Today is decision day in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states. Eyes are on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as residents troop out to elect their governors. The burden is on the umpire to conduct an exercise that will substantially comply with the constitution and the electoral act.
However, election is a joint responsibility involving the electoral commisssion and all the stakeholders. Apart from the electoral agency, other key players-party leaders, candidates, their followers, adhoc staff, security agencies and voters-should play the game by its rules. If any of the actors, individuals or groups, refuse to abide by the regulations, the poll will be flawed.
Each election circle should be an improvement on the previous ones. Electoral democracy is expensive
Only free and fair polls can justify the huge expenditure.
Today’s exercise means a lot to the competing parties. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is fielding Usman Ododo in Kogi, Governor Hope Uzodimma in Imo and former Governor Timpreye Sylva in Bayelsa. APC is itching to build on its feat at the centre, having won the presidential poll that ended the dream of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) for political control.
The distressed PDP is making frantic efforts to guard jealously its supposedly strongholds in the states, its colossal defeat at the last national elections notwithstanding.
LP, which was also dazed at the presidential poll, is making some efforts, at least, in Imo, where Senator
Athan Achonu is the flagbearer.
In Kogi, where the governor, Yahaya Bello, is not contesting, having been elected twice, the stakes are high. APC candidate Ododo, former Accountant-General of the state, had embarked on an aggressive campaign. The ruling party picked its candidate from the local government, constituency and senatorial district of the governor, despite the agitation for zoning. Bello has insisted, defensively, that rotation should not be an issue in a state that is united and cohesive. This is a novel experiment that may engender a paradigm shift, if the party succeeds. But, if it fails to retain power, the failure will be attributed to the neglect of rotation.
Bello believes that his achievements in almost eight years should swing the pendulum of victory to the party. Indisputably, APC is the most formidable party in the Confluence State.
PDP has disagreed with the APC’S permutations. The campaign of its candidate, Senator Dino Melaye, has been boosted by the victory of the Amazon, Senator Natasha Akpoti, who is aggressively mobilising for him.
Ododo of APC also faces other challenges. Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Leke Abejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are on the prowl. Both are defectors from the ruling party. No doubt, they are popular. But, their platforms are not strong, although Ajaka, an Igala, who belongs the most populous ethnic group, is urging his kinsmen to vote for the son of the soil. If the opposition parties come together, APC’s dream of continuity may be aborted.
In Imo, Uzodimma is being challenged by two foes-Achonu and Senator Sam Anyawu of the PDP. The three friends are now divided by politics. After the poll, and the electoral litigation that is likely to follow it, they will resume their friendship, without their feuding supporters knowing the details of the truce.
Almost four years ago, PDP claimed that APC secured a judicial victory that abruptly terminated its mandate in Imo. Therefore, while APC is trying to prove Uzodimma’s popularity, PDP is trying to prove that the last governorship election was “judicially rigged.” But, APC has continued to wax stronger.
During the last presidential poll, LP won in Imo. Can the party repeat the feat today? It is noteworthy that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s gimmick in Imo has collapsed like a pack of cards. While Imo chapter of NLC has disputed any rift with Uzodimma, observers think the national leadership has tried effortlessly to manufacture a non-existing industrial crisis.
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In Bayelsa, there are alignments and realignment of forces. Interest is key. Four years ago, it was believed that former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP supported APC candidate David Lyon. Today, he is back with Governor Douye Diri, who is more confident than in the previous poll.
The news from the Bayelsa APC suggests a house divided against itself. Some party leaders are at loggerheads. The snail-like approach to reconciliation has not produced the desired result.
In the three states, residents are anxious. It is not without judtification. Reports have indicated that the states are enveloped in tension.
Election is like war in Nigeria. What should be a festival of choice becomes a nightmare; violent and bloody. There is panic. There is gnashing of teeth. When will the malady end?
Ahead of the elections, fear had gripped many residents. The genesis of the offseason polls was the madness of the past, which the court had corrected. In the process, the time lost to irregularities and litigations could not be regained.
Yet, the political class has failed to learn from the past. The campaigns in many parts of the states have been tough and rough. Violent attacks, destruction of banners and billboards, defacing of posters, vandalisation of vehicles, dispersal of crowds at rallies and arson have been recorded.
In some instances, there was loss of lives during clashes. Scores were wounded.
Police have been overwhelmed. Political parties have even alleged compromise by the police and urged the Inspector General to change or swap police commissioners in the three states.
Candidates are very combative. They do more than selling their manifestos to prospective voters. There are allegations and counter-allegations of unruly behaviours. Character assassination, campaign of calmuny, falsehood and incitement were elements of the campaigns.
The splits in political parties created enmity and bitterness, which heralded the chaotic preparations. There is mutual suspicion between and among ruling and opposition candidates, party leaders and their fanatical followers. Thugerry is the order of the day.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun has asked trouble makers to stay clear. INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu has also threatened that in those areas where violence is recorded, the votes will not be counted.
But, the solution is to apprehend the culprits, prosecute them at the electoral malpractices tribunal and jail them to serve as deterrents to others. The setting up of the electoral fraud court is still a tall order.
Today, INEC should avoid previous pitfalls. It should brace up for the challenge of conducting polls in coastal areas, which in the past were reputed for rigging.
Electoral officers should demonstrate patriotism. They should report for polling duty promptly. The right and appropriate officers should be at the right and appropriate place.
Polling materials should be adequate to prevent voter anxiety. Polling officers should be above board. They should neither aid nor abet. Indeed, they should shun financial inducement.
A great challenge is collation. It was the bone of contention in the last election. The promise of IREV by INEC without the hope of fulfilling it, as experience has shown, will generate controversy, indignation and bitterness. Any promised made and unfulfilled by the commission can dent the outcome of the poll, unless there is a rational and justifiable explanation. But, by now, candidates should know that electronic transmission of result has no backing of the electoral act.
Overzealous obsrvers and monitors ahould be circumspect. Hasty generalisations should be avoided. Election is a sensitive matter and assessment should be thorough and devoid of bias and sentiments.
Security agents should be up and doing in policing the votes and protecting participants in the critical exetcise.
If there is no vote buying today across the three states, then, the ballot box would have been sanitised and its sanctity and dignity restored.