Nigeria

By Aliyu Nuhu

Now I said Tinubu will take the APC ticket. The wait won’t be long but facts on ground support his candidacy. If it is about winning this election, APC can’t make the mistake of destroying the regional alignment that gave it power in 2015. North and Southwest can work together and cruise home to victory.

PDP will not win this election whether Buhari is popular or not. Whether his government failed to deliver on its promises and rubbished Nigeria’s economy and allowed insecurity to exacerbate people’s suffering is also immaterial. Performance is a good requirement but winning Nigeria’s election is not that straightforward because of the kind of voters we have who are largely poor and ignorant.

Democracy flourishes where there is prosperity and enlightenment among the voters. Stomach infrastructure plays a bigger role in Nigeria’s election. I am saying this to underscore the importance of having governors during presidential election. No party with a sitting governor will fail to get at least 25% of the votes of his state.

In this election APC has all the states where the numbers are concentrated and will surely deliver their states to the party. PDP has only four states in the North.

Having federal government is another big booster to APC. Security agencies always work for the government in power. There is also federal resources from CBN and NNPC and what the ministers will bring on the table from their ministries. Even INEC is working hands in gloves with federal government. APC has a big advantage there over PDP.

Some people will argue why PDP lost election in 2015 when it was in power. It was because the PDP broke to pieces before the election with all the important governors leaving the party. Jonathan was stoned in states where PDP had governors. If you don’t have governors that will work for you, forget presidential election. It is impossible to win Nigeria’s election without controlling states.

The danger of PDP relying on South East votes is that there are few voters there despite the region being notorious for voter apathy. Actions of IPOB will also stop people from voting, this is the reason why I say the region is not important in winning election. This a fact not a support for APC.

Atiku has tenaciously been in the race for Nigeria’s president and with his fierce independece and good health he will outperform other candidates. But this is a moment of truth. He is in the losing party and may have to wait for Tinubu to finish his eight year terms, besides the fact that the North cannot rule Nigeria forever. Power has to go to the South this time, and Southwest for that matter.

Last year I wrote on the biological retirement of older northern Nigerians and after 2023 if you add with years to their ages, most of them will either be in their graves or in their late seventies and eighties struggling with health issues.

By Muhammad Umar

This is the beginning of my participation in politics to the fullest, especially on social media. I am gradually learning one or two things from both the recorded victories and failures in some instances. I believe it’s unarguably a fact that, in it (politics), you either be on the winning or losing sides.

In times of political victory, you become so excited as if the happiness will never end. Likewise, failure makes you feel uncomfortable or like nothing is enjoyable to you in the entire world. You become frustrated. Some can even get out of their senses and do something regrettable without awareness.

Thus, some lessons I have so far learned are: 

1. Be careful of what you say, write and post on social media because it might one day come back and haunt you. Make sure whatever you write doesn’t involve insulting/harsh words and terms that can downgrade your integrity in the eyes of your followers and friends in struggle. 

2. Learn to be patient in whatever situation you find yourself in. Sometimes you might be provoked by the commentary of some people (your opponents). Be conscious of your wordings while responding to them in times like that. Though it’s not any comment worth your attention, you can neglect some of them to allow peace to reign. 

3. Choose whom to follow and associate with while participating in political activities. This could include your political mentors, guardians and other friends in struggle. Because sometimes, you could meet somebody who can help you, i.e. someone who can be a reason for you to become somebody in life. But if you choose the wrong person, they can be a disaster for you and your political carrier.

Please, be politically wise and active in all the activities that could bring changes to your (our) societies.

Regards!

Muhammad Umar wrote via muhammadumardanmasani@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Abubakar Lamido

Bleak Economic Future on Losing bread Winner

Think of it; the moment you die, the socioeconomic status of your children and wives changes. Your children (those young among them especially) become orphans, and your wives are called widows. While alive, you worked hard and earned for their feeding, clothing, shelter, education, healthcare and general wellbeing. The moment you die, they lose a breadwinner. If in your lifetime you have searched from the Islamic Sharī’ah, you would have learned the art and science of planning beyond your lifetime for these prospective widows and orphans. After relying on Allah, you would have built for them a prospect such that they would live a life of meaning, success, prosperity and contribution, insha Allah. And here comes the relevance of family waqf; waqf, in general, being the Islamic instrument for institutionalising philanthropy and ensuring perpetuity in giving!

Family Waqf as a superb socioeconomic institution enables one posthumously to maintain his parenthood and breadwinner status for his family, generates him reward permanently and preserves the dignity of his progeny everlastingly. In family waqf, you find one of the essential instruments for planning the future prosperity of your progeny.

Family Waqf as Solution

Family waqf, also called posterity waqf, is a kind of endowment created as a futuristic investment for the sustainable prosperity of the endower’s relatives or friends. It is often called a restricted waqf, distinct from a public waqf whose benefits go to an open class of beneficiaries. It can be for the immediate family; wives and children. It may also include parents. It can be made for the extended family, depending upon the financial capacity of the endower. One can make a family waqf for a child with a special need, say one with sickle-cell disease. The beneficiaries of a family waqf, in short, are those defined by the endower.    

Significantly, although the primary beneficiaries of this form of waqf are those pinpointed from the endower’s family, time may expand the scope of the recipients of its fruits. When, for example, the revenues generated from the waqf grow so large beyond the family’s need, or when the family gradually goes extinct after some long time, the waqf could be converted to a public waqf, expanding the coverage of those who enjoy its benefits. Therefore, what distinguishes a family waqf from a general public waqf is its scope of defined beneficiaries. Virtually all other rules of its governance are the same with public waqf. It can be made a direct waqf, one that creates direct benefits, on an investment waqf whose revenues are distributed to the designated recipients.   

Family waqf can be made for the provision of all forms of welfare and empowerment services for the family. It can be made for education, healthcare, feeding, clothing and other needs. It can also be made, specifically for the sponsorship of Hajj to family members. In this regard, instead of spending five million naira for two or three members of the family to perform Hajj this year, the same amount can be invested as a waqf, such that after its maturity, the proceeds from the investment waqf can be used to sponsor Hajj for a certain number of family members every year. With proper management and Allah’s barakah, instead of three family members, dozens of them can enjoy Hajj from the same seed money even long after the demise of the original donor. Waqf multiplies benefits and rewards manifold.

More often than not, you hear people complain over the demands of their family members overwhelming them even as they want to contribute. But little do they know they have a satisfactory answer in family waqf. For example, suppose you know you spend two million naira for the education of your children and extended family annually. Why not make an investment waqf so that the proceeds of the waqf relieve you of any spending in that direction in some years to come?

Form and Functioning of the Family Waqf

A person can build a rentable shopping complex, subscribe to Islamic bonds (Sukuk), buy shares of a halal company, and dedicate the same and profits thereof as a waqf for the education of his children and grandchildren. Likewise, one can build an orchard full of date trees, mango trees and other fruit-bearing trees, dedicating them as a waqf for the future specific or general financing of the needs of their children.

When the endower specifies in the waqf deed that it is only for the education of his children, then, as a rule, no part of the rentals shall be spent on other needs, just as the resources cannot be used to fund the education of children other than his, except when the yields grow far beyond the education of the designated siblings. If the endower dedicates it to education and healthcare, its proceeds cannot be diverted to feeding the family or other things except under absolute necessity. All this is to safeguard the sanctity of the waqf, ensure its sustainability, and guarantee the continuous flow of its yields in line with the overall goals and objectives for which it is created.

 The good thing is that, like all other waqfs, making it a family waqf makes the investment/asset inalienable. It prevents it from being counted among the inheritable wealth of the endower, as it will remain a separate entity that creates benefits perpetually to the entire qualified beneficiaries. The asset can neither be sold nor given as collateral. It remains a waqf asset. This way, even when the children need other things, they source them outside the waqf, allowing the waqf to maintain its defined purpose perpetually.  

The idea behind family waqf stems from Islam’s emphasis on ensuring the wellbeing of a person’s family and biological relations and the need to spend continuously on all aspects of their needs; spiritual, intellectual, biological, physiological, socio-cultural, and so on. Talking about spending, the Qur’an draws attention to prioritising spending on the family. When, for instance, the companions continued to ask the Prophet (SAW) how best to organise their spending, Allah intervened with a divine spending formula: that whatever you plan to spend for good or charity, direct it to your “parents, relatives, orphans, the needy and the traveller” (Qur’an 2: 215).

Your family, in short, occupies the first three spaces on your scale of spending preference. They are the primary beneficiaries of your giving, be it obligatory or voluntary. Now, if, as the Prophet declares, the most pleasing act in the sight of Allah is one that is perpetual and sustainable; then it becomes apparent that the most rewarding spending on the family is the “gift that keeps on giving”, that is a waqf that keeps bearing fruits to the family.

Start Early, Start Now!

It is important you begin the waqf plan early. Many people start their marital lives with moderate incomes, which, with little adjustments, a futuristic mindset and financial discipline, are sufficient to be divided into consumption, saving and little investments. However, financial shortsightedness often prevents them from allocating some portion of that “meagre income” to what would ease their financial burdens and create a sustainable flow of income – and reward- for themselves and their family in the future. Little do they realise that as their family grows, so do their financial burdens. If these are added to inflation and other economic unpredictables, the complexity of the situation worsens.

Many people do not also realise that the best immunisation from the negative socioeconomic consequences of shrinking disposable income is to begin early implementation of an effective financial plan. Many begin to regret when the regret cannot change anything; they would want to start to cry when the head is already cut off!  

So, plan for the future of your beloved wives, children and relatives. That is a Sunnah, a well-established one, for that matter. A viable and well-managed revenue-generating waqf can do that for you. You get double rewards; you safeguard your family’s future Islamically and earn rewards perpetually. Make an effective plan for their feeding, sheltering, education, medicine, and socioeconomic prosperity. Make a waqf for their Hajj, ‘umrah and general spiritual wellbeing. That is sunnatic. Do not miss the opportunity to practice this multidimensional Sunnah, the Sunnah of family waqf. Our dear mother and wife of the Noblest Prophet, Aisha, reports to us that the Prophet (peace be upon him) dedicated his seven gardens as waqf to benefit the clans of Banū Abd Muttalib and Banū Hāshim as recorded by Bayhaqi.

We also see emphasising family waqf in the guidance of the Prophet to his companions. After the revelation of the verse “By no means shall you attain righteousness/piety unless you spend of that which you love; and whatever good you spend, Allah knows it well” (3:92), Abu Talha met the Prophet and said, “This is what Allah has revealed, and the most treasured of all my wealth is this garden, Bayruhā’. I have set it aside as a ṣadaqah to attract reward from Allah. Therefore, you should administer it the way you wish”. The Prophet was amazed by this gesture. And so he said, “Certainly your wealth is blessed. Having heard what you have said, I recommend that you dedicate it as a perpetual charity to your relatives”. Based on this Prophetic advice Abu Talhah made it a waqf for his close relatives and cousins (Bukhari and Muslim).

It is interesting also that most companions of the Prophet are reported to have implemented this Sunnah. For example, Caliph Abubakar dedicated a house as a waqf for his son, and Umar dedicated a waqf near Marwa to his son. Also, Zubayr endowed a house in Makkah, another in Egypt, and yet another in Medina as waqfs for his children. Amr b. ‘Āss endowed a house and another huge property in Mecca for his children, just as Hakīm b. Hizām also dedicated a house as a waqf in Mecca and another in Medina for his son. After reporting all of these, Ibn Qudamah says in al-Mughniy, “All this are intact till date”.

Family waqf is a Sunnah of the Prophet, his companions and generations of Muslims in the last fourteen centuries. It is a well-developed institution that grew as a robust instrument for family empowerment and societal development until it faced the orchestrated wrath of the colonial monsters. The colonialists saw it as an institution that gave families and societies independence against their mercilessness and hence officially abolished it in Muslim nations like Egypt, Morocco, and so on.

Sadly, there is hardly any evidence of its practice as enshrined in Islamic law and civilisation here in Nigeria. With the growing waqf awakening in Nigeria, one hopes that a new page would be opened for entrenching this all-important Islamic civilisational institution. The good news is that with each family doing it, we gradually build a new waqf generation. Through that, we give a big blow to poverty at family levels before we finally eject it out of our communities. The early we sow, the earlier we reap. The more we sow, the more we reap. May we begin this journey NOW.

Abdullahi Abubakar Lamido, Chairman, Zakah and Waqf Foundation, Gombe . He can be reached via lamidomabudi@gmail.com.

By Simbo Olorunfemi

It might yet turn out that, by some accident or slip on the part of members of the National Assembly, Nigeria might have stumbled upon a system that might yet become useful in retooling the mechanics of the Presidential system as we currently practise it.

Of course, the idea that the template that had been forced upon the political parties for the election of Candidates in this election will outlive this season is unlikely, as letting the Buhari ‘veto’ stay would amount to class suicide, with power of election/selection slipping out of the hands of those who had assumed the status of ‘statutory’ or ‘super’ delegates. The Legislators are unlikely to ever let that happen.

But I wouldn’t let that stop my interrogation of what is accidental, but I see as potentially beneficial intervention in the electoral system.

Whereas the idea of electing candidates through a collegiate system, made up of delegates is not new, what has played out this time around is one in which all the delegates who participated in the election of candidates were elected. Whereas these ones were supposedly ‘ad-hoc’, who were to be add-ons to the supermen and women who are automatic delegates by virtue of the offices they hold/held.

So, as the malfunction in the legislative process led to the omission of super delegates who had been the dominant players in the space, the task of producing candidates was solely left to the adhoc delegates, who suddenly became beautiful brides desperately sought by aspirants.

Whereas there has been a lot of talk about what has become a highly monetised delegates procurement process, my observation does, in fact, suggest that it is the statutory or super delegates who have constituted themselves into ‘cabals’ and pressure groups, taking advantage of their positions to put pressure on aspirants, leading to the monetisation of the process.

First, we have former members of the National Assembly, having formed themselves into groups, waiting for the period of elections to milk aspirants. Then, we have a situation in which the list of delegates tilts heavily in favour of these groups, making the system more susceptible to manipulation.

So, what is wrong with tweaking with this accidental system that we now have and explore the possibility of institutionalising it as a model for electing Candidates?

As we have it now, members of the party go through a process of election which see them emerging as ward, local government and State delegates, to be able to vote for candidates in the different elections.

Whereas the contest within the parties to qualify as a ‘Delegate’ was not one that had the big players contending, having already qualified to participate in the process as statutory delegates, I will argue for the idea of statutory delegates to be scrapped entirely.

I will argue for a system in which all delegates are elected by members of the party. This primary election had 5 delegates per ward (APC) and 3 delegates per ward (PDP) for the State House of Assembly Elections.

I will make a case for the primary election for the office of the President to be one delegate per ward, which would be the total number of delegates eligible to vote to 8, 813, just about what we had with statutory delegates participating in the process. But under this proposed arrangement, anyone who wants to be a delegate, either already elected into office or a political appointee will return to his ward to stand for election, and if qualified will serve as delegate at the Presidential primaries. Local government and states delegates will also emerge through the same process.

This system strengthens the party and returns power to the base, having within it some elements of the parliamentary system which I prefer and advocate a return to.

Simbo can be reached via; simboor@yahoo.com

By Khairat Suleiman Jaruma

For most Nigerians, there is no hope left for this complicated country of ours. As many often say, “Naija is finished”. I disagree that Nigeria is finished. We might think we are having our worst days as a country, but the worst is yet to come, and it will only come when we give up on fixing this dear country of ours.

The younger generation keeps me motivated and convinces me that there is still hope for Nigeria. I see how the Western world shoves the whole LGBTQ ideology down young children’s necks from a very tender age, and these children grow with this ideology strongly built in them. Let us borrow this method of theirs and use it to instil civic education into our next generation so it will be strongly built in them, or use the priming effect method, which effectively works in selling an idea or instilling a belief in people.

The importance of civic education in fixing Nigeria’s mess cannot be overemphasized. The idea behind civic education is to promote the demand for good governance by informing and engaging the public and as a necessary complement to efforts to improve the practice of good governance.

Civic education is perhaps the only tool we can use to address political and governance issues and critical social issues. However, we need to do more than just giving children notes on civic education to copy in schools, and we need to be more intentional about it. I believe that one of the most important things we need to do to change the narrative and set our country on a path of progress is to create a civically well-educated generation. Nigeria needs a patriotic generation prepared for the future and ready to challenge the existing execrable system.

Also, civic education, like we often assume, is not just a subject to be taught in schools only. We need to do more than that. We need to put in more efforts to educate and create more awareness of the role and importance of civic education to a prosperous Nigeria. We all need to be involved as individuals, governmental organizations, civil society organizations, or non-governmental organizations. 

The effort is not limited to young children or the next generation alone. It is essential that everyone learns more about civic education and practice it as, more often than not, young children do more of what they see than what they are told.

The change we seek might take time, and most of us might not live long enough to see the results of our efforts. Still, we need to set a good and solid foundation of positive change for the generation after us, or what we are facing right now might just be the tip of the iceberg compared to what they will face.

According to Bruce Lee, “Real living is living for others”. So let’s live simultaneously for the next generation and a better Nigeria. 

Khairat Sulaiman Jaruma wrote from Kaduna. She can be reached via khairatsuleh@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Bashir Bakari, a final year student of the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has picked the ruling All Progressives Congress’s (APC) expression of interest and nomination form.

Bakari picked the form on Friday, May 6 2022, to vie for the position of a member in the Taraba’s State House of Assembly.

In an interview with The Daily Reality, Bakari disclosed that his decision to contest is not unconnected with the ASUU strike. He explained that the strike had given him enough free time to campaign and participate actively in partisan politics. 

“We are at home, and there is time for campaign and active participation. If not for the strike, I would have been thinking about exams, projects and the Law School. But the strike avails an opportunity,” he said.

When asked about his chances of getting the APC’s ticket, he said any victory was from Allah.  

Bakari wishes to defeat three other aspirants in a primary election on May 27 to clinch the APC’s ticket.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, has blamed Nigeria’s security crises on the death of former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. 

Aondoakaa, who is among the Benue governorship aspirants set to contest for the ruling party’s ticket, disclosed this at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Friday, May 20, 2022. 

According to him, the security situation bedevilling the country started during President Yar’adua’s time and aftermath of the death of Gaddafi.

“After Gaddafi was overthrown, there was no strong government in Libya, and there was a kind of persecution, and most of the soldiers ran away with light weapons and came in.” He said

He added that the problem would go away with time. 

“The insecurity is an external aggression that is spreading within the country, but it is something that will go after some years. We also had the great Wild Wild West in America that was so frightening that we thought America will break. But what happened? It evolved,” he stated.

By Fatihu Ibrahim

Going through my newsfeed,  I came across a letter dated the 7th of May 2021. Onukwubiri Ifeanyi Kingsley allegedly renounced his position as the first son in the family, because (as he said in the letter) the position increased his problems, increased his liability, and was a thorn in his flesh. 

I wonder if he graciously relinquishes his position out of fear of responsibilities. If this is the case, he is wrong to flee from his duties. This life is nothing but a set of examinations, tribulations and challenges, running from the one you may likely encounter superior challenges along your way. So the best solution is to face your challenges and try your best to conquer them.

Historically, in a patriarchal society like ours, the firstborn child’s role has been socially significant, particularly for a firstborn son. As a result, there are sets of expected do’s and don’ts in the lives of firstborns.

As the firstborns, our parents expect us to be 101% good. We have to set the example for other siblings; we have to be brilliant, extra careful, perfect, intelligent, great administrators, toppers in any exam, good athletes and the list goes on. The level of expectation on us is very high, and the burden on our shoulders is quite heavy.

Being the eldest son was never our choice nor our intention, but nature has its way of imposing things on us, and here we are as the firstborns, a position we will hold for our entire life. 

Moreover, our darling parents never see us the same as our fellow siblings but rather as alpha children moulded into hardworking gentlemen responsible for steering various homes’ wheels. This blend of expectation and motives sometimes stressed us, resulting in anxiety, which overclouded our verdicts. We fall prey to superfluous fear of the future, which affects our existence, dwindling our efforts in conquering dilemmas.

My advice to all the firstborns is never to see this position as a burden but rather as a blessing. Do your very best in all facets of life, and always look to the Mighty Lord for guidance. If by any chance you feel like losing hope, remember the Quran 26:62 “إنَّ مَعِیَ رَبِّی سَیَھدِ ینِ” “Indeed my Lord is with me, and He is going to guide me”. So when the lord is in control, we have to trust Him and play our part by doing our very best. 

To all the firstborns, hold your head high up. You have been endowed with qualities such as strength, struggle and some considered leadership characteristics.

May God bless our hustle, amin. God bless Nigeria, amin.

Fatihu Ibrahim sent this article via fisabbankudi123@gmail.com.

By Hassan Ahmad Usman

What else do we need to see before we believe that we don’t have anyone to cry out to, fight with, or even be our hope? 

Two things happened over the weekend that explained clear how dualism exists in Nigeria. First, the gap between the so-called “elites” and the masses is so wide that you can’t imagine these two people living and sharing a country.  It is a clear call for us, the less privileged children, to have sense and redirect where we burn our energies and pursue a realistic future.

First, when airline operators announced their resolution to stop operations on May 9 due to the ever-increasing prices of aviation fuel, we thought it was time for them too (elites) to feel how discomfort Nigeria can be and how a malfunctioning Nigeria is not suitable for anyone. But our curiosity got punctured when we woke to the news that the operators had suspended the planned stoppage of operations.  Why? How? We only have one answer – it is something that has to do with them (“elites ” or “big men” if you like). They don’t deserve humiliation. On the contrary, they deserve a swift response to what affects them (even behind closed doors). They are the true Nigerians.

 How do you expect an Atiku, Tinubu, Moghalu, Wike, Amaechi and the rest to campaign without air transport? Osinbajo will undoubtedly use the presidential fleets. So he’s a bigger boy. 

On the hand, ASUU announced the end of their warning strike of three months with another three months of strike ( it doesn’t even sound logical). How can you go on strike while on strike? So it is another painful morning for the children of the poor and their parents. 

It is high time we understood that to survive in Nigeria with these same elites; we must go beyond being their praise singers or political foot soldiers for actualizing their political dreams.  We must understand that our unborn children deserve much more than we have.  

Our schools have been closed for a quarter of this year, and we’ve braced up for another quarter to go unaccounted for.  Unfortunately, given the political atmosphere looming for the next general election, the ground is set for them to cultivate many young, hungry people for political thuggery with the help of our lecturers who never see sense in keeping us in school to shape us for the future.  

My dear children of the masses, our lives and future are not and never tied to any politician.  Therefore, despite our condition, we can dream and aspire just like their children. What we need is to focus and keep building in ourselves.

Let’s equip ourselves with relevant skills. The certificates ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria are denying us are becoming irrelevant on the global stage. Yes,  education is good, but there is no specified timeframe for it. We can build ourselves before going back to classes. So, let’s endeavour to show that we’ve not only come of age, our senses, too, have come of age.  

Hassan Ahmad Usman writes from Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. He can be reached via basree177@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun a quiet probe into the finances of the country’s 18 political parties and presidential candidates.

This came after applicants vying for various political posts in the parties paid exorbitant fees for expressions of interest and nomination papers.

As a result, in a letter, with reference number CB.3383/EFCC/HOPS/HQ/VOL.1/28, titled, ‘Investigation activities’,  the anti-corruption organization has requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission provide it with the bank accounts and other financial information of political parties.

It also demanded that the managing directors of Access Bank and Polaris Bank disclose information on the 14 accounts held by the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, and another group suspected of being linked to the opposition party.

The ruling APC sold presidential forms for N100 million, while the main opposition party sold them for N40 million. In addition, APC governorship candidates paid N50 million, while those declaring for the Senate, House of Representatives, and state legislatures paid N20 million, N10 million, and N2 million, respectively, for their nomination and declaration of interest forms.

The PDP, on the other hand, sold gubernatorial forms for N21 million, Senate forms for N3.5 million, House of Representatives forms for N2.5 million, and state Houses of Assembly forms for N600,000.

While the minor parties paid lower rates for their forms, many Nigerians were outraged by the hefty nomination fees required by the two leading parties, which Transparency International described as a kind of money laundering.

Last week, on Channels Television’s Politics Today, EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa hinted that the agency will monitor campaign finances, particularly the authenticity of monies used to acquire nomination forms ahead of the 2023 general elections.