TheCable

Matthew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, says voter apathy in the Anambra governorship election will have severe consequences.

The governorship election in the south-east state is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 6.

Kukah, who spoke on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, said voter apathy will be detrimental to the development of the state.

“Voter apathy is rampant across the world but voter apathy in Africa and Nigeria has consequences,” he said.

“It is not like the United States and other settled democracies where whether you vote or not, things happen to run on fine. Whether you elect the right person or not, it will not affect the level of education and health that they have in their environment. 

“But for us in Nigeria and in Africa, election is war, a battle of life and survival. In part because if you vote for the wrong person, you could easily become a small dot in a big circle.

“You vote for the wrong person, you could easily end up with no road in your village, or school or health care facility.”

Kukah said the most important factor to consider in describing an election as free, fair and credible is if there is no fatality.

“The most important parameter to consider the election a success is that nobody needs to lose their life,” he said.

“Too many Nigerians have died unnecessarily. The most important thing is to make sure that nobody loses their life, nobody suffers any unwanted injury.

“It is the responsibility of INEC. The commission has a threshold that constitutes all we can consider free, fair and credible elections. 

“But for me, over and above the election won’t be free, fair and credible if one person loses his life.”