2023 polls: CRUDE, CRUEL POLITICS

Intolerance, violence, and attacks against opposition increase across Nigeria as the campaign for the 2023 election gathers storm, writes Akani Alaka.

It was a momentous occasion for the Lagos chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last Wednesday. Chieftains of the party had gathered at the Acme Road, Lagos secretariat of the party for what can be described as ‘the homecoming’ of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former governor of the state who is formally meeting the generality of party members after securing the presidential ticket of APC for the 2023 president election.

Tinubu, who can unarguably be referred to as one of the pillars of APC given the role he played in ensuring that the party displaced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power in 2015 regaled party members with the tales of obstacles he had to surmount to emerge the presidential flag bearer of the party.

However, one of the fallouts of the caucus meeting that grabbed headlines was the attack on the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos, Funke Akindele by the APC presidential candidate and his supporters.  In an obvious move to impress the APC presidential candidate, his supporters, mostly women had launched into a song in which they said the Nollywood practitioner is an “ant” compared to Tinubu and Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

But the APC presidential had promptly reined in the women, not to stop the abuse of the actress and producer, but to even further denigrate her.  “Don’t even behave as if you remember that name (Funke Akindele). It is a big insult, it is an abuse. A fowl wants to enter a house, it is bending down, how tall is it in the first place?” the APC presidential candidate said, as he derisively dismissed the PDP deputy governorship candidate and her ambition.

Some critics described the attack on the actress as disrespectful, disgusting, and contemptuous of women.
In his reaction, the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, Dr. Olajide Adeniran aka Jandor said those berating his running mate who he described as one of the most accomplished indigenes of Lagos State were terrified by her enviable success. “I would be terrified too if I was opposed to such a formidable woman. But unlike them, we intend to win honourably by convincing the people about the sincerity and urgency of our mission. I would advise those who whisper about her credibility to do the same.”

Growing Intolerance/Attacks

Despite such positive spin, critics said the open denigration of Akindele by Tinubu and his supporters was symptomatic of the growing intolerance in political campaigns as Nigeria heads towards the 2023 election.
The intolerance has manifested in physical attacks on supporters of opposition political parties, destruction of campaign materials across the country, and denial of access to such public facilities. In other instances, some states are imposing exorbitant charges for the use of such facilities, and publicity of their campaign materials, messages, and rallies.

The campaign train of the Lagos PDP governorship candidate had also been attacked in the Badagry area of the state late last month. Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, had in a statement said many people, including journalists, were injured in the attack which occurred at Ikoga Junction area of Badagry Local Government Area.
He alleged that the attacks were perpetrated by hoodlums loyal to the ruling APC in the state.
“The thugs that attacked the campaign train were shouting APC while shooting guns and using dangerous weapons,” he said while warning that members of the PDP will not fold their arms as they were being attacked.
“We would like to also strongly warn those that are hell-bent on causing trouble or planning to disrupt the campaign and elections that we would not fold our arms and watch as we will resist all forms of intimidation,” the statement read.

While APC denied being responsible for the attack, Labour Party members had also reported a similar attack in Lagos. Following an attack on one of his popular supporters known as the ‘Flag Boy’ recently in the Oshodi area, Mr Peter Obi had raised the alarm, accusing security agents of maltreating members of his #Obidient Movement.
The LP presidential candidate, in a series of tweets on his Twitter page, accused certain groups of employing the tools of intimidation to silence the opposition during campaigns and at polls. “Elections are not deemed free and fair when a certain group employs the tool of intimidation to ensure that the opposition is silenced, both at the campaigns and the polls,” the LP candidate said.

“Peaceful assembly and unfettered electioneering campaigns are constitutionally guaranteed. Both and other other liberties cannot be breached willfully by security agents. Recent reports of OBIdients being silently arrested by some security agents are extremely disturbing and condemnable,” he said.
Though the Lagos Police Command said it would investigate the attack on the LP supporters, nothing much has been heard about the investigation.

The Nigerian Xpress also gathered that another sore point in Lagos was the denial of the opposition of the platform to campaign, especially, in terms of hosting their posters. The PDP had first raised the alarm that outdoor advertisers have been warned not to give out their billboards to opposition parties in the state. Also, an audio message claiming that the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA had asked agencies to reject adverts of opposition parties had gone viral some weeks ago.

But while dismissing the claim, LASAA in a statement by its managing director, Adedamola Docemo, said that it would not interfere in the business of any outdoor advertising agencies. “We only issue permits on regulated billboard structures and not the advertisements displayed on them. Anyone with proof to show that we gave such instruction in the audio should bring it to our attention immediately.”

However, sources told The Nigerian Xpress that political parties aside from the ruling APC are still finding it difficult to get billboards to display their messages.

Aside from Lagos, the PDP supporters were also attacked during the campaign in Kaduna recently.
In Ebonyi, Governor Dave Umahi has also banned political parties from using schools and market areas for political campaigns. “If you must hold rallies there you must apply to the commissioner for education. The commissioner must give you approval because when you do rallies in these schools the shits that are defecated there, pure water and everything, who cleans it?” the Governor queried.

Muffling Voices of Opposition

Also, opposition parties in Ebonyi have accused the state government of setting a very high price for using billboards to campaign in the state. But the governor has said whatever measure he introduced will also apply to his own APC.
Aside from such huge fees, the ruling parties across the states are also intimidating the opposition through the defacement of billboards and attacks on parties’ secretariats among others. For instance, the PDP in Ogun State in a recent interview accused loyalists of the APC-led state government of destroying billboards of the party located in areas such as Sango Ota, and Sango Ota-Oshodi Road. There have also been complaints of such destruction of opposition billboards in states including Yobe, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Plateau, Cross River, Nasarawa, and  Kebbi among others.

In Gombe, the APC-led government recently demolished the campaign office of the state PDP governorship candidate, Mohammed Barde over its proximity to the ‘presidential lodge at the government reserved area.”
But the PDP members in the state said the action was part of the ongoing victimization of the opposition in the state.
In Kano, members of the opposition NNPP said the state APC government has denied them and other opposition parties of use of government facilities for their campaigns. However, any party desirous of pasting posters of its presidential candidate anywhere in Anambra must be ready to pay the sum of N10 million.

‘PDP Owned All Billboards’ 

In Edo State, it was a member of the Billboards’ Owners Association in Edo, Ibrahim Momoh, who alerted journalists about three weeks ago that the Godwin Obaseki-led government had prohibited them from accepting campaign adverts from opposition parties, including the APC.

Momoh added that the government-backed up its order with threats to confiscate billboards of anyone who disregards the directive. Assistant Secretary, Billboard Owners Association, Edo State chapter, Mr. Precious Otameh also confirmed the development. “A message came from Edo State Government House telling us not to accept adverts from the APC and other opposition parties in the state. We have been waiting for them for guidelines till this moment. They keep telling us not to erect any advert billboard from any opposition party until further notice.”

However, the state government, through its  Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, described the claims as embarrassing and the ‘handiwork of mischief makers.’ But the commissioner went on to say that the PDP in the state had the foresight to pay all billboard agents ahead of the official kick-off of campaigns and are by effect, the legal owner of that billboards.

“It’s not a coincidence that the elections are around the corner. As far back as a few months ago, the Edo state government discussed with all billboard owners to make payments for quite a number of billboards in the Benin metropolis.

“We did not take possession because we were waiting for the campaign to kick off and if anybody has gone to a billboard agent to pay for a billboard, the person who pays first and is given a date for when his account will start to run is actually the legal owner of that billboard.
“We, as a party, raised the money for these billboards so they are a property of the Edo PDP. We were more strategic in planning and took advantage of the time to make payments for most of the billboards. If a billboard agent has taken money from you and cannot post your advert, you should go back and get your money because we paid for them. We have no apologies to anyone who didn’t have the foresight to do it,” he said.

Wike Moves Against Opposition 

In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike had some weeks ago announced that he had signed into law Executive Order 21 which makes it mandatory for political parties to apply to the Ministry of Education two weeks ahead before they can use public facilities for their rallies in any part of the state. He also imposed a non-refundable fee of N5 million.
Critics say the move was a ploy to stop other parties, aside from the PDP from campaigning in the state. They noted that while such facilities are the only ones available to use for the campaign in many parts of the state. They also noted that it would be difficult getting permission from Wike appointees at the Ministry of Education and the Local Government for use of the facilities.

“In an election year like this all parties have the right to go about their campaigns freely, but the PDP-led administration in Rivers State has decided to use state agencies to frustrate the opposition from going about their campaign freely,” said Rivers publicity secretary of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Lucky Igila.

Some chieftains of APC in Rivers have vowed to resist the law.
But even of more concern to opposition parties in Rivers was the large-scale recruitment of so-called Special Assistants on Political Unit Affairs by Wike.

The governor increased the number of the recruits from 25,000 when he first mooted the idea to 200,000 while inaugurating the new SAs Batch 2 from Rivers East Senatorial District at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area last week.

In addition, Wike had also announced that he would recruit 359 Constituency and Local Government Area Liaison Officers.
The governor, while defending his action, said the appointees would help him to finish strong. He added that their appointment was also in fulfillment of his promise to provide ‘stomach infrastructure’ for the people.

On the duties of the appointees, the governor said among others, they are to interface with Rivers people to know what they are saying, their assessment of government projects and policies, whether positive or negative and feedback to his office through the Constituency and Ward Liaison Officers.

However, the opposition parties in Rivers said the appointees were not just vote buyers, but potential thugs that would make life difficult for those who do not share the same view with Wike in the 2023 election in Rivers.

“This is just a way he is restyling vote-buying. It is a way he wants to use to buy votes. You will also find out that Rivers State is one of the states that want to pay salary by hand. It is pure recklessness for the governor to use taxpayers’ money to buy votes and we will resist every of these attempts,” he said.

Sobomabo Jackrich, the governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement said the appointees were ‘foot soldiers’ to be used to install a stooge as Rivers governor in 2023. “This heavy deployment is a clear signal to violence disposition and an attempt at contravening the Electoral Act,” Darlington Nwauju, Spokesman, Rivers APC, said.

‘Atiku Supporters As Endangered Species’

But it is not only members of the opposition parties that are apprehensive about the recent turn of politics in Rivers.
Members of the PDP in Rivers who have chosen not to align with Wike in his battle to ensure the sack of Iyorchia Ayu as the chairman of the PDP may also find it difficult to campaign in Rivers.  The Rivers State governor had indicated that he would not campaign for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP unless Ayu vacates office.
As a result, the PDP presidential candidate has appointed other chieftains of the party in Rivers into his campaign council. But Wike is also determined to ensure that those appointed by Atiku do not have are not able to campaign freely for the PDP in Rivers. Aside from the large numbers of appointees intended to constrict the political space, Wike had in recent weeks taken action directed at cutting those at the vanguard of the Atiku 2023 campaign in Rivers to size.

Just last week, the Rivers government revoked the land allocated to Senator Lee Maeba, chairman of Atiku Campaign Council, Rivers State, located in the Golf Course axis of GRA in Port Harcourt. Maeba is an ally of the PDP presidential candidate as well as the chairman of his Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers.  No reason was given for the revocation contained in a letter addressed to Maeba on November 2, 2022.

Other allies of the PDP presidential candidate in Rivers who have suffered a similar fate as their political alignment include Dr. Abiye Sekibo, former Minister of Transportation, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, and a former governor of the state (now de-recognised) Sir Celestine Omehia who had been asked to refund  N600 million benefits and N97 million pension to the state government coffers.

Also, Mega Tools, a petrol station owned by Chinyere Igwe, a serving member of the House of Representatives, was sealed over the allegation that it was involved in illegal oil bunkering activities after he started associating with Atiku.
Igwe has dismissed the allegation, stating it was a political witch-hunt by Governor Wike because he had fallen out of favour with him.

Electoral Act To the Rescue?

Speaking at the recent quarterly consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.) warned that the violent and intolerant twists to the campaigns are threats to the 2023 election.

The NSA, who was represented by Sanusi Galadima, said: “The NSA has observed the violent dimensions of electioneering campaigns, which characterises attacks on campaign rallies, political campaign offices as well as the passing of uncomplimentary remarks and uncouth utterances among politicians which were recently witnessed in some states signal potential threats to the smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections in February 2023.”

He expressed the hope that while security agencies were strategising on how to counter the trend, the second phase of the signing of the “Peace Accord”, by the National Peace Committee (NPC) scheduled for January 2023 would be fruitful in de-escalating the violent trend.

The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, also at the event, noted that incidents of physical attacks on supporters and destruction of campaign materials across the country a few weeks after the ban was lifted on the campaign were concerning.

He said leaders of political parties had complained to INEC about the denial of access to public facilities and exorbitant charges in some states for the use of such facilities for the dissemination of their campaign materials, messages, and rallies.

“These attacks and denials are a violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and ominous signs of what will follow as the campaigns enter critical stages. They may also be a prelude to violence on Election Day and beyond. We should tackle the smoke before it snowballs into a major inferno.

“The effective enforcement of our electoral law is the best way to deal with the menace. We should work together to ensure the arrest and prosecution of violators of the provisions of the Electoral Act, especially Sections 92–93 of the Electoral Act 2022.” Will INEC walk its talk?