By Onaivi Kadiri
Incontrovertible evidence that voters engage in protest voting by casting ballots comes from
elections in which such ballots are a major, even predominant, phenomenon.
Such episodes usually occur in response to directives from political leaders and elites to their followers. The ballots can be blank, mutilated or in favor of the opposition.
In the coming National Assembly elections scheduled to hold next year across the country, indications are that the Akoko-Edo federal constituency is very certain to experience protest voting that will attain an impressive percentage of total votes cast, if the moves by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to impose a legislator for a record fourth term sails through.
There are however arguments in some quarters that some party leaders and stakeholders who are opposed to tenure elongation for the legislator are being threatened.
But this negates the spirit of equity and justice which has guided the choice of representatives over the years. And the fact that the dramatis personae is boosting about his capacity to have his way is not helping matters.
As a result, the once vibrant, bosterious and convivial Akoko-Edo APC membership is now disenchanted, tensed up and demoralized, going forward.
The Akoko-Edo federal constituency has thrived over time on equity and fair play with all parties taking the public interest into consideration and setting self aside.
Made up of two main constituencies, North and South, the North has predominantly presented the candidate for the federal seat for more times than the South. Notwithstanding, it is foolhardy for anyone to think that this is a valid excuse for an individual who has served a record three terms of 12-years, being from the South, qualify to continue in office for another four years.
Balogun from Ekpesa in ward four, Hon CT Akpaja from Makeke in ward Five, Hon Sada from Sasaro in ward Seven, were all from the North and is one term only. Tunde Lakoju from Ajoyo in ward Five and Tunde Akogun from Aiyegunle in ward Seven did two terms each.
The entire constituency rose up and resisted when Akogun wanted to elongate this stay at the National Assembly by another term.
Ironically, some of the opponents of Akogun's move are the very same people now drumming for a life time of Representation by our brother from Uneme-nekhua ward.
As one writer puts it, "When a man is genuinely genuine in his intentions or aspirations;...he doesn't need to muscle anyone to support or endorse him".
Hence the planned hiring of scores of hapless party members and paying them to extract an endorsement for a FOURTH TENURE is odd and ludicrous as it sounds.
Only a desperado can do this. AkokoEdo does not need this move. It is satanic and cannot stand: It is against the will of the people.
The first immediate outcome of this looming tragedy is that the opposition PDP, though ragtag presently, is keenly watching the scandal brewing in the APC.
Disappointed, dissatisfied and disillusioned APC members, as a consequence, will very likely protest this anomaly by voting for the PDP in elections.
*** ONAIVI KADIRI writes from Igara, Akoko-Edo.
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