Time Is Running Out to Secure Nigeria's Elections | Opinion
NewsweekDec 01, 2022
The Facts
A representative for the chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Monday that the country's general election next month could be canceled or postponed due to the deteriorating security situation.
This comes as officials have warned that the rising insecurity could impede the declaration of election results and bring about a constitutional crisis, with local media reporting that 15 states could see violence before, during, and after the elections.
The Spin
Narrative A
Though Nigeria has faced a variety of challenges in recent years, the nation and its government have remained resilient. Indeed, there were many deliberate attempts to destroy Nigeria, such as Boko Haram, but the government and armed forces managed to persevere. Nigeria will be able to handle this election and the challenges it poses.
Narrative B
The economic, political, and security situation in Nigeria has deteriorated in the last seven years, and it would be absurd to think anything has gotten better under Buhari. This election doesn't only face threats from militant groups and criminal gangs but from the government and politicians themselves. Even the Commission may not be trustworthy, as Yakubu is possibly aligned with Buhari.
