By Paul Efiong
At last, Nigeria finally conducted its presidential and National assembly election on the March 28, 2015 followed by the Governorship and States houses of assembly polls on the April 11, after heated and unwarranted debate by the two dominant political parties along side their foreign allies within and outside the country.
Foreign and International commentators have on one or several times predicted disintegration of the country probably based on the way and manner the country was heading viz incessant political killings, poor economic policies and insecurity among others.
Yes, the outcome of the presidential and national assembly as well as gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections in the country currently adjudged the best, had proven wrong seers, and fortune tellers, considering their proclamations and predictions.
There are lessons to be learnt from the outcome of the elections.
According to INEC, Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 15,424,921 votes, which represents 53.96 percent to beat President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s PDP which got 12,853,162 votes or 44.96 percent.
Available records show that the 2015 Nigeria’s Presidential election was the most expensive ever in Nigeria or anywhere in Africa.
The All Progressives Congress(APC), with the combination of some defunct political parties such as CPC, ANPP, ACN, part of APGA, part of PDP, gave the ruling PDP a formidable fight for its money that was massively lavished on selected political kings makers before and during the two elections.
Professor Wole Soyinka, Nigeria’s foremost man of letters, had severally described the election as “Most expensive, most prodigal, wasteful, senseless, I mean really insensitive in terms of what people live on in this country. This was the real naira-dollar extravaganza, spent on just subverting, shall we say, the natural choices of people.,Just money instead of argument, instead of position statements.”
Another commentator in the know said ” Traditional Rulers resorted to collecting dollars from the politicians and using their traditional titles to rain curses on those who would vote otherwise against their wishes.
A case in point was the Oba of Lagos, who according to available information had threatened those who refused to obey his traditional verdict and vote for a presumed political enemy or enemies of his in Lagos state. The statement which attracted several condemnations from various stakeholders within the country and from those in the Diaspora was another step in a wrong direction politically calculated to drag the enviable traditional stool into a muddy and dirty water of politics.
For the purpose of history, it would be remembered that the current democratic experiment started since 1999,when General Olusegun Obasanjo,a 61-year old at his election, a Christian of Yoruba origin; lead the country from May 1999 to May 2007;wanted to amend the constitution in order to continue as president but was resisted by Nigerians who told him that the Nigeria was not a personal fiefdom.
Again, President Umaru Yar’Adua, a Muslim of Fulani origin, became the next President at the age of 56 at his inauguration, followed by President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who emerged through the Doctrine of Necessity after his boss’ death on May 5, 2010.Dr. Jonathan became President at the age of 53-years, a Christian, from the family of an Ijaw canoe makers, who had no shoes during his childhood days
It could also be remembered that all these successive presidents belong to PDP. That was to change sooner than imagined by anyone in the country, courtesy of Professor Jega’s handling of the election.
Time Nigeria reports that Article 134 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that a Presidential candidate will be duly elected after attaining both the highest number of votes cast; and having received at least a quarter of the votes at each of at least two-thirds of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
If no candidate satisfies the requirement, a second election will be held between the two leading candidates within seven days from the pronouncement of the result. General Muhammadu Buhari, however, met the constitutional requirements to clinch the Nigerian President ticket.
INEC report confirms that the other 12 presidential candidates that shared the 309,481 votes with 1.82% are African People Alliance with Adebayo Ayeni as its candidate who captured 53,537 votes, which is 0.19%; the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Ganiyu Galadima, with 40,311 votes made up 0.14%;Citizen Popular Party with Sam Eke as its candidate, scored 36,300 votes, that is 0.13%;Alliance for Democracy, Rufus Salau, 30,673 votes, 0.11%. Others are African Democratic Congress, Mani Ahmad, 29,666, 0.10%;People Party of Nigeria of Allagoa Chinedu secured 24,475 votes about 0.09%;National Conscience Party of Martin Onovo 24,455 votes 0.09%;Accord Alliance of Tunde Anifowose-Kelani scored 22,125 votes, 0.08%;United Progressive Party of Chekwas Okorie with 18,220 votes, 0.06%;KOWA Party of Comfort Sonaiya, the only female among the candidates, scored 13,076 votes making up 0.05%,United Democratic Party of Godson Okoye 9, 208 votes 0.03%; and Hope Party of Ambrose Albert Owuru scored 7,435 votes made up 0.03%.
Available records say INEC has also recorded 844,519 votes as invalid or blank, which totaled 29,432,083, to make the 100% of the total votes cast. Registered voters turn out according to INEC were 68,833, voters which is made up of 42.76% of those who registered to vote.
The presidential election result turned out as ‘a referendum’ of sorts according to political scientists: it is the fundamental, key to national issues pertaining to the state of the Nigeria’s economy and security; no wonder, Jonathan’s administration was the most widely criticized probably, owing to its government’s inability to provide Nigerians with’ the needed social and economic infrastructure.
Criticism also emanated from Jonathan’s failure to tackle corruption and improve infrastructure, especially electricity supply. In addition, most Nigerians agreed that his administration was marred by incompetence, corruption, dishonesty, favoritism. Other issues that shaped the election was the dramatic rise in strength of Boko Haram Islamists, which GEJ administration fought to a standstill at the tail end of his tenure. Why did GEJ refused to tackle insecurity in the North-East zone of the country till when he was booted out by the electorate, many had asked.
Despite fierce criticism from both APC and PDP during the campaign, INEC held its head very high during the elections. Jega, a tough-minded independent administrator, was committed to overseeing affair and ensuring credible vote. Jega also showed his excellent leadership skills, even under attack. He maintained calm in the turbulence of a sensitive electoral process. The new technology of PVCs as well as the Card Readers has really earned INEC the respect and admiration of Nigerians even across the world.
The ultimate lesson is that INEC should address all the hiccups that characterized Presidential and National Assembly election ahead of 2019.
In the spirit of ‘no victor no no vanquished’ Buhari has to extend his hand of friendship and appeasement to Jonathan.
Nigerians are hungry for change and Buhari must realize the legendary edginess of the citizenry. The President-elect who made lot of promises during the electioneering campaigns; must endeavour to deliver on them.
