2023: Political parties, candidates have a role to play in curbing election threats-Jide Johnson

The country is currently at war with itself, thanks to bandit attacks in most sections of the country, particularly in the North-West; the farmer-herder crisis in the Middle Belt, South-East, and South-West; terrorism in the North-East; and secessionist agitations.

Many Nigerians are worried and concerned that the country’s ongoing instability may prevent the 2023 elections from taking place.

The question of national security has remained a hot topic in contemporary Nigeria, and the pervasive environment of insecurity continues to have a negative impact on nearly every sector.

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Several prominent Nigerian leaders and security experts have been quoted in various media interviews in recent times to have expressed fears that violence may mar the forthcoming general elections and that the people’s wish for a seamless handover of power in 2023 could be a mirage after all.

Chief Lecturer, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Dr Jide Johnson said on today’s (Monday) edition of This Morning show that the there is no denying the fact that the country is challenged security wise.

According to Dr Johnson, there are challenges that must be looked into in conducting elections in Zamfara state, there are challenges in critical areas of the North namely, Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Kaduna, Yobe and some parts of Niger states.

These areas, Dr Johnson says are critical areas on the security angle of election which security agencies must be ready to deal with in the North.

Speaking further, Dr Johnson said political parties and their candidates have a critical role to play in not heating up the polity.

According to him, no state in Nigeria is ruled without a governor from a certain political party, particularly from two or three of the country’s major political parties.

“There’s no local government that is not governed by people that are validly nominated.

“In addition to what the government and state institutions would do, political parties and their candidates have a significant role to play.

“Unfortunately for this present democratic experience, from 1999 to date, the institution of the party has been weakened.

“The party in Nigeria are just instrument of nomination.

According to Dr Johnson, the reason why we are focusing on 2023 election is because there will be a transition, what will shape Nigeria within the next four years will happen with the election.

We are therefore setting the agenda for the incoming government on what they need to do. If they could take steps to stop insurgency from affecting the election, definitely whatever measures, whatever lessons that is learned on there can be transferred to public administration and ensuring that there’s peace and traffic in nature.

“It’s not that we’re focusing too much on the election, but we’re looking at how we can ensure that the next administration that would table our problems can address issues that are affecting everybody, whether mentally, emotionally.

“Once we are able to secure the election, the template used can be replicated on a daily basis to secure lives.