As the storms gather towards the 2019 general election, the electorate is expected to come out in February and use their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) to “choose their leaders” for the next four years. Such appeal/expectation is both rational and patriotic, based on the assumption that our votes will count, as obtained in civilised climes. But that has always been an assumption - from the 1959 pre-independence general election to the historic stormy polls of 2015: the reality has always been manipulation of a passive electorate by politicians.

Not being a pessimist, one still hopes to see this universal assumption become a reality in 21^stcentury Nigeria whose economic fortunes are still dictated by the volatile crude oil market; Nigeria where political patronage rather than merit determines who is qualified for political office; a country that is 99.5 per cent dependent on imported goods; a nation where politicians go into office, not to SERVE but, to lead and dictate as the boss of their respective tiers of government; a nation where corruption is endemic, in both public and private sectors; a Nigeria that rather than progress has taken over from India as poverty capital of the world and the third most insecure country. Yet, no one accepts responsibility, just as the public feels less disturbed about the ugly demographics that could have been roiling the polity elsewhere.

Our political system is quite attractive given its peculiarity, despite the misleading nomenclature of ‘democracy’. In our country, the President assumes extra-constitutional powers over the judiciary and legislature and could run the country as a family estate; the National Assembly is irrevocably committed to the unquestionable emoluments, self-serving constituency projects and other allowances of their members; state governors are entitled to undisclosed humongous sums as security votes/salaries and allowances, dictate for state houses of assembly and control both the local governments and their finances.To keep the people in perpetual subjugation, political leaders employ diverse socio-cultural affiliations to create schism and insecurity. Such ensures the masses are mutually antagonistic and increasingly impoverished. This is not a state or regional phenomenon; it is a nationwide malady committed by both elders and youths in public service and prevalent in the two major political parties.

This equally explains why core issues of economic diversification, foreign trade, weak naira, unemployment, education and health-care are never on the front-burner. So much emphasis is placed on fighting corruption as if it is an invasion by unknown elements from outer space. And the compromised media does not help matters: none provides an in-depth and holistic narrative of what exactly is corruption and the sincerity of ant-sleaze battles. As a result, war against corruption is so magnified that you may begin to wonder where the perpetrators are coming from. Yet, we see and read of these acts of corruption daily by same champions of anti- corruption. Truth is that any partisan condemnation today is a case of kettle calling pot black. Nigerians ought to have known better by now.

During the gubernatorial primaries, especially in the ruling All Progressives Alliance (APC), many states roiled over candidate imposition. Although Imo, Ogun and Zamfara states stood out, Lagos could not be questioned because a “true democrat”, the ultimate godfather has been the sole domineering figure since 1999. Besides, same Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is also National Leader of the APC. Therefore, neither the President of the Federal Republic, party chairman nor notable monarchs could change his decision on incumbent Gov Akinwumi Ambode. But, despite the humiliation and justified anger of some commissioners, he has bowed. However, Governors Rochas Okorocha, Ibikunle Amosun and Yeri Abdul-Aziz are yet to muster the clout to call the shots in their respective states, and so could not impose candidates of their choice on the electorate. In Zamfara State with 92 per cent poverty rate and pitiable infrastructure, innocent folks died in various parts of the state during the primaries, because a political dynasty that has terribly under-developed the state insists on retaining power. The people have no choice. In Kaduna State,Senator Shehu Sani - despite assurances from President Muhammadu Buhari and the NWC - had to quit at the last minute, because, Gov Nasir el Rufai has the final say in Kaduna State APC. Not even the prolonged bloodshed in Kaduna due to inexplicable communal crises and human rights abuses exemplified by the continued detention of the leader of the Shiitescould shake his confidence. That, too, is a legacy the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has left in its 16 years of misrule.Results of local government polls nationwide confirm the foregoing scenario, especially since 1999: It’s not the voter, but incumbent administration that determines the outcome. That is why state governors and party chieftains boldly assure the serving president of absolute victory at the polls, even when records of under-performance are so glaring?

Given that extant socio-economic and political realities do not support such asinine self-confidence, one wonders if the APC chieftains are not secretly assured of the complicity of security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). As in many other things Nigerian, vote-buying is now assuming a sophisticated dimension, as evidenced in current cash handouts to petty traders(#trader money), and other veiled gimmicks. But any condemnation of such misdeeds by the PDP holds no water. Sad, the economy and the ordinary Nigerian remains the victim. The political elite are united at the top: political party is just a cloak, an identity card with which you collect your own share of the loot. Hence, the beat goes on! What happened in Osun and Ekiti states was not different from what Abians experienced in 2015 or what transpired in Imo during 2007 governorship election.

However, one thing is now clear to observant and right-thinking Nigerians: Both the PDP and APC are two sides of the same coin, when it comes to voter manipulation and abuse of process with a view to achieving the desired objective. The only difference now is APC’s power of incumbency, which could equally be broken in 2019 as PDP’s was shattered in 2015. But that will be too sudden and so must be resisted at all cost, even though President Buhari has led Nigeria to the teetering edge of a precipice. As pointed out by ex-CBN governor and Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi II, 2019 general election is around the corner, yet no one is talking about issues and prolonged failings in governance that has brought Nigeria to this sorry pass.

His words: “….I read the papers. I watch the television and listen to discussions. Who is talking about education? Who is talking about nutrition? Who is talking about basic health? As a country, what are our priorities? We don’t have enough money for education. We don’t have enough money for health. But we haveN1 trillion or N2 trillion to spend on petroleum subsidies…”

The Nigerian voter should be on guard against such treacherous features of African politics that birthed the dishonourable genre of elected dictators under whose watch Africa has become the habitation of the world’s poorest. And Nigeria leads with gigantic but wobbly steps. However, despite our dubious electoral record and unwholesome atmosphere of insecurity, if Nigerians can count on theunquestionable integrityof the President, INEC boss and security agents during the 2019 polls, our votes can still count, barring ballot mischief.

•Chima Nwafo, Consulting Editor, News Express, can be reached on:chi_dafo@yahoo.com; 0802 933 4754.