Election 2015: While We Officially Await The Final Results By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

The voting process in the long awaited Nigerian presidential election has come and has gone except in few places in Yobe state where the presidential election has been postponed indefinitely for security reasons. Our different and various dreams, hopes and aspirations are becoming clearer and more visible to us as we await the official announcement of the final results. There are no doubt that the election was marred with some technical challenges, most especially from the voters Card Readers, and a little violence and terrorist act in some parts of the country which negatively affected the electoral process. Meanwhile, generally speaking, without bias and sentiments, comparing this election to previous elections that had been conducted in the country since the beginning of the 4th republic, one can possibly say, that the country`s electoral process has improved and our democratic system is getting better.

The fact is, although there are still many challenges to be resolved and many more areas where improvements are needed. But, by and large, the 2015 electoral process is commendable as compared to that of the previous years. Also the people have become more tolerant of the system and process, hence, have portrayed themselves peacefully and orderly during the course of the election.

However, while we await the declaration of the final results, I cannot but comment on the following key events that happened during the process.

President Jonathan`s Accreditation.

Accreditation process started across the country, but the process drew mixed reactions, when President Jonathan and his wife could not be accredited automatically with the card reader in his polling unit in his home town in Otueke, Bayelsa State.  Several card readers were tried but his Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and that of his wife could not be read by the card readers for about 30 minutes. And after much trial, he was accredited manually.

The inability of the Card Reader to accredit President Jonathan and wife is worrisome and calls for concerns. As a matter of fact it calls for investigation. Before the arrival of President Jonathan to his polling unit, the card readers were used and worked. While he was at the polling unit, the card readers were used and also worked and after he left they were used and also worked. This indicates that it was the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) of President Jonathan and his wife that were faulty.

The fact that the card reader could not recognise their PVC`s shows that someone might have carelessly or intentionally tempered with it. If the act was intentionally done, it then means that the perpetrator did it to fault the use of the controversial card reader that has been widely criticized by the ruling party and the Presidency.

Confusion in Rivers State

Whatsoever happens in Rivers State in terms of violence and break down of laws and orders should be blamed on the wife of President Jonathan. She must be held accountable for it. During the campaign, she made a lot of inciting statements that paid off during the balloting. She repeatedly called for the stoning of opposition members during her campaign in the region for the Peoples Democratic Party and in support for her husband`s re-election bid. Whether a fresh election would be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in that state is yet undecided. But the fact is, the whole process in the state can no longer be regarded as being credible.

Curfew Declared In Bauchi State

Absolutely, there are no doubts, that there were security issues in some parts of the state, but despite the security challenges which includes threat from Boko Haram insurgents, the citizen of the state trooped out en masse to perform their franchise and voted for the candidate of their choice. However, for the state government to declare a 24 hours curfew in the state when the election results are in the process of being announced calls for concerns. Meanwhile, I was not shocked when the people defied the curfew order but trooped out to the street and also to INEC office to hear the outcome of their votes themselves. They sent a clear message to the government and to everybody that if they could defy security threats and voted for their candidates, they would do everything and anything to protect their votes.

Election Postponed in 18 Local Governments in Yobe State

Mr Habu Zarma, who is the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Yobe, on Sunday said INEC had postponed elections indefinitely in 18 polling units in Giedam Local Government Area of the state due to security challenges.

This also raises concerns going by the fact that no eligible Nigerian or any parts of the country must be disenfranchised. Would INEC wait until the elections in these areas are conducted before announcing the final results? Or would they ignore the voting and results from these areas and consider it as insignificant? Every Nigerian deserves to vote.

However, generally, People were resolute in their determination to participate in this election, despite long hours waiting to be accredited, and even longer hours waiting to vote. It is also very important to say, that on a relatively high scale, the people have conducted themselves peaceful during the electoral process and it would be of grave offence if out of greed of a selected few they decided to scuttle the whole process and deny the people of their choice. Doing this may result in post election violence and the effect might just be too much to put up with.

 

God Bless Nigeria

Ogundana Michael Rotimi

I tweet @MickeySunny