Rotation of Power - A Way out for African Democracy

Rotation of Power is one unique way of making the most out of African democracy. In most African countries, there are diverse ethnic and religious factions which often determine the outcome of elections. Eligible voters tend to vote along ethinic or religious lines. In most cases, electoral violence, rigging, killings, ballot snatching and all sorts of ugly scenarios are the usual outcome in elections across Africa.

In this write-up, I, Hilary Umeoka, a prolific Nigerian writer and thinker attempt to proffer a solution to the endemic electoral problems bedeviling the African continent. The solution proferred in this write-up is Rotation of Power among the ethnic divides across the various African countries. This will ensure lasting peace and preservation of African Democracy.

In this write-up, I will use Nigerian electoral system as a case study!

Nigerian Elections as a Case Study

I am a Ngerian and I live in Nigeria. Having observed and witnessed Nigerian elections a couple of times, I can categorically state that we Nigerians will never get it right with the current electoral process in place. It will keep getting worse with loss of lives in every election. The truth is that we are divided along ethnic and religious lines all over Nigeria. Those in power should stop ignoring this fact.

I have watched closely the electioneering system we run in this country. I observed the following:

• There is always violence and cases of ballot-snatching each time we have elections.

• Several people must die each time we have elections.

• The issue of ethnicity plays out in every election. For instance, in the last concluded Presidential election of February 25, 2023, Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC) got the majority of the votes from South West because he hails from there.

Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got the majority of votes from North East because he hails from there, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) got the majority of his votes from the South East because he hails from the region. Hence, we can never sidetract the issue of ethnicity from elections if we continue with the same system.

• The outcomes of most general elections in Nigeria are often marred with irregularities. The process of writing and collating results are often marred with irregularities.

• Most elections are often followed by court cases which linger for months and years often ending in the Supreme Court. In some cases, the Supreme Court will come out with strange rulings which do not go well with many citizens.

• There's always voters' apathy across Nigeria in every election. Many people believe their votes don't count. Hence, there's no need to come out to vote when the electoral empire will end up selecting who they want to win the elections.

• There are always cases of rigging and other electoral malpractices in every single election in Nigeria. This often occurs at the Ward and L.G.A collation centres. Figures are changed in favour of candidates of choice.

• There's the issue of vote buying in every election. Also rich candidates pay their way through at the primary elections just to secure their party's candidature. Also, rich candidates induce unscrupulous election staff with money to rig the elections in their favour.

The above are the major issues I have observed within the 4 decades of my life as a young Nigeria. The story has been the same since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999.

Profferring Solutions

If we continue with the same electioneering system, we’ll continue to get the same result or even worse result than ever. I believe, there’s always a way out of every problems in life. Below are simple suggestions that can help us deal with the electioneering problems outlined above.

1. Introduction of Rotational Presidency across the 6 Geo Political Zones.

The truth is: Nigeria is divided along ethnic and perhaps religious lines. This can never be taken away from the masses even in electioneering process. We have 6 Geo-political zones in Nigeria namely:

• North Central
• North East
• North West
• South East
• South South
• South West

Rotating the presidency among the 6 geo-political zones will solve many of the election problems outlined above. It will also ensure justice, equity and fairness.

To get this done, here are possible guidelines that can work:

• The rotational system must start with either North East or South east which are the two regions that have not produced presidents for long since the return of democracy in Nigeria. After these two regions, other zones will take turns. This can be perfected by drawing a roster to know the next geo-political zone that will produce the next president. Since we have 3 Nothern zones and 3 Southern zones, power should be rotating between the North and the South. For eg, we can have:

• North East vs South East for 16 years (8 years for each)
• North West vs South West for 16 years (8 years for each)
• North Central vs South South for 16 years (8 years for each)

• Each geo-political zone should be allowed to produce president for 2 terms, that is 4 years into 2 making it a total of 8 years

• All political parties MUST zone their primaries to the particular geo-political zone whose turn it is to produce the president. This MUST run for the 1st and 2nd terms amounting to a total of 8 years.

• All political parties must present credible candidates from the particular region whose turn it is to produce the next president. All candidates from the parties MUST participate in a general debate which will be aired on National Television stations to enable Nigerians pick the right choice.

• The same rotation of power applies to states across Nigeria. Each state should zone the gubernational power to different zones that make up the states for a period of two terms amounting to 8 years. All political parties within the state should zone their primaries to a given directions. All candidates must participate in a state-wide debate on State Television Stations to enable the people choose the best candidate. Power should continue to rotate among the various zones that make up the given state.

2. Proper use of electronic technology in running the elections.

There must be proper use of electronic technological system such as the use of BVAS, iREV and other electronic means in running elections. Electronic voting via mobile and computer devices can be introduced alongside the use of biometric systems like Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identity Number (NIN). This will ensure that no one votes twice in any election. The use of USSD codes and stationary e-voting computerized devices can be stationed in rural areas to enable the people vote.

With full e-voting system introduced, everybody including journalists, medical personnels, security agents and so on can easily cast their votes. There will be no need to lock down any place on election day. The issue of rigging, violence, voters apathy, ballot snatching, manual collation of result and the like will be a thing of the past.

E-voting when properly introcued will cause the elections to be truly free, fair and credible. There will be no need for court cases after elections. Winners will win clearly while loosers will lose gallantly and congratulate the winners.

If we engage the above suggestions, I strongly believe that the electoral issues we’ve been experiencing for years in Nigeria will be drastically reduced. We will be approaching elections with joy instead of fear. No lives will be lost in any election. We’ll be happy choosing the right leaders that will help in building a better Nigeria.

I strongly encourage the senators in the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives members at the lower house to come up with new laws that will incorporate the suggestions stated above.

Finally, all other African countries can implement the ideas shared on this write-up for a better democracy. African Democracy will continue to thrive if Africans take out time to implement the suggestions given in this write-up.

Long Live the African Democracy! Long Live Africa

The above write-up was written and published by Hilary Umeoka at the aftermath of the 2023 Nigerian Elections.

(23rd March 2023)