Still on Voters’ Apathy

Voting in Edo Central

Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga

Tayo Ogunbiyi

“There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter. It all matters.” Barack Obama, Former President of the United States of America.

Voters’ apathy was evident in the recently concluded gubernatorial election in Edo State. According a data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2,249,780 voters in Edo State collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for the election out of the 2,590,603 registered voters.

However, from the result of the election in which Monday Okpebholo (APC) secured 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 247,274 votes, it is evident that about 60% of the registered voters did not turn up on election day.

Democracy is about the choices that the people make. Of all the various definitions of democracy, the most universally famous is the one that refers to it as the government of the people by the people. The definition implies that it is the people that give impetus to democracy. In essence, you cannot have democracy without the people. It is the people that set democracy in motion. But then, in Nigeria, the people don’t seem to understand the democratic power they wield.

The word ‘apathy’, which has its source in Greek, plainly means ‘without feelings’. According to Victor Marie Hugo, French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic Movement, ‘the apathetic are alive but without feelings, so they are not living. They are the living dead. Therefore, in line with Hugo’s line of thought, voters’ apathy simply refers to the insensitivity of the people towards the electoral process, particularly voting.

According to statistics from the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), only about 35% of the over 70 million who registered to vote in the 2011 general elections participated in the voting process. This implies that over 65% of registered voters did not vote. Similarly, ahead of the 2015 general elections, it was revealed by INEC that about 1.4 million Lagosians did not collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

This simply connotes that over 1.4 million registered voters in the state did not vote in the election. This is a dangerous trend that must essentially be a source of serious concern to all genuine stakeholders in the polity.

This growing trend has grievous implications for the prospect of democracy in the country. For one, it ensures that leaders who attain political power via the votes of the minority rule over the majority. Second, because they don’t get to power through the votes of the majority, they tend to espouse a self-seeking agenda. Third, it casts serious aspersions on the kind of democracy we practice.

Furthermore, it makes elected political leaders unaccountable to the people since they did not, in the real sense, derive their coming to power from the majority of registered voters. Also, it makes it a bit hypocritical for those who did not turn out to vote to criticize those who were elected through the same process that they shunned. As it is often said, ‘You cannot eat your cake and have it’.

Lots of factors are responsible for voters’ apathy in the country. For one, some of those who shun the polls could be of the notion that their votes do not count since they believe either rightly or wrongly that the outcome of most elections in the country is predetermined.

Also, some believe that the electoral process is replete with violence, while some consider the political class undeserving of their votes because of their perceived insincerity to electoral promises. Equally, especially, in the case of local council elections, many are of the view that that tier of government doesn’t do much to deserve anyone’s vote.

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However, irrespective of the validity of the reasons, as highlighted above, it is counterproductive for the people to shun polls in a democracy. It should be recalled that some people gave their lives for us to enjoy the democracy that we have today. It is, therefore, a great injustice to their memories, if this culture of voters’ apathy continues.

We need to respect the supreme sacrifices paid by the patriots who laid down their lives for us to enjoy this participatory democracy. This can only be demonstrated through our unconditional dedication to the political process.

In any case, when the majority refuses to participate in voting, that does not in any way invalidate the outcome of elections. Sadly, we all suffer the consequences of staying aloof when the wrong people get into elected political offices.

Citizen participation in elections is a cornerstone of democratic governance, with profound implications for society and the political landscape. Voting allows individuals to influence policies, hold leaders accountable, and ensure that their government reflects the people’s will. When citizens participate in elections, they help shape decisions on crucial issues like education, healthcare, and the economy, ensuring their voices are heard in policy-making processes.

 One key aspect of participation is its role in ensuring electoral accountability. Through voting, citizens can remove leaders who do not represent their values or fulfill their promises, fostering a government that is more responsive to the public. Additionally, greater voter participation leads to more inclusive representation, reflecting the diverse needs and aspirations of the population.

However, to lure the people back to the polls, elected political leaders should not take the electorate for granted by not fulfilling electoral promises. It is sheer treachery to do this. Those who ignore all difficulties to participate in voting ought to be given a better deal.

Also, the practice of turning elections into a ‘do or die’ affair should be discouraged by politicians to avert undermining the electoral process through violence. Additionally, INEC, Political parties, civil society, the media, and other stakeholders should give greater attention to voters’ education as well as other enlightenment campaigns that could re-enact the confidence of the people in the electoral process.

Democracy is best defended by those it is meant for; the people. But for democracy to serve the interest of the people, they must respect all democratic norms and principles. Today, we all look at some of the advanced democracies of the world with envy.

The truth, however, is that they have achieved greatness through the strengthening of grassroots democracy. Of course, there is no other way through which democracy could be strengthened other than the involvement of the majority of the people in the democratic process.

If democracy is to truly be the government of the people and for the people, the people must own the process from the beginning to the end. Active involvement in the political process signifies that everyone is a critical stakeholder, with the country’s best interest at heart. It is a practical demonstration of being a responsible citizen.

-Ogunbiyi is Director, Features, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos