NEED FOR VOTING WISELY

NEED FOR VOTING WISELY - Haruna Abubakar Bebeji

The importance of Elections to modern democracy cannot be over-emphasized, as they are the processes of choosing people at various levels of government.

In a nut shell, elections are synonymous with democracy.

‘Democracy is a form of government where citizens participate in government by choosing the government through free and fair elections and the politicians represent their constituents’. In other words, voters legitimize the power of ruling political parties and politicians through the ballot.

This is why it is of essence to have free and fair elections, since they remain the only formal avenue through which credible people come to power.

It, however, takes a lot to conduct free and fair elections.

First and foremost, there has to be in place, an electoral umpire to organize, conduct and announce the outcome of the polls.

The electoral body registers political parties, on which platform various candidates stand for election.It is also saddled with the responsibility of updating voters’ register as well as delimitating electoral boundaries.

Above all, the electoral arbitrator must not only be fair, but be seen to be fair to all parties and candidates.

It is a common knowledge that in a very near future, Nigerians will be going to the polls to choose new political leadership at all levels of governance.

It is against this backdrop that it becomes pertinent to remind the Nigerian electorate of their obligation to vote wisely on the Election Day. Hence, Nigerian voting public owes it a duty to exercise their franchise in an intelligent manner.

Various candidates are vying for executive and legislative positions in the 2023 General Elections.

While some of the contestants seek re-election, most of them are standing for election for the first time. It therefore behooves the Nigerian voters to study these candidates well before deciding on whom to cast their expensive votes for.

Most of them have sugar-coated tongues; and so, the electorates should be on their guard, so that they do not fall victims of their mendacity.

As for those seeking re-election, Nigerians must weigh their antecedent to decide their elect-ability: What have they got to show for their last tenure to fetch them yet another chance?

While as far as the first-timers are concerned, they must prove ability to relate well people.

Voting along ethno-religious lines will not augur well for the country. Voters must therefore not fail to vote credible candidates who proved to have the interest of the nation, states and constituencies at heart.

Additionally, Political parties should not be the yardstick for electing candidates, since they don’t seem to have clear cut ideologies.

However, the credibility of candidates regardless of the platforms on which they seek election should be the voters’ watch-word.

Nigerians will vote wisely only if they vote individuals and not parties.

 

My name is Haruna Abubakar Bebeji.  

I'm a passionate writer, content manager and blogger from Kano, Nigeria. I started writing online about politics, governance and day-to-day issues to share my thoughts, ideas, and experiences in this space. Over time, my blog has become a space for me to inspire, motivate, and entertain others.  

I'm committed to bringing engaging, quality content that will help make anyone's life just a little bit better. I love to explore new topics, review products, and discuss the latest trends in politics and governance.

I write in both English and Hausa and as a certified International Translator and Interpreter, I Translate from English to Hausa or Hausa to English. When I'm not writing, managing or creating content, you can find me outside enjoying nature, reading, or spending time with family or friends.  

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