10 reasons why many Nigerian youths will Not vote (and it is not our fault)
Well informed, well-meaning and patriotic Nigerian youths (even with their valid Permanent Voters Cards, PVC) will stay at home instead of going out to vote in this election. Before castigating them for not wanting to exercise their civic duties, these could be some of the reasons:
- Once bitten, too scarred
Looking back at the last elections, we still recollect the many incidences of youths (including National Youth Service Corpers) who were battered, some now currently crippled, and several others who died as a result of electoral violence. Up till now, nothing has been done about those cases. No accountability, no reparations, no punishment for perpetrators, no consolation to the victims and their families, nothing! These wounds are still fresh in our memory. As if that is not enough to demotivate us, we are now hearing that some thugs might snatch ballot boxes at the polling unit, and that some law enforcements will be opening fire on them. This is putting so much fear in us. We don’t want any stray bullet to touch us, hence we will be sitting at home.
2. Like recession, security is not just a word
Elections in many areas are marred with gunshots, teargas, vandalism, thuggery, kidnappings and all kinds of life-threatening surprises. Even in the capital of Nigeria where security is most guaranteed, Abuja people are distrusting of the so promised security at the polls. My friend asked, “Is it the same police that extort and abuse us daily, that will now protect us if something goes wrong at our polling units?” … then he continued by throwing shade “…or do they want to bring SARS to the polling unit ni?” which may even be worse. SARS is the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigerian Police Force. For over three years now, SARS have been heavily criticized over their unlawful arrests of mainly youths, especially their unlawful targeting, extortion and physical abuse of many young Nigerian millennials.
3. Hunger games be winning at the polls
Nigeria is a country that “houses” almost 20 percent of the world’s poorest; most of whom are within the youth demography. Hunger is still a major hindrance to getting some young people to vote. I just saw an Instagram video of a group of Okadariders in Kaduna being interviewed by a journalist, and all 9 of them, young men of voting age, told the journalist that they won’t be voting. One of them said he would love to vote but “voting is for people who have eaten.” Another reiterated, “as I cannot drive my bike and make money on that day, that means I won’t eat, so you cannot expect to stand in the sun for hours with an empty stomach, just because I want to vote. What if I faint?” (translated from pidgin English). The current socioeconomic concerns of several young Nigerians will be a hinderance to them showing up at the polls. Even the provision of drinkable water at polling stations seems like a technological idea for the distant future.
4. If you can’t trek, forget it.
Several youths (for reasons beyond their control) could not register to vote at centers close to their housed. Due to mobility, many youths registered in a different city, perhaps where they school or work. To vote now, they will need to do some travelling but unfortunately, movement is officially restricted on elections day, therefore many people will not be able to use cars, buses or local transportation to move around in order to get to their polling stations and cast their vote. In fact, people who are mobility-impaired have hardly ever been considered in transportation bans during elections.
5. We can’t do it for the #gram?
With the rumors of the government perpetuating an internet shutdown during the elections, many youths are losing interest in voting. Beyond casting their votes, many young Nigerians want to participate in self-reporting by sharing stories of election activities on their social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Even young Nigerians who don’t care about politics (or the candidates) still hope to vote just to “feel among” and impress their followers online. More critically, if the internet is restricted, it will prevent youths from catching up with activities taking place beyond their local polling stations. This can lead to more damaging outcomes: Citizens will be left in the dark over the results, and there would be a greater potential for vote tampering.
6. Can’t we vote online already?
Many millennials and young Nigerians voting for the first time (especially those who recently just attained the age of 18) may be standing in a queue for the first time in this election. They are used to using their mobile phones to order a taxi, buy wigs, bet over football games, submit course assignments, and even vote their favorite #BigBrotherNaija housemates. The motivation to step out of the digital world which they are used to, and perform an “analog” exercise of queuing to vote in a polling booth, with paper and some purple “iodine” ink, may require some convincing.
7. Can the real election gurus please stand up?
60 political science students were polled in January. They were asked to describe the voting process/procedure on the election day itself, and only 16 of them could provide satisfactory answers. Many young Nigerians (most of whom have no university education) are still ignorant of what to do when they get to their voting centers. Most voters will rely on directions from officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when they get there. This lack of procedural knowledge hinders motivation. It is even difficult to predict how much time a person may need to spend at the voting center before they cast their vote. Anyways, thanks to social media, youths are already sharing some valuable information such as #MustHaves to take to the polls (e.g. Sunglasses, comfortable shoes, umbrella, bottled water, power bank etc.) But young Nigerians still need answers: “Is my PVC enough ID or do I need another ID to complement my PVC?”; “Should I use my index finger or my thumb to make a mark on the ballot paper?”
8. Your breakfast for the next 4 years: choose between Moi-Moi or Akara
The political homogeneity between the two leading parties (and their presidential candidates) has been stressed by a lot of young people as a demotivating factor to go out and vote.
9. The strokes from ASUU strike is quite striking
For a sordid and solid sorrowful two months, our university students were forced to put a pause on their university education. The strike by ASUU (the Academic Staff Union of Universities), caused a lot of pain and havoc for millions of students across the nation.
In monetary terms, what ASUU was asking from the government (in order for them to remain in class and keep teaching), is actually less than 5 percent of the budget for this current election. Even if the strike has been called off, we cannot regain those lost months. Several aspects of student’s tutelage and personal development are still facing serious impediments, not to mention the waste of hard-earned fees. Some youths are still angry and not in the mood to exercise any civic obligation because they feel like their wellbeing as Nigerian youths has never been a priority for the nation.
10. Magical postponement of the elections like kilode?
By now we should have all voted and moved on with our lives, but for the stunt that INEC pulled last week. In the wee hours of the very morning of the scheduled presidential elections of February 15, 2019, Nigerians woke up to the breaking news from INEC that the elections have been postponed — on the very election day! Many young Nigerians had had to travel far (some of them took trips to their villages) to enable them to cast their votes. Several costs had been incurred; deployments were made; even CSOs and journalists were already on their various selection site, waiting for the voting to commence when the news broke. I also know several wedding ceremonies and events that were rescheduled to accommodate the said elections, only for it not to hold. This shocking postponement came with no apology from INEC, and many young Nigerians were pissed (and still pissed). Those of us with Twitter accounts took to the internet to vent our anger. Hopefully there won’t be a part 2 to this Nollywood-type surprise!
The National Bureau of Statistics revealed that youths constitute the highest population of voters in Nigeria (51 per cent). However, it seems that this number could be much more but for the above reasons and more.
As harbingers of Nigeria’s near future, young Nigerians are still committed to voting, despite the above challenges. Nigerian youths like never before are unflinching and committed to exercising their civil and political rights. This is part of what makes us a great people. May God bless Nigeria and grant us peaceful elections tomorrow.
