June 12 as unachievable concept, by Peter Ameh

June 12 has become a concept that has remained unachievable in Nigeria. It was variously described as a watershed in Nigeria’s elections. It was considered to be the fairest and freest election, and despite its being the freest and fairest election, the presumed winner was never allowed to assume office, perhaps because of where he came from.

What lessons has Nigeria as a nation learnt from the impasse generated as a result of the annulment of June 12 elections, which brought the country to the precipice?.

In my opinion, no lessons have been learnt. The electoral processes have become increasingly worse. Electoral manipulation and attendant violence have become the norm rather than the exception.

A cursory look at the history of elections since 1999 shows that each election cycle has become increasingly worse than the preceding one. What may seem to be the only free election since the return of democracy was the zero party local government election of 1998.

The 1999 general election was as free as the military wanted it to be. The successive 2003 and 2007 general elections were a sham where results were announced while voting was still ongoing.

The acclaimed 2015 general election was fraught with irregularities, even though it went uncontested by the then sitting President Goodluck Jonathan. An example of irregularity was the case of Kano State, which is a largely illiterate society. In 2015, Kano State returned close to two million votes without any void vote.

2019 and 2023 general elections were more of electoral heists than elections, notwithstanding the seemingly beautifully looking amendments to the Electoral Acts of 2011 and 2022.

In the area of nationhood, which June 12, 1993 election nearly cured its absence in Nigeria, Nigeria has taken a twenty step backwards.
In the area of uniting Nigeria as a nation, June 12 almost acted as a catalyst for eliminating religion, tribe and tongue as some of the most dangerous evils bedevilling our country and the quick resolution of nationhood. Votes were not cast on the basis of religion, tribe and tongue

The presumed winner won in all the areas that were considered hostile to his tribe and tongue, but with the annulment of that election and later introduction of tribe and religion as an avenue for victory in national elections, the cleavages that we once papered have now turned into gulfs. Votes are now cast on the basis of who is related to us ethnically and religiously. Merit does not count anymore. Merit and unity were what June 12 represented.

We have discarded them on the altar of ethnicity and religion. Our faultlines have so much widened that we may be swallowed by them if we do not do the needful.

Chief Peter Ameh
National Secretary CUPP