RIGHT TO VOTE AND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS OF TRADITIONAL RULERS IN NIGERIA

It is true that Nigerian traditional rulers wield a lot of influence in their various domains in the country.The Nigerian political terrain has, in the past, experienced instances whereby success or otherwise of a particular candidate or political party at the polls largely depended on the endorsement of the traditional ruler in whose domain the election took place.It is noteworthy that this idea is still in practice  in the country though the Nigerian electorate  now appears to be struggling to exercise its civic rights to vote independently.

Of relevance here is the recent attempt by a traditional ruler in Nigeria to intimidate the electorate in its domain to vote for a particular candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in his state.The monarch allegedly told the representatives of a particular tribe in his city during a visit to his palace to vote for a particular candidate or else they would all perish in the lagoon.While the moral propriety or otherwise of this statement is not the business of this post, an attempt shall be made to consider whether or not there is actually any legal justification for a traditional ruler in this country to dictate to his subject which candidate to vote for in an election.

THE LEGAL POSITION
Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees a right to freedom of conscience for every Nigerian and section section 35 of the same constitution also makes provision for a right to personal liberty for every Nigerian.

With these relevant provisions of the constitution in mind, the right of every member of the Nigerian electorate to vote is sacrosanct and it is above the interest of any other person regardless of his status.So, Nigerians are free to vote for any candidate of their choice independent of the influence of any traditional ruler.It is the exercise of their discretion in line with their conscience and it is out of place and unconstitutional for any individual or any group of individuals to  intimidate or harass  the electorate to vote for a particular candidate.

Finally, although, the traditional rulers in the country may enjoy high level of reverence in their localities, constitutional recognition is yet to be given to their prominence.

Thank you for your attention.

See you again tomorrow.