Referenced Bibliography: Post Election Violence in Nigeria by Dr Nkwachukwu Orji and Nkiru Uzodi
http://www.placng.org/new/publications/PEV.pdf

The referenced document by Dr Nkwachukwu Orji and Nkiru Uzodi published by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre in 2012 is a detailed research, evaluation and assessment of the Post Election Violence characterized by wanton destruction of lives and properties in some States of the federation by citizens who sought to protest and express their displeasure about the outcome of elections in Nigeria and sporadic shooting by the Police and law enforcement agents with emphasis on the April 16 2011 elections leading to the death of almost 1000 persons including electoral officers drafted from the National Youth Service Corps, notwithstanding international observers’ assessment that the election was a practical success though fraught with few elements of rigging and irregularities.

Considering that the key gladiators who contested the last election are the same main candidates poised to wrestle the mantle at the scheduled February 14 2015 Presidential polls, it is therefore imperative to review the root causes, check records and discuss lessons learned to ensure that the remaining pre-election activities, conduct during elections and post election reactions are without violence. Besides character slandering, tantrums throwing and heated campaign of calumny against eachother by the key candidates, it is logical that a step is taken back to ensure that lives are not lost as a result of their respective ambitions. In saner climes, this will be the first step if truly the lives of the electorate whom these gladiators seek to vote for them is of any meaning and worth. Sadly, it so seems that the contestants are only interested in the prize money. Empathy for lives in Nigeria is snipping daily considering that a sizeable amount of lives are lost due to insurgency in the North East and limited results garnered by the gallant men of the Military rumored to be caused by inadequate weapons of warfare and if I may add, nominal availability of planning and requisite intelligence inputs. Hence to die is no longer a big deal.

I however beg to differ and wish to state that with proactive measures, notwithstanding the outcome of this election, pre and post election violence may be curbed or pruned if the right steps are taken. This article is tended towards concise measures to ensure that no more lives are lost for politicians who will never put their family members, children or siblings on the line to lead these protests.

In deference to the aforementioned bibliography, chapter 1 summarizes the conceptualization of Post Election violence citing the remote causes of electoral violence as:

Cleavage structure, salience of ethnicity in Nigeria politics and communal tensions – ethno religious divisions along socio-political circles
Decline in trust and social capital among communities – inherent and suppressed confrontations between communities get escalated during elections. Though causes may be unrelated to the elections.
Culture of impunity – inability of law enforcement agencies to arrest, prosecute and convict master minders and offenders of electoral violence.
Economic vulnerabilities – high rate of illiteracy and unemployment among the youths thus making them vulnerable to be used to perpetrate violence.
Erosion of trust in the electoral justice system – the perception by political actors especially Presidential candidates that they cannot secure justice in election tribunal/courts reduces the inclination to rely on legal redress hence violent reactions by their supporters.
Low level of internal party system – undemocratic processes within internal workings of political parties leading to tensions.

Immediate causes that may trigger electoral violence are cited as:

Integrity of elections – how transparent and fair is the electoral process?
Inflammatory rhetoric – pre-election violence inciting remarks and rumors about the outcome of an election.
Institutional changes – sudden shifts in existing arrangements. Eg, the gentleman agreement within the ruling party PDP to rotate power between two distinctive zones, the South and the North. Most reactions till date are attributable to the fact that most youths in the North feel it is not the turn of the South, the incumbent President’s zone.

Sadly, all the aforementioned highlighted remote and probable immediate causes are evident once again in the present electoral cycle towards the 2015 elections. Without adequate planning and implementation of astute measures, the forthcoming elections may be a major make or break point in our history. 2015 is somewhat different from 2011 because: some sections of the the North are more resolute that their mandate is being further stolen with the interest expressed by the incumbent to contest again; an opposing candidate is perceived to be stronger than he was in 2011, hence high expectations; the use of social media by semi and duly literate citizens to campaign for their candidates is prevalent, hence information dissemination spreads faster; the reiterated comments and remarks by some chieftains of the opposition that perceive irregularities will still lead to violence and have openly expressed same; the counter threats by supporters from other zones to cause violence if their candidate is not reelected; the presence of insurgents in some areas; and the dichotomy in perception of the achievement of the present day government across socio-political tiers and strata.

Chapter 3 of the research work in context, further elucidates on the cause of the 2011 post election violence, the factors leading to escalation and the resultant impact. Chapter 5 relates to the conclusion and lists recommendations to forestall a reoccurrence. In addition to the recommendations contained in the document, I hereby suggest other way forward measures as follows:

1. A detailed review of the referenced bibliography and research work should be carried out by the FG and the implementation of all the recommendations.

2. All candidates with emphasis on Presidential and Gubernatorial elections must be directed by INEC to sensitize, orientate and include in their campaign manifesto that post electoral violence is a punishable crime notwithstanding the perception about the outcome of the election. The phrase must be included as an opening and closing remarks henceforth and they must also state that no life is worthing loosing on their behalf.

3. Resolve by INEC to ensure transparency, equity and fairness are ensured and maintained through the entire process. Methods and processes should be deployed to ensure every vote counts.

4. Deployment of apropos anti riot aptly equipped and trained Police and law enforcement agents in areas with past records of violence and potential new areas where violence may be imminent. Considering that joint efforts are being expended by the Military and other arms of law enforcement, to tackle the insurgency in the North East, proper planning is required to effectively deploy the available resources. Emphasis should be on some key areas of the North and the Niger Delta.

5. Youth Corpers should not be assigned as electoral officers in violence prone zones. Electoral officers deployed to these zones should be assigned from other zones and given maximum security.

Others:

6. Need to abrogate and obliterate any written reference to rotational Presidency in constitution of Political Parties. If at all it must exist, it should be silent and should be enacted under trust. The eligibility of Citizens to contest for the position of the President should be in tandem with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not of any party. This in my opinion (i may be wrong) is the underlying root cause for the violence and unrest in the North since 2010 when the penultimate President passed away and the incumbent assumed the Presidency. This was worsened in 2011 when the incumbent got re-elected under the same party that institutionalized this rotational approach to the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

7. Interference in post election tribunal/judicial processes should be abhorred and avoided.

It is my utmost desire to see that no lives are lost prior to, during and after elections commencing February 14, 2015. It will be foolhardy to repeat the events of 2011 and expect different results. Let us all be responsible and say no to violence. Let us learn from the lessons of 2011. Let us ignite and spread the hash tag #no2violence2015elections #donotDie4Politicians.

https://tonidada./2015/01/11/abating-post-election-violence-from-lessons-learned-in-2011/

#die4noPolitician