Voter power, people’s power

For Nigeria, this is the dawn of a new era, when votes count. Unlike elections that had been held since the country’s return to democracy in 1999, the 2011 polls have so far reflected the determination of Nigerians to restore integrity to the electoral process. Previously, when names of countries, which could conduct credible polls, were mentioned, Nigeria was missing. While her neighbours, such as Ghana and Sierra Leone, received global commendation for conducting credible polls, Nigeria got knocks over the 2007 elections. It is an understatement that the 2007 polls fell short of expectations of Nigerians and the international community. International groups, which monitored the elections, came up with a verdict that the polls did not meet basic global standards. The Chief Observer of the European Union Election Mission, Max van den Berg, after the elections in 2007, had said, “These elections have not lived up to the hopes and expectations of the Nigerian people and the process cannot be considered to have been credible.” The man, who headed the Independent National Electoral Commission, Dr. Maurice Iwu, remained unrepentant in spite of the sordid job his commission did. But late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who also benefitted from the flawed elections conducted by Iwu admitted that they did not truly reflect the wish of Nigerians and he made good his promise to initiate electoral reforms. Since assumption of office, President Goodluck Jonathan, who succeeded Yar’Adua, had repeatedly promised to bequeath a legacy of free and fair elections to the country. For instance, when he granted an audience to a United States delegation led by the Under-Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, Maria Otero, in May, 2010, Jonathan had said “In the next election, there will be no cheating”, stressing that “every vote must count and we are totally committed to this,” Jonathan said “Winning elections is not the issue, but the process must be credible, free and fair”. The President took the first bold step in fulfilling his promise, when he appointed a former Vice-Chancellor of the Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Attahiru Jega, as INEC chairman. No doubt, Jega’s integrity restored the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process. Unlike the previous elections, there was a large turn-out of voters in many parts of the country during Saturday’s presidential poll. Under the scorching sun, Nigerians queued to vote. The electorate, including the aged and the physically challenged, waited for several hours to vote after accreditation. Throughout the length and breadth of the country, voters exercised their power. While Jonathan received the people’s mandate, some politicians, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, were defeated by their opponents. Bankole had accepted the results of the election and congratulated his opponent. The National Assembly and presidential elections have received commendations from Nigerians and the international community. The European Union Election Observation Mission, in its preliminary report on Monday, said, “Saturday’s elections are a convincing proof that the Nigerian authorities, institutions and the electorate are determined to remain owners of their destiny and to run even better elections in the future.” A former president of Bostwana, Mr. Festus Mogae, who led the Commonwealth observers, also saw the election as a triumph of the will of Nigerians. When he arrived in the country in March, Mogae had lamented the inability of the country to conduct free and fair elections. Mogae had said that Nigerians must not let other Africans down. He had noted, “Nigeria is a big country. You are 140/150 million people. Botswana has only two million. As of now, you Nigerians are governing yourselves a little less well than your little brother and that is why I am here. I am concerned about your tendency not to manage yourselves as well as you should and as well as you can.” Presenting the preliminary report of the Commonwealth Group on Monday, Mogae said that the April 2011 elections “marked a genuine celebration of democracy in Africa’s most populous country and a key member of the Commonwealth. “Previously held notions that Nigeria can only hold flawed elections are now being discarded and this country can now shake off that stigma and redeem its image. “The elections for the National Assembly and the presidency were both credible and creditable and reflected the will of the Nigerian people.” For the first time since 1999, Nigerians, irrespective of their views, have exercised their power by voting for the President of their choice. By Niyi Odebode Courtesy Of: Punch