LESSONS OF POLL

Until last Saturday, many Nigerians looked forward to the conduct of the National Assembly elections with great expectations and the citizens’ expectations were not misplaced, as they had received several assurances from the INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega. However, the people’s expectations turned into despair because of the seemingly inexplicable hitches that induced the postponement of the legislative elections twice within 24 hours. Most surprisingly, despite Jega’s assurances, an ultra-sensitive document the election result sheets was not available at the polling units, to the chagrin of prospective voters and other stakeholders in the nation’s democratic process. Much earlier, Senate President David Mark informed Jega, during one of their interactive sessions at the Senate Chambers, of the Senate’s readiness to allocate more time to INEC to enable it prepare adequately for the polls. Ironically, Jega replied that it was not necessary. Jega’s confidence, no doubt, might have stemmed from the prompt release of the N87.7 billion INEC requested from the Federal Government for the conduct of the general elections, coupled with the fact that he presumed that all the loose ends had been neatly tied up. Against this backdrop, many Nigerians were shocked at the turn of events on Saturday, as Jega announced the postponement of the National Assembly polls, first to Monday, April 4 and later to Saturday, April 9. By implication, the dates for the Presidential, Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections were also adjusted. Jega admitted full responsibility for the apparent mess, giving reasons why it was inevitable for him to act the way he did. Funny enough, this was not to be again. While offering profuse apologies for the lapse, Jega explained laboriously that the plane which carried the consignment of printed electoral materials only landed in Lagos around 9 a.m. on Saturday -- a development, which necessitated the polls’ postponement. Since Saturday, Nigerians have reacted in varying ways to the elections’ postponement. While some called for the head of Jega, others expressed sympathy with him, pleading with other citizens to show some understanding as the unfortunate circumstances were totally unforeseen. On his part, President Goodluck Jonathan was obviously not pleased with the development but he however, appealed to the aggrieved citizens to be patient with INEC. He, nonetheless, praised the electorate for the enthusiasm that they showed by coming out en masse to vote last Saturday. Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ima Niboro which conveyed Jonathan’s sentiments, implored Nigerians to show understanding, adding that it is part of the sacrifices required to conduct credible polls.’’ In Abuja, the Commonwealth Observer Group, which came to Nigeria to monitor the elections, expressed its sympathy with Nigerians, who were unable to vote as a result of the postponement. The group’s head and former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, said We are naturally very disappointed at the fact that INEC has not been able to hold the National Assembly elections as scheduled. Mogae said the group had noted Jega’s explanations for the postponement, adding that it hoped that INEC has “learnt the necessary lessons from this experience”. He advised the commission to “ensure that there are no further impediments that can frustrate the ability of the Nigerian people to exercise their franchise.’’ Mogae urged the stakeholders to be calm “so that the elections can still take place in an atmosphere of peace and order”. The political parties and their candidates initially reacted differently to the development but they eventually agreed with the new dates for the elections after series of consultations with INEC and other stakeholders. In spite of the national embarrassment caused by the botched polls, political analysts say that the sad experience affords the electoral body another opportunity to rectify all the perceptible problems that surfaced last Saturday. They point to the reported cases of late arrival of electoral officials and materials, missing names of voters and parties in the voter register and ballot papers respectively, transportation problems for officials as well as some security challenges. Some citizens also advise that now is not the time to cry over spilt milk but an opportune moment to forge new ways to ensure the credibility and acceptability of the forthcoming polls. Some stakeholders, nonetheless, maintain that Nigeria’s reputation is at stake over the general elections, insisting that nothing should be allowed to go wrong again. In their views, a successful election conduct will, no doubt, confer on the nation the moral authority to be in the vanguard of the movement calling for the entrenchment of democratic values and principles on the African continent. Mogae’s optimism of a successful poll next Saturday is shared by many citizens, who believe that INEC had learnt some good lessons from its experience last Saturday. Nevertheless, it is pertinent to note the query raised by Muhammed Lawal, the President of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria, over the propriety of printing sensitive electoral materials abroad. In January, Lawal had chided INEC for sidelining local printers in the contract jobs for balloting materials, in preference to foreign printers. Last Saturday’s embarrassment may yet again put Lawal’s query on the front-burner of public discourse in time to come.