Activism Over Presidential Poll Is About Influencing Judgement

A political scientist, Mr IfeanyiChukwu Afuba, says the post – election drama of contention over the February 26, 2023 presidential poll is geared towards influencing outcome of petitions before the presidential tribunal.

Five political parties and their candidates including the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party have filed petitions challenging the declaration of APC’s Bola Tinubu as President – elect.

But reviewing the post – election mood in the country, Afuba said the spate of activities by political actors, campaign organisations and supporters of presidential candidates was targeted at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court panels that will hear the petitions.

“The frenzy of political activities out there is unusual. You would think campaigns are still going on. Elections have been held but we’re still seeing political demonstrations and marches across the country. Everyday, air time is bought on prominent television stations to push positions on the conduct and outcome of the election. Then, the social media. Look at the time and resources parties are committing to social media. From there, you have a factory of noise on the election.”

Afuba, Director of Public Administration Circle, Awka, observed that the contents of this activism was revealing.

“It’s interesting to see that the subject matter of these aggressive engagement are identical, if not exactly the same issues pleaded in the petitions. These daily declarations on the use or non use of BVAS, IREV in the election; these assertions on the eligibility or otherwise of certain candidates; the pronouncements on criteria for electoral victory; these declarations on the disposition of major world powers to the transition – these are quite telling. They are messages for specific audience.”

The analyst described what was going on as attempt at creating a mindset for those who will adjudicate over the election petitions.

“Election petition is not an easy road to travel. There’s statutory time limitation on the cases. The burden of proof is not easy to discharge. And what may seem like moral truth may not come across as legal truth. So these hard realities make the path of extra – legal pressures attractive to the contenders at the tribunal,” Afuba explained.

He posited that since the hearings were likely to start sometime in May, Nigerians should expect escalation of the already charged presentations on the presidential election in the coming weeks.

“We may have such unprecedented crowds yet at the trial venues. These mobilised crowds will find a way of signalling on which side they stand. Imagine a judge on his way to the tribunal seeing hundreds of people along his route demonstrating for or against the INEC result” Afuba concluded rhetorically.