From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), has noted that in a region grappling with democratic challenges like the fall of democracy in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic, Senegal’s recent presidential election postponement and subsequent constitutional crisis have highlighted crucial lessons for Nigeria and other West African countries.
In a statement issued by its Chairman, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, TMG noted that President Macky Sall’s decision to delay the election raised concerns about the state of democracy in the sub-region, but Senegal’s handling of the crisis has provided valuable insights.
The TMG which said it closely followed up the developments in Senegal highlighted some of the critical lessons which include: The neutrality and independence of state institutions are key to sustaining democracy. TMG said while Sall had announced a postponement of the presidential election well beyond the period of his constitutional stay in office, the Constitutional Council in Senegal on 6 March 2024 issued a judgement against the declaration of the president.
The judgement mandated for the election to be conducted before the elapse of the tenure of Macky Sall by the 2nd of April 2024. This scenario left a less than one month period for the conduct of the election. The significance of this judgement is that it was carried out in the best interest of the nation without fear and favour to the person of the president. This is a critical lesson as it remains one of the missing links in the democratization process in West Africa.
The second lesson is that the Supremacy of the constitution is crucial to democracy- Also of great importance and lesson for democracies in the sub-region is president Sall’s immediate compliance to the judgement, thereby abandoning plans to postpone the contest until June and announcing that the first-round vote would be on 24 March. While this has largely been against the wide practice in most of Africa, where leaders twist the constitution to suit the personal interests, the development in Senegal is worthy of note as it puts the state above every other person.
The third lesson TMG noted is that a vibrant civil society and independence of the press are essential ingredients to the democratisation process. It said as demonstrated in Senegal since the postponement of the election, the civil society in the country intensified efforts to mobilize and mount pressure on the institutions of state to resist the attempt to truncate democracy while the media continually amplified and echoed the voices of the populace. Hence, rather than stifling the civil society, Senegal has shown that it is a necessary tool for accountability and should be promoted.
The four lesson TMG, added is that the resilience of youth can affect positive democratic changes. It said that the enthusiasm of the youth of Senegal to affect their democratic process was sharply highlighted in the build up to the election. This saw young people across the divides rally around the youthful party and youthful representation spearheaded by the charismatic Ousmane Sonko. It is the massive support as demonstrated by the youth without resorting to politics of identity on the basis of ethnicity, tribalism or religion that paved the way for the emergence of 44-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye as president elect from the March 24 election. This represents a wake-up call to youths in Nigeria and ECOWAS to unite above identity politics to positively effect changes in their country’s politics.
The fifth lesson, TMG added is that free, fair, credible elections are a possibility in Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries. It add that some of the obvious reasons for the failure of democracy in West Africa so far include its tendency to never conduct elections devoid of rancour of irregularities and logistic failure.
TMG noted that as has been demonstrated in Senegal, even within the shortest time possible for election preparation, the country has successfully conducted a presidential election that is widely adjudged as peaceful, free, fair and transparent, and reflecting the wider wishes of the larger population.
TMG extended its congratulations to the people of Senegal on the exemplary display of democratic process, its successful conduct of the presidential election, and indeed the emergence of the youngest president in the country’s history.
It added that it is also imperative to call on the authorities and people of Nigeria to learn greatly from the numerous lessons, apply same and advance the democratic process in the country.
It said Senegal has shown that democracy in West Africa can be sustained and strengthened on the collective will of the masses.