As Nigeria prepares for the 2023 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is saddled with the responsibility of conducting free, fair and credible elections has made public the the data of eligble voters for the 2023 election across all geo-poltical zones in the country as at January 11th 2023. The register showed a total number of 93,469,008, 52.5% of the total number is male and 47.7% female. The youths (18-34) make up 39.65% and a total number of 85,362 registered persons living with disability (PWDs).
The Morning Crossfire radio program sought to have a review of the INEC voters register and know how the number of registered voters in the geo-political zones in the country will affect the turnout of the 2023 elections. In comparison to the low number of registered voters in the South-East with the North-West and North-East zones, the guest Mr. Dandyson highlighted that the Easterns are economic migrants in nature, as they live and conduct business in every part of the country and thus contribute to the number of voters across other regions in the country.
With regards to how the data influences the chances of the south easterners. Mr. Dandyson Harry Dandyson holds the opinion that Mr. Peter Obi will grasp a good number of votes to make up 25% of votes in the South-West because of his endorsments by Afenifere and popularity amongst the youths which make up a good number of registered voters. He mentioned that this will be the first election in Nigeria where votes will count cause of the provisions in the Electoral Act and use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
In his opinion, there will be a re-run of election because none of the candidates will gather the much needed 25% of votes across the required percentage of regions as stipulated in the constitution and that most politicians and youths who engage in vices are not acquainted with the new electoral act. He calls for sensitization of the youths not to engage in violence and hijacking of ballot boxes, for such acts will only lead to cancelation of affected polling units/wards.
A caller opined that the South-East are not eager to cast votes considering the vandalization of INEC offices, attack of INEC workers, kidnapping and banditry which have led to chaos and fear amongst voters. In his view, amongst the presidential candidates, the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu shows more experience in governance and have a good number of governors giving him support. Another caller opined that the South-East has a high chance of winning the election considering the track record of Mr. Peter Obi in Anambra State and the eagerness of people to vote in a South Easterner as president of Nigeria.
Mr. Dandyson predicts that there will be a re-run of 2023 elections that could be as a result of irregularities in the elections, this will be because of the lack of understanding of the Electoral Act by politicians and youths that choose to engage in election violence. However, if the youths are the deciding factor, the Labour Party presidential candidate will be the winner of the elections because of his popularity amongst the young people.
