By John Mayaki
Why would anyone leave the House of Representatives to contest for the Senate and then, huge sums of money would be expended to conduct another election into his vacant seat? Why are we such a wasteful people in the name of ambition and democracy?
I woke up this morning, wondering about the hustle and jostle to fill the vacant seat Governor Monday Okpebholo left in Edo Central Senatorial District and the need to discourage wastages while encouraging freshers to participate on the political stage.
No doubt, democracy is the great ideal of governance by the people and for the people, and often celebrated as the best system for ensuring representation, accountability, and fairness. But, in our clime, particularly in Edo State, democracy has taken on an expensive and burdensome dimension. The high financial cost of repeated elections, driven by the unchecked ambitions of political players, calls to serious questions about the sustainability of this system.
Consider the revolving door of elections in Edo State. Philip Shaibu, once a member of the House of Representatives, left his mandate halfway to become Deputy Governor, triggering a bye-election that saw Johnson Oghuma emerge as his replacement.
Fast forward to the present, and a similar scenario is unfolding. Senator Monday Okpebholo won his governorship ambition and therefore, vacated his senatorial seat to become Governor, while Dennis Idahosa left the House of Representatives to assume the role of Deputy Governor. These moves have left two major legislative seats vacant, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is now preparing for yet another round of elections to fill these gaps.
The cycle doesn’t, and may not stop there. Mr. Odi Okojie, a current House of Representatives member, is reportedly eyeing the senatorial seat vacated by Governor Okpebholo. If he succeeds, another bye-election would be required to fill his seat. And so, the domino effect continues, each step in the chain creating more financial and administrative burdens for the state and its people. But wait, can’t we simply apply some restraint? And, possibly appeal to ourselves to get freshers such as Mr. Joseph Ikpea to take a shot and save money and time? It’s a matter of understanding, if you ask me. If we are not there today, we can tomorrow.
This endless churn and turns of elections comes at a significant cost. Conducting elections in Nigeria is no small task; it involves the production of ballot papers, deployment of personnel, security arrangements, and logistics for sensitive electoral materials. Each of these elements costs money; I mean money that is sourced from taxpayers already grappling with inflation, poor infrastructure, and inadequate public services. And the cost is not just financial.
Let’s not forget that our elections are often fraught with violence, exposing citizens to physical risks and disrupting the peace. When we know all of these, we can talk to ourselves for understanding and get, for instance, a capable hand like an Ikpea to take a shot, to save us all the rigmaroles and inconveniences.
The irony that is striking is this, political leaders lament the lack of funds for critical sectors like education and healthcare, billions are channeled into elections caused by their own ambitions. This for me, calls for a serious question: Is it truly a lack of funds holding the country back, or is it a deeper problem of misplaced priorities and poor management of resources?
It is important to acknowledge that ambition is an inherent part of politics. We cannot blame or stop anyone from aspiring. Not even Odi Okojie. After all, the desire to move from one office to the next, such as from councilor to state assembly member, or House of Representatives to the Senate, is not inherently wrong. It’s an inalienable right. However, such ambitions should not come at the expense of governance or public resources. A representative elected for a specific term should honor the mandate they were given, completing their tenure before seeking higher office. To do otherwise could simply undermine the trust of the electorate and reduces democracy to a game of personal advancement. Especially so, when it is within the same legislative structure. From the legislature to the executive is quite understandable but not within the same National Assembly. This, however, is my personal opinion – not a rule or a regulation.
And so, I think reforming this system is no longer an option; it is a necessity. Laws could be enacted to mandate that elected officials complete their terms before contesting for higher office. While this may seem restrictive, it would bring much-needed stability to the system, reduce the financial strain on the state, and restore dignity to the democratic process. Again, let me say that political ambition is legitimate, but it must be balanced against the collective wishes and good of the people.
I have come to understand that democracy, as it stands, is teetering under the weight of its own inefficiencies. The repeated elections in Edo State are a microcosm of a national problem; a governance model that places more importance on the ambitions of a few over the welfare of the many. Until this issue is addressed, democracy in Nigeria will continue to be an expensive, wasteful endeavor, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill for a system that should be serving them, not draining them.
The path forward requires bold action. If democracy is to truly work for the people, it must demand accountability from its actors and this is not just in governance but in the electoral processes that underpin it. Only then can Nigeria begin to move from a wasteful democracy to one that delivers on its promises.
