple voting and disqualified
votes.
The
last National General elections held in 2003 was
an eloquent testimony of a large turnout of
women and youths voters most of whom were not
registered and whose votes were disqualified as
bad votes for failure to comply with official
regulations for voting.
From
WOCON's experience at monitoring elections in
South West Nigeria, this trend of voting
irregularities could be categorized into five
types. These are:
The
failure of women and youths particularly those
within the ages of 18-22 to register as voters.
The
use of non registered voters by politicians to
vote with registration cards obtained with
factious names resulting in illegal voting and
elections violence
The
lack of education on procedure for voting
leading to the disqualification of a large
percentage of votes by women (especially
illiterate women) and youths
Sales of votes by politician predominantly to
women and youths who are were mostly vulnerable
on account of poverty.
Multiple voting especially by the youth.
All
these malpractices are catalyst to the emergence
of corrupt and inept political office holders
and electoral violence which can derail the
already fragile Democratic Rule. consequently
for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria,
there is need to educate the women and the
youths on issues relating to voter rights,
registration process, voting procedure,
vigilance to avoid voting irregularities,
prevention of election day violence, and the
adverse consequences of selling votes.
As the 2007 general Elections drew near there
was a heightened anxiety over the success of the
electoral process and a
break from previous derailment of the Democratic
system of Governance. Past electoral processes
in Nigeria had resulted into violent eruptions
and subsequent military take over. Consequently
in order to sustain the fragile Democracy it had
become extremely important to embark upon
massive voter and civic education of the
Populace.
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