MY VOTE, MY CHOICE

 

By: Afolabi Simisola

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises the integral role that transparent and open elections play in ensuring the fundamental right to participatory government. It also states that “the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; which shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot or by equivalent free voting procedures.” It is true that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. As such, the right to vote is an indispensable right and the fulcrum upon which democracy rests.

Today is not a day to talk about Nigeria’s election being fair or not but rather a day to talk about the right to vote and not just vote but vote for a preferred candidate. Not only is it shocking but also amazing and ridiculous that the just concluded election deprived people of voting for their preferred candidate. Popular words like we do not trust your wisdom, vote for this candidate pervaded every quarter of the country; the electorates and supporters of supposed political parties who were the chief users of that mantra recognize themselves. We find so much pleasure in these words and see them as a subtle way to force our opinions on others or “enlighten” others because we seemingly know it all. I understand the country has gone through a landslide and a phase of intense suffering from past political leaders and is desperately hungry for a change in the system through a particular political candidate. Asking a person to tell you their preferred candidate might have started as a harmless activity but it soon became an avenue to cancel a person. It is not entirely your business to know the preferred candidate of the next person to you. 

 Voters are exposed to violence, torture, and abuse because they identify with a particular party. What is shocking and repulsive is the attitude of the educated fellas who joined in the bants to attack a fellow pollster because of the choice of their candidates. Soon, we saw a wave that brought in exactly what we wanted to correct. Some persons do not even vote based on their values or beliefs; they vote for their party because they are card-carrying members of some political parties – this is not outside their rights. 

As we await the Gubernatorial election, let us by all means comport ourselves and grant people the freedom and right to vote for their preferred candidate. Let the difference be clear; we are not politicians buying votes, we exercise our franchise duly.