Smarting from a superlative performance at the recent gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that Nigerians should expect a better outing in Osun State on August 9, 2014.
The INEC boss cannot be doubted because having shown what the commission is capable of doing even when most people did not believe INEC could pull the sterling performance, Nigerians should go home whistling. It is an assignment already delivered!
He said he was satisfied with the cooperation of the political parties in ensuring a hitch-free election in Ekiti while expressing desire to have more of same in the 2015 general elections.
Jega said: “This meeting is coming at an auspicious time, in the wake of the recently concluded governorship election in Ekiti State. I must therefore, use this opportunity to congratulate and commend all stakeholders whose positive involvement in the process has resulted in the successful conduct of the election, such that it has been adjudged as the best election INEC has so far conducted”.
“The forth-coming election in Osun state, God willing should be better, and the 2015 general elections must be the best. It is therefore a challenge for all of us to join hands and continue to work together to ensure this necessary outcome,” he added.
Although a number of factors combined to make the Ekiti exercise a huge success, pundits believe that the greatest commendation should go to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
When in November last year the INEC put up a terrible showing in Anambra, which resulted in the rescheduling of election in some local government areas, many Nigeria’s raised the alarm that the electoral umpire may not be able to handle the next round of general election in 2015.
There were many irregularities in the Anambra gubernatorial election held on November 16. Many eligible voters were disenfranchised as they did not see their names on the voters’ register. Materials were deliberately delayed from arriving at the polling centres at the right time. The vehicles to convey men and materials were either not available or they broke down on the road. Some of the officials were also involved in one form of electoral fraud or another.
Jega, national chairman of INEC, had acknowledged the commission’s below-par performance, promising that subsequent elections would not follow that sorry path.
The Ekiti State election held Saturday, June 21, 2014, has opened a new and beautiful chapter in the nation’s political sphere. The superlative performance of the INEC is indeed commendable.
The exercise brought out many positives. The free and fair election, which was acknowledged even by those who lost, is simply unprecedented.
The peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the election, the massive turn out of voters and the cooperation of the security agencies were great.
The conduct of the election by the INEC has indeed convinced Nigerians that the electoral umpire was indeed very sorry for the sham of an election it superintended over in Anambra in November last year. Unlike the Anambra poll, there were no complaints about missing names of voters on the register; men and materials got to the polling stations at the right time and there were no reports about anybody being molested while voting or after the exercise. For all these, analysts say that Attahiru Jega, national chairman of INEC, and his team deserves some garlands.
Speaking with our reporter after the Ekiti election result was announced, a public affairs commentator said: “I am very happy with INEC. I was among those that expressed anger over its handling of the Anambra election last year because of the way the commission messed everything up. Today, Jega has shown that he is indeed a credible person and a man of integrity. One thing that gladdened my heart over the Ekiti election is the fact that nobody, not even members of the opposition, faulted the result declared. There were no allegations of manipulation of results or favouritism. It was simply fantastic. I have no doubt in my mind that 2015 general election will be well conducted.”
In the Ekiti election, voters had assembled at the polling units for accreditation which began at exactly 8am.
Accreditation process at virtually all the polling units in Ado-Ekiti was said to have gone smoothly and peacefully throughout the period.
Kayode Fayemi, governor of the state, who lost to Ayo Fayose, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission over the conduct of the poll.
He said the report across the state was that the election materials arrived early enough before the commencement of the accreditation.
The governor said the poll was a great improvement on previous elections in the country, including the Anambra’s.
Commending the INEC for the peaceful conduct of the election in Ekiti, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC, described it as a litmus test for the 2015 general elections.
Evans Ewurum, the corps’s Deputy Commandant General, said INEC’s success in the Ekiti poll had provided a basis for determining the outcome of the forthcoming general elections in 2015.
The United States envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador James F. Entwistle, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the feat in Ekiti.
He said: “We congratulate the many electoral stakeholders for the successful conduct of the June 21 Ekiti gubernatorial election. The Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) oversaw a credible, efficient process, and by all accounts the result reflected the will of Ekiti voters.
A legal practitioner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that INEC must not go back from the good step it has put forward.
“We have other elections ahead; there is the Osun gubernatorial election in August, and then the general election in 2015, INEC must not go to sleep because Nigerians are now hailing them over a job well done, they must move with that spirit. If the momentum is maintained, am sure elections in the country, henceforth will be free and fair,” the lawyer said.
With the INEC’s superlative performance in Ekiti, it is the hope of Nigerians that the Osun gubernatorial election, slated for August 9, and indeed, other elections in 2015 will not only be a great improvement in terms of all the attributes that combined to make it the huge success, they will also help to put Nigeria on global map as a country that has arrived in conducting free and fair polls.
