As 2015 draws nearer, the political temperature seems to be heading for the boiling point. Many sublime and heated activities are coinciding and politicians are angling at accomplishing their dreams and aspirations. One thing that seems to be missing in all these is the patriotic zeal for our country, Nigeria.

There is no doubt that despite the present security challenges in some section of the country, the electoral laws must still be complied with. It is written that there should be regular elections in a four year interval to enable the citizenry elect their representatives at different levels of government such as the State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, Governors and President. This is simply democracy in the mind of average Nigerians.

Democracy which is a form of governance has over the years attracted all kinds of definitions. Asking one to define democracy is same as asking for a defination of carpentry. It will only attract descriptions of what it is rather than a clear cut definition. Though we can’t have a definition, we can at least associate democracy with two principles: equality and freedom. Equality of men before the law and God, and their freedom to make a choice are the two pillars.

Today, scientists would state that it is a government based on popular representation by means of free, fair and regular elections. Therefore, democracy cannot be legitimate if the people do not have the fair means of selecting who they want to be their leaders and rejecting leaders whom they don’t want.

In the past we had witnessed abduction of ballot boxes, creation of ghost voters, thumb printing of ballot papers, employment of violence against political opponents such as thuggery and assassinations, and imposition of candidates. Whilst all these vices seem to be departing from our political lexicon, the imposition of candidates seems to be developing into a pandemic.

IMPOSITION OF CANDIDATES is directly responsible for the poor level of representation as those imposed when elected want to be accountable to the small cabal that ensured their emergence rather than to the electorate for their constituency. As such, the elected officials focus more on material acquisition to ensure that they are able to employ pecuniary gratifications to ensure that they continue to remain “electable”.

President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan promised to ensure that the electoral reform started by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was seen through. He promised to support the Judiciary to ensure stability and at one of the NEC meetings of his party, the PDP in 2010 leading up to the Anambra State governorship elections promised to ensure that the election was free and fair.

Arising from the success of INEC at that election, President Jonathan continued with the dogma of “One man, One Vote”. There is no doubt that since 2010 till date, the INEC has improved in electoral deliverables expected of an umpire and the PDP-led Federal Government has become famous for respecting judicial pronouncement on elections and political matters no matter the outcome. The most recent is the PDP-led Federal Government’s decision to abide with the court’s declaration on the Adamawa State governorship tussle that saw the ousted Deputy Governor return to government House, Yola.

Mr. President has won not a few admirers when recently despite the deluge of endorsements, especially from his party’s leadership; he still ensured that the door to aspire and contest was not shut to other interested party members in the presidential ticket. The National Executive of the party has also followed suit by ensuring that the President and other presidential aspirants contest the ticket at an announced national convention date. It is needless to restate that if President Jonathan continues with his mantra of allowing freedom of expression, association and creating more room for accommodation of diverse shades of opinion, the resultant deepening of democracy may turn out to be the most defining part of his legacy in our nation’s history.

Thus, the recent association of Mr. President’s name, office and official abode with the nocturnal meeting of some distinguished senators who were, according to reports in the media, to have demanded for automatic tickets has left many bewildered. This smacks of mischief from fifth columnists within the PDP whose goal is none other than to undermine the administration they operate within. This is not strange in leadership and political circles as the minds of men are not read from their faces.

One wonders what the objectives of those canvassing for automatic ticket for senators are when even the President is not enjoying that alien privilege. Where in other climes is the lexicon “Automatic ticket” applied in democracy? Are the senators who ought to be distinguished demanding not to go for primaries? Are they demanding that other interested aspirants for their office not be allowed to contest with them, that the huge sums of money already collected by the party, PDP be refunded to those who paid?

Well meaning Nigerians must unite in the condemnation of the demands of these senators whose wish is to actualise their personal greed to the detriment of the country’s well being. We cannot afford to return to the old inglorious days. Those senators that desire to return to the red chamber should respect the laws they make and return to ask their constituents for re-nomination.

It is only through this mode that elected representatives shall learn to respect rule of law and become accountable to we, the electorate, that give them our collective mandate on trust every four years. God bless our Country, Nigeria.

A senator is supposed to be representing the people of a senatorial district whose population often range from single to double digit millions. They are elected to make laws and represent their peoples ensuring that they attract the social amenities, development and improved quality of life. In most other climes, legislators are on part time and reside amongst their electorate ministering to their needs, complaints and collective welfare.

Where a senator has performed creditably in the eyes of his electorate, what will be the mortal fear this senator will harbour in demanding automatic ticket from his party? Whilst it is true that that it is healthy for the legislative corporate memory that more senators return to the National Assembly, it is equally healthy for democracy that is deepened through the dogma of “One man, One vote” as our clarion call. Internal party democracy remains the bedrock for the growth of our democracy and as we depart from the era when nominations were awarded in hotel rooms or to those who lost the primaries just to enable them enjoy the Abuja breeze until when the courts throw them out of the red and green chambers, our country, Nigeria cannot afford to return to those old ways albeit a new devilish invention of “Automatic ticket”. If the President can go for primaries then all others must go for primaries.

Well meaning Nigerians must unite in the condemnation of the demands of these senators whose wish is to actualise their personal greed to the detriment of the country’s well being. We cannot afford to return to the old inglorious days. Party internal democracy must be enhanced if we intend to achieve quality representation at all levels of governance. Those senators that desire to return to the red chamber should respect the laws they make and return to ask their constituents for re-nomination.

It is only through this mode that elected representatives shall learn to respect rule of law and become accountable to we, the electorate that give them our collective mandate on trust every four years. God bless our Country, Nigeria.

Alex Obiogbolu, a medical practitioner, wrote from Onitsha.