Politics
Lesson From The British Elections
Great Britain is an old parliamentary democracy in Europe. It occupies an area of about ninety-four square miles and has a population of about fifty-eight million. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Island, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. As already stated, it is’ a parliamentary democracy with a central and local governments. It is not a federal system but a unitary system of government. It is one of the most advanced countries of the world having some of the oldest universities on earth. These include Oxford, Cambridge and St. Anclrew’s universities. The country is also known as the United Kingdom. It is a welfare state where citizens enjoy a social security scheme to stave off abject poverty.
However, on May 6, 2010, the British people went to the polls to elect a new government. The main contending parties were the Labour Party led by Gordon Brown, the conservative party led by David Cameron and the Liberal Democratic Party led by Nicholas Clegg. At the end of the polls, the elections produced a hung parliament. Which means no party was able to win majority seats in parliament to form the government. For instance, the conservative party got three hundred and five seats, the Labour Party scored two hundred and eighty-seven seats while the Liberal Democratic Party won fifty-eight seats. To be able to form the government a party must win three hundred and twenty-six seats. Altogether the parliament has six hundred and fifty seats. In any case, because of the hung parliament a coalition government was formed by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democratic Party. The Conservative Party is the leader in this arrangement because it scored the highest number seats in the parliament. The two parties won three hundred and sixty-three seats in the six-hundred and fifty seat parliament.
At all events, what should be noted is that the whole process of party selection, campaign, election results and formation of government lasted only one month. It should further be noted that apart from the three leading parties forty other parties including independent candidates contested for the elections. And yet the whole process lasted only one month as already indicated. There was no thuggery, there was no electoral malpractice. No party manipulated electoral register. No party went into the voting arena and seized ballots after elections. No money exchanged hands, no bribery, no corruption, no godfathers, no infringement of the electoral rules, the whole game was played according to the rules. Infact, the whole political parties and the Independent candidates were satisfied with the outcome of the elections. That is how it should be. The political game should be played according to the rules. If the rules are followed in the game there will be no problem whatsoever. In the United Kingdom the rules are followed. That is why they have political stability. When there is political stability there will be economic and social stability and progress.
But the case in Nigeria is different. Elections in Nigeria are seen as a “do or die” affair. Because of this electoral rules are not obeyed. Votes are rigged. Elections are manipulated. Thugs are used to disrupt electoral process. There are bribery and corruption at every level of the process. In some cases offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission are set on fire and razed all in the name of politics. Our most recent general election the 2007 elections were not free and fair. Because of this the electoral tribunals and the courts of the land are still deciding cases brought to them by aggrieved politicians. That is three years after the 2007 elections in Nigeria.
One of the cases just settled in 2010 was that between Chief Alphonsus Igbeke of the All Nigeria People’s Party and Mrs Joy Emodi of the People’s Democratic Party over who will represent Anambra North Senatorial District. Victory was earlier given to Mrs Emodi and since 2007, she was the senator representing the disputed District. Chief Igbeke felt he was cheated because he won the election for the Anambra North Senatorial District. He took the matter to the Appeal Court and the court decided in his favour and ordered that he should be sworn in as the Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District on May 11, 2010. Other candidates who won in the courts included Governors Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.
“ Nonetheless, the lessons to be learnt from the British elections are that we in Nigeria should always obey the electoral rules whenever we are going to the polls to elect our leaders. Our leaders should follow the exempt of the British party leaders and play the electoral game according to that’ rules. Nobody should bribe. Nobody should employ thugs because of elections and manipulate ballots. The British leaders/parties did not do this. We should copy it. Actually, the problem with Nigerian politics and election is not in the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission but in the players of the political game. If we all are honest and follow the rules there will be no electoral malpractice. The lesson is clear: follow the rules and get a free and fair election as it is in Great Britain.
Dr Tolofari, Fellow,
Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria.
Mann Tolofari
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
-
Sports2 days agoArsenal Women End Man City’s Invincibility
-
Sports2 days agoInsurance Deepen Enyimba’s Trouble
-
Sports2 days agoU-20 WWC: Falconets claim qualifier win
-
Sports2 days agoYouth Olympics preparation Gears up
-
Sports2 days agoTornadoes Set For NPFL exit over Stadium Ban
-
Sports2 days agoCologne Youth Team Set Crowd Record
-
Environment2 days agoRivers State Government Suspend Fire Service Collection Levies
-
Environment2 days agoLASEMA pushes attitudinal change to cut fire outbreaks in Lagos