Party Primaries: Delegates Behavior , A set Back To Democracy – African Muslim Media Practitioners 

Money politics and vote buying are becoming increasingly prevalent in our political activities, according to the African Muslim Media Organisation.

In a statement signed by the president and the public relations officer of the Association Hussain Abdulkadir Kalmatan and Bukky Olaniyan said 

Nogeria’s politics are in serious jeopardy, if the results of the country’s just concluded party primaries are any indicator. 

This is because parties and candidates have proved that good party manifestos and aspirant integrity are no longer required for political triumph as a result of their behavior during the primaries. 

The statement further explained that “what we’ve seen so far from people who voted as delegates in primaries held by several political parties across the country is unmistakable proof that voters sold their ballots to the highest bidder.”

This vindictive behavior threatens the democratic process and, as a result, would have far-reaching ramifications in the country’s drive for much-needed decent governance. 

The group is afraid that the phenomena will negatively affect the general elections in 2023, undermining their ability to be free and fair.

Meanwhile, the organization has expressed concern that the media’s subjective and sometimes false portrayal of reality is to blame for recent unfortunate developments such as widespread incitement of religious bigotry, ethnic detestation, and other forms of dislike, which have resulted in deadly violence cycles across the country. 

The organization also points out that, while journalists have the right to expose unpopular ideas or beliefs, they also have an ethical responsibility to be cautious when reporting unpleasant or provocative viewpoints, as they are more likely to incite community strife or hatred.

The media, as a agent of change, must live up to its responsibilities, particularly in terms of promoting peace and togetherness through responsible coverage, in order to avoid the spread of biased or hate speech in our varied society. We appreciate the comments of good Samaritans, including government agencies, such as Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political pressure group, which branded it as the pinnacle of political insensitivity and an open invitation to thievery. 

Anyone who acquired the forms for such “scandalous amounts,” according to the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), should be detained and turned over to the police or anti-graft agency for an investigation into the source of their funds.

Likewise, the state-owned broadcaster, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), widely seen because the official mouthpiece of All Progressive Congress (APC) controlled national, would go against the grain on this occasion. The station, in an exceedingly stinging rebuke of Nigeria’s political class, especially the ruling APC, carried an in-house commentary on April 23 during which it described the presidential system as “bogus and expensive.” If we are able to recall the presidential nomination style of All Progressives Congress, APC, is that the highest at N27.5 million, within the year  2015, while the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) at N22 million. 

The president Muhammad Buhari, said he took a loan to pay money for his APC presidential form.

 African Muslims Journalists Organization was founded in 2019 to among other things disseminate ideas supported pure journalistic ethics, and fight against racial, ethnic or any style of superiority, discrimination or hatred, by whatever means against somebody throughout Africa.