Despite the excitement around the primaries [en vue de l’élection présidentielle, prévue en février prochain]the violence affecting different regions of the country and a general feeling of insecurity suggest that the elections [générales] may not take place in 2023.
After the terrible massacre at Owo [le 5 juin, lors d’une messe pour la Pentecôte, des hommes armés ont fait irruption dans une église et mitraillé les fidèles, faisant 40 morts], in Ondo State, a wind of insecurity seems to be blowing across the country, destined to destabilize and overheat the institutions. If dark designs are behind these actions, Nigerians of good will must unite to thwart these plans.
To do this, they must assume their responsibility as citizens – to register and vote – and insist that the electoral commission carry out the elections. This will dissipate all the fears of the latter about the upcoming elections.
destabilizing agents
Earlier this year, the commission reportedly cast doubts on the holding of free and fair elections in 2023 due to insecurity affecting many parts of the country.
Those who fear that the elections cannot be organized are clinging to a constitutional provision which provides that in the event of generalized insecurity or war the incumbent president can remain in office to deal with this situation. But is that really what the Constitution says?
Neither the thesis of “Nigeria at war” nor this dubious interpretation of the Constitution are admissible arguments against the organization of the 2023 elections. Despite the violence at work in several regions, Nigeria is not technically at war , let alone “in a state of war” with another country. Moreover, as the precedent of 2019 demonstrated, the organization of elections is quite possible in