Elections and Citizenship SS2 Citizenship & Heritage Studies Lesson Note

Subject: Citizenship and Heritage Studies  

Class: SS2 

Focus: Importance of Elections, The Process, and Duties of Voters

What is an Election?

Imagine you and your friends want to buy a football. Some want a leather ball, others want a rubber one. To decide without fighting, you take a vote. The one with the most votes wins.

In a country, an Election is simply the formal process where citizens choose the people who will lead them. It is the “Heartbeat of Democracy.” Without elections, we would have leaders who stay forever or take power by force.

Why are Elections So Important?

Why do we queue up under the sun to vote? Here is why it matters:

• Choosing Leaders: It gives us the right to pick the “best hands” to manage our schools, roads, and hospitals.
• Accountability (The “Fire” Power): If a leader does a bad job, an election is the way we “fire” them. It reminds leaders that they are servants, not masters.
• Peaceful Change: Elections allow us to change the government without war or violence.
• Political Participation: It makes every Nigerian feel like they have a stake in the country. Your one vote is your “voice” in Abuja or the State House.

The Election Process (How it Happens)

In Nigeria, INEC (the referee) follows a set of steps to make sure everything is orderly:

1. Delimitation: Dividing the country into “Constituencies” or “Wards” so everyone knows where to vote.
2. Voter Registration: This is when you go to get your PVC (Permanent Voter Card). You can’t vote without it!
3. Nomination: Political parties choose their candidates (the people who will represent them).
4. Campaigning: This is the “Marketing” stage. Candidates travel around, hold rallies, and tell you what they will do if they win.
5. Accreditation and Voting: On election day, your PVC is checked (usually with a Bimodal Voter Accreditation System – BVAS), and you cast your secret ballot.
6. Collation and Announcement: The votes are counted at the polling unit, sent to a center, and the winner is officially announced.

Types of Elections in Nigeria

We don’t just vote for one person. We have different levels:

• General Elections: These happen every four years to pick the President, Governors, and members of the National Assembly.
• By-Elections: These happen if a seat becomes empty (maybe a representative dies or resigns) before the four years are up.
• Referendum: This is a special “Yes or No” vote where the people decide on a specific issue (like if a part of a state wants to break away to form a new state).

Duties of a Voter (Your Responsibility)

Being a citizen is a job. To be a “First Class” voter, you have these duties:

• Register to Vote: Don’t wait until the last minute. Get your PVC as soon as you are 18.
• Be Informed: Don’t just vote for someone because they gave you a T-shirt or a bag of salt. Read their plans (Manifesto) and see if they are capable.
• Peaceful Conduct: No fighting at the polling unit. Don’t be used as a “thug” by politicians.
• Protect Your Vote: Stay back to hear the results announced at your unit. But don’t interfere with the officials.
• Say No to Vote Buying: Selling your vote for 5,000 Naira is like selling your future for a plate of soup. A good citizen votes with their conscience.

Summary Table for Revision

Class Discussion Question

In Nigeria, the voting age is 18. Do you think it should be reduced to 16 so that SS2 and SS3 students can vote? Why or why not?