Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, examines the recent presidential and National Assembly elections and attendant lessons.
It was not for nothing that informed analysts described the March 28 presidential election as a duel. According to them, the contest was, indeed, a historic political battle that featured two combatants with almost even strengths – President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC). At the end of the exercise, Buhari carried the day.
The election came along with remarkable trends. For example, it has been argued that never before in Nigeria’s political history had an election generated a similar amount of interest and tension. Not even the famous June 12, 1993 election had done so, according to political analysts.
That was not without reasons. Before his emergence as president-elect, Buhari had ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2003, 2007 and 2011, ending his quest on each occasion in protracted legal battles. Jonathan, on the other hand, was seeking a re-election – an ambition he had barely concealed, even when his first term had hardly run mid-way.
Going by the conduct of Nigerians, there was no doubt that the people were determined to save their country. Despite the inadequacies of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as regards stories of late delivery of election materials and non-delivery in some areas, inadequate materials, late decision to revert to manual accreditation, hours after the smart card-readers were not meeting expectations, the situation did not produce the agitations that many expected to disrupt the election.
Election proper
It was obvious that Nigerians demonstrated rare perseverance, on the two days the election was conducted. In every state of the federation a lot of hiccups were recorded.
Voters trooped out in large numbers as early as 7.00 am for accreditation.
There was the challenge of Smart Card Readers (SCRs), late arrival of materials at polling stations and non-arrival of materials in most polling booths.
Even Jonathan and his wife, Patience, were not spared the hitches.
The President was later issued with Incident Form for accreditation after five SCRs failed to read his thumbprint.
The story of non-functioning of SCRs, late arrival of INEC officials, non-availability of materials in many centers, insufficient electoral materials, the hacking into the website of INEC by a group which called itself the ‘Nigerian Cyber Army’ were all part of the reasons the election dragged to Sunday.
Some polls witnessed some pockets of violence.
Governor Amaechi and supporters shunned the elections, just as Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha did same.
The election to most political commentators took ethnic dimension as voters voted according to candidates from their zone.
While the South West zone voted for APC given the fact that the running mate of Buhari, Prof Yemi Osinbajo is from the South West, the South East and South-South went for Jonathan while the three-zones in the North (North East, North West, and North Central) voted Buhari their Northern candidate.
Protesters on the prowl
Although the election was adjudged peaceful generally, it was not totally devoid of skirmishes in some areas.
In Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo and Abia among other states, there were pockets of protests over rigging. While the APC in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Abia accused the PDP of rigging, in Imo, the PDP was accused of intimidation.
In reverse case, the PDP also lamented over massive rigging in states in the North to the advantage of the APC, accusing INEC of bias.
Big names lose
Results collated in different polling units revealed shocks, as some perceived political heavyweights lost in their wards.
The list included Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Olabode George, Issa Yuguda, Mu’azu Aliyu, Gabriel Suswam, Smart Adeyemi, Senator Chris Ngige and Abdul Ningi, among others.
The compilation of the results of the election at the International Conference Centre, Abuja was, however, not without its drama.
Aggrieved by what he described as bias following the conduct of Jega, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, had on Tuesday created a scene, as he accused the INEC boss of being “selective and partial” in dealing with issues of irregularities raised during the poll.
The ex-Minister also accused Jega of handing out results to the APC to publish on its website.
He alleged that Jega swiftly set up a committee to look into issues raised about the results in Rivers state by the APC, but tactically dismissed issues raised by the PDP.
The situation was handled maturely by both the security agents present and Jega who clarified the issues raised as false.
Jonathan concedes defeat
Exhibiting political statesmanship, which was applauded by Nigerians and the international community, Jonathan put a call to Buhari about 5.15 pm on Tuesday to concede defeat and congratulated him on the victory. In doing that, he recalled his statement that nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.
“As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else,” the president said.
With the rare feat, the ululation of victory and celebration has continued to reverberate across the land, with congratulatory messages pouring in from all quarters.
Leading the pack in Nigeria is former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, who said the victory points to a new indication that incumbents can be defeated and a lesson in perseverance.
On his part, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also commended both the president-elect the president for being part of the historic election.
National leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, described Buhari’s victory as Nigeria’s finest moment in its political history.
In the same vein, one of the leaders of APC and a former governor of old Abia State, Ogbonnaya Onu, said: “I am very happy that Nigerians have given us the opportunity to address the problems of the nation. I am confident that APC will show that many of these problems of the country can be solved.”
Surprisingly from Ekiti State also came a congratulatory message from its governor, Ayodele Fayose, who is believed to be one of the most virulent critics of the Buhari candidacy.
Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has also congratulated Buhari, describing his victory as the best thing to happen to a country that has endured 16 years of misrule at the centre.
Even the group that spearheaded the campaign for the re-election of Jonathan, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN); and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which supported Jonathan, also commended the president-elect, saying Nigerians made the right choice.
Former Commonwealth General Secretary, Emeka Anyaoku, has sent congratulations too.
Among the leaders of the party who came early to congratulate Buhari were Governors Tanko Al Makura of Nasarawa State, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.
International community speaks
United States President, Barack Obama; United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon; and British Prime Minister, David Cameron; among other noble world leaders have all commended Buhari and Jonathan for his statesmanship.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation established in 2006, with a focus on the critical importance of leadership and governance in Africa, also commended Buhari and Jonathan.
