By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
Nigerians are worried that the 2027 elections might be disrupted by thuggery and electoral misconduct, similar to what was witnessed in recent by-elections.
Elder statesmen, leaders, lawyers, and activists are calling for reforms to prevent this. They suggest that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should electronically transmit results from polling units to prevent manipulation.
Additionally, they advocate for strengthening the Electoral Act and prosecuting those who sponsor electoral fraud.
Dr. Jackson Omenazu, Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, emphasizes that electoral violence perpetrators must face serious punishment to curb this menace. He said, “Until electoral violence perpetrators are punished seriously, this menace won’t stop.” According to him, only errand boys are punished, while the main sponsors of electoral fraud go free. He said, “The main sponsors of electoral fraud remain in their cozy houses and they are not prosecuted, thereby giving the criminals a license to operate without let.” He also suggested that INEC should deploy technology to prevent electoral manipulation and ensure security agencies are apolitical and accountable.
Retired Judge Miakpor Emiaso believes that instilling the right values in children is crucial to checking thuggery in elections. He said, “We have to reorient our children to develop the right kind of values. The present population of youths and adults has imbibed a value system where violence is an integral part of the value system.”
Constitutional lawyer Dr. Akpo Mudiaga-Odje attributes thuggery to poverty and suggests that effective security cooperation and intelligence collection can reduce it. He said, “Thuggery is the African brand of politics, and I keep lamenting that it is the stomach infrastructure.”
