The build up to the 2015
general elections has gradually started with expected buzz in the political circle. As usual, politicians are already oiling their political machinery in readiness for the 2015 power struggle. The seeming disconnect between political game players in the country and the challenges of leadership in our current democratic dispensation are however, matters of grave concern.
The survival of Nigeria’s democracy and by extension the future of the country depends largely on the quality of governance at the local, state and national levels as well as on the political system and processes through which those who govern emerge. If the political process is corrupt, the individuals the system throws up as leaders will definitely be corrupt.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke recently wrote the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega to clarify the controversy surrounding the multiple registration of the governor-elect of Anambra State, Dr Willie Obiano.
Obiano who allegedly registered in Lagos and Anambra States, thereby contravening provisions of the Electoral Act, was elected the governor of Anambra State amidst controversy and allegations of electoral malpractices on November 30 last year after the first election conducted on November 16 was inconclusive. Inspite of the allegations by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate,  Dr Chris Ngige and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Tony Nwoye, Obiano, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance was sworn-in as the new governor of Anambra State two weeks ago .
Jega, however, did not say if Obiano was guilty of the allegation or not, but said it would be prejudicial to comment further on the issue.
The INEC Chairman noted that more than one million Nigerians were guilty of multiple registration and that the commission lacked enough personnel to prosecute offenders. He, therefore, demanded for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Tribunal with regards to multiple registration and other offences.
Politics, in the strict sense, relates to the art of governance . It is about the ways or pattern by which the affairs of a nation, the well-being and happiness of the citizenry are decided. It is also about deciding who makes decisions, who implements and enforces them, and who gets what. Regrettably the moral drift and degeneration in our body politics, with its attendant consequence of election malpractices, horror of violence and the widespread corruption in and out of government do not help Nigeria’s democracy and good government.
It is perhaps against this background that Attahiru Jega recently said that some stakeholders were not doing enough to ensure that “we have a credible, free and fair election”, even though he expressed confidence that “from the preparation, guideline and the work we have done, 2015 will be much better”.
The role of critical institutions and agents of democracy such as the media in the dissemination of information, opposition providing an alternative choice for the electorate, the judiciary as the last hope of the common man in the administration of justice and equity, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as mobilisers of the rest of civil society and monitors of democratic principles in governance as well as women groups. The role of these groups are very crucial for the growth and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, and to ensure that elections are free, fair and peaceful.
The political scene in Nigeria today seems to be tensed and it has been dominated by a particular cabal and age groups making our democratic institutions to be, and lack adequate capability to pursue the interest of the people.
Election violence has been inherent in Nigerian politics dating as far as the 1959 elections in which women and men were involved in electoral violence, though there had been notable reduction in the level since the period.
The failure in our political system and falling standards of governance and public ethics stem from lack of investment in the art of politics and political leadership.
The present structure of government whereby states and National Electoral offices are under the control of the incumbent governments gives room for corruption as there is always the tendency by the government in power to use their electoral bodies to their own advantage.
The political and socio-economic impediments the country is currently facing stem from the way political powers are exercised and monopolised by a narrow elite. All these must be changed before the 2015 elections.
There is the need for the civil society organisations to effectively engage political office holders in dialogue, ensure that political parties present a political agenda for the nation during the 2015 elections. Authoritarian tendencies of governments and the manipulation of state resources and institutions for election activities by incumbent political office holders must be brought under control.
The practice of multi-party system in Nigeria is defective as it lacks proper political ideology that is germane to the growth of democracy in Nigeria. Most of the political parties merely exist for the purpose of seeking political relevance, and not really to provide alternative ideas or governance.
Sensing the dangers inherent in this, some opposition political parties namely Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Political Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), last year, merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the opposition, the PDP is robbing Nigerians of the benefits derivable from credible democratic system. But the question is, can the merger parties bring the scuour to Nigerian populace?

Shedie Okpara