Raila Odinga, a former prime minister of Kenya, has cautioned Nigerians ahead of the general elections in 2023 to be cautious when using technology in the electoral process because it might be used to rig the vote and steal the mandate of the electorate.
This was said by the seasoned Kenyan politician in his keynote speech at the 14th Annual Conferences and Awards, which had as its topic “Credible Election and an Economy in Transition,” on Tuesday in Abuja.
However, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated during his statement at the awards ceremony that INEC and the courts are responsible for the legitimacy and integrity of elections.
The event’s chairman, Osinbajo, stated that there have been far too many instances of electoral violence following contested election results.
He pointed out that this frequently entails the destruction of infrastructure, as well as sometimes of both public and private property.
“Aside from the loss of man hours while the unrest persists and its immediate aftermath, I think the integrity of the umpire and the electoral courts is the third test of the credibility of our election contests,” he stated.
“I also want to emphasize the integrity of the electoral courts, I presume since I also spoke at length on the integrity of the umpire. There is a chance for difficulty where the umpire is thought to be unjust and where the courts are thought to be inconsistent, arbitrary, or whimsical.
“To set precedents, the electorate is losing confidence roughly proportionately. The political elite in Nigeria has a responsibility to ensure that elections and electoral dispute resolution procedures are free, fair, and credible in the interests of economics, our citizens’ economic well-being, and, of course, in the general interest of the people we profess to represent. The least we can do for our country, its people, and even our continent is this.
The vice president added that Nigeria’s daily difficulties with food, shelter, and clothing are more important than any other issues.
Osinbajo asserted that survival trumps all other considerations in our democracy, where there are currently over 200 million people, 90 million of whom are under 30 and who need access to education and employment opportunities, while the remaining population needs social services and infrastructure for health care.
He contends that the problems are enormous and that democracy, the rule of law, and the selection of leaders through free and fair elections are essential for resolving them.
“Investors are reluctant to make decisions before the elections. Sometimes consumers are cautious not to blow their savings or to be bullish on the stock market out of concern that election upheavals could get out of hand and prevent business and commerce.
It makes sense for the most savvy economic actors to wait until the makeup of the next government is known. However, the chances of the economy being disrupted are significantly higher when elections result in administrations that are not credible for one reason or another; the legitimacy of governments as granted by the freely provided mandate of the public is a major concern.
The vice president claimed that the Media Group Awards have grown to be a significant national occasion for honoring deserving local and foreign individuals simply because of their honesty and consistency in sustaining high principles.
The great Raila Odinga, a former prime minister of the Republic of Kenya, is our guest speaker today, and his presence makes us feel very privileged, he continued.
“If there is anyone who can speak on the subject in Africa with authority, it is without a doubt Raila Odinga. Listening to him, you see that he is kind of an encyclopedia in terms of election observations in Nigeria and elsewhere, as well as in terms of African politics.”
According to Osinbajo, Sam Nda Isaiah, the founder of the media organization, firmly believes that the media’s responsibility is to serve as the primary moderator of public dialogue and to be objective yet passionate.
“I commend you all at the Media Group for working to uphold his legacy and carrying on the path he saw steadfastly blazed during his remarkable life,” the author said.
