The unnecessary calm that preceded Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections was not usual. Considering the prediction of dooms from so-called prophets and star gazers that have continued to create panic among Nigerians, those who know what Nigerian politics is all about would agree that tension usually filled the air 24 hours before a crucial election like picking a new president.
But with the calm and order witnessed on Friday, many would have translated it to mean that the country is about to witness the most peaceful elections for the first time after the past six presidential elections were marred by violence.
Alas! the presidential and national assembly elections held on Saturday throughout the nation went in the way of the last six after it was marred by violence, intimidation, and electoral malpractices.
Most Nigerians were on cloud nine when federal government tasked the Army with the responsibility of ensuring adequate protection of life and property on Saturdays, but it can be said that the military presence failed to make any difference if the violence that transpired in all geo-political zone is anything to go by.
Starting with INEC personnel, much still needs to be done if the commission is to earn the trust of most Nigerians. Apart from few states like Adamawa, Bauchi, and Anambra, most voters who turned up at their respective polling units had to wait for two to three hours before INEC officials showed up for the business of the day. While the commission got a pat on the back for introducing the BVAS machine, most governors and ordinary voters who turned up to carry out their civic duties complained about the late arrival of voting materials.
The much-lauded BVAS machine failed in several polling units leading to massive disenfranchisement of its voters most especially in the Igando Ikotun area of Lagos while Ibadan was not left out.
In Imo State, over 1500 voters were disenfranchised after INEC officials failed to turn up. Of course, there is always room for improvement before the gubernatorial elections next month.
But the violence that marred Saturday’s election has once again proved beyond every reasonable doubt that nothing has been done to improve the security of life and voting material during elections. Virtually every state witnessed voting disruption on Saturday as political thugs operated unabated despite the heavy presence of military personnel at polling boot.
The violence in Lagos started in Surulere where hoodlums carted away ballot boxes and destroyed other voting materials. It later spread Ago Palace Way while the violence that transpired right in the nose of Elegushi of Egushi’s palace, Nollywood actors wereng Saheed Elegushi raised questions about the decision to deploy the army to voting centers.
In Epe, over 2,500 voters could not cast their votes as political thugs attacked voters and carted away ballot boxes while scores of Nollywood stars were attacked.
In Bayelsa, elections failed to hold in 141 polling units owing to pre-attacks from political thugs. It remains to be seen elections will hold today in Bayelsa and Plateau states as planned by INEC. In far-away Borno state, Boko Haram insurgents launched an attack on voters in Gwoza community with four injured.
In Kogi, a man was shot dead by the Army for snatching ballot boxes. But as of press time, INEC is weighing the idea of canceling all voting results in Kogi.
Conclusion
As the collation of results reached its advanced stage, the glitches, and violence that marred Saturdays still tilt toward the need to embrace electronic voting rather than stick to the old system, which from time immemorial has encouraged rigging, loss of lives, and property.
