Although postponement of elections is not alien to Nigeria, the shift in the dates for 2019 general elections have obviously dazed the polity with issues and convolutions renting the national space, writes GEORGE OKOJIE
When Nigerians and global communities went to sleep on the 15th of February, 2019 the major item in the ‘To Do List’ of most people was to wake up the next day and cast their votes to elect their president , members of the National Assembly and then watch the outcome of the electoral process.
Unfortunately, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shifted the goal post in the middle of the game ,while they were yet asleep citing one thousand and one reasons why the polls must not postponed.
As expected, so many Nigerians all over the world expressed their disappointments, while others simply deployed their arsenal through the social media to ensure their messages either good or dubious got to the grass roots.
The nation’s politicians and political parties who had hitherto adjusted to the Internet era of campaigning relying on the arsenal of digital tools to try and reach voters, especially the elusive younger voters seized the opportunity to make claims and counter claims.
The first analysis that hit the polity through social media was that INEC intended to replicate what they called ‘Osun Template’ in the election but was busted by the United States.
The report read, ‘’Nigerians should be grateful to the United States for saving our democracy today. This is why the party in power got frustrated about the international communities interference at one point and threatened “body bags” because they know, “Americans would know”.
“We are a sovereign state, agreed, but there was nothing Nigerians would have done tonight to prevent Mohammadu Buhari from rigging this election, if not for the intervention of the USA.
“The Buhari government in collaboration with INEC had an agenda on how to rig the election in favor of Buhari. This was what they were planning to execute tonight with the postponement drama when the United States government got a wind of it and called the INEC Chairman not to dare.’’
“Their Plan: The strategy was to allow elections hold in 26 states and postpone it in 10 states. For the ten states, they had two plans: late arrival of election materials and security crisis.
“The idea was to deliberately allow materials arrive late as we are already witnessing in some states, and INEC would have no option but to postpone elections in those states.’’
This analysis came across to so many sound and discernible minds as silly because we know the American Government cannot stop election even in a Banana republic.
So many Nigerians that were worried did say this kind of mindset is what had kept the country going round in circles because when situations like this happens in other countries, the citizens would come together to call for the heads of those responsible.
Some people would pay for such tragedy to prevent a repeat of such occurrence in the future. But like everything in Nigeria, the real issues were buried and political considerations and biases became the topic for discussion.
They opined that what has happened could not be divorced from the usual demonstration of the Nigerian factors of lack of capacity, half measures, no plan B, not paying attention to details, selfishness, greed, lack of integrity, and greatest of all “I am above the law syndrome.”
Amid so many insinuations, the Deputy Chairman (South) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Otunba Gbenga Daniel said, “It is not particularly pleasant news in all ramifications. This is an election that INEC and all of them have about three and half years to prepare for. And up until a few days ago we had assurances that everything is set to go.
“And I am really shocked. I would not know any excuse they have to give. The INEC chairman spoke in terms of logistics and I still don’t understand it. I am told that they having another meeting by 2pm in Abuja and I hope that they would come with a better clarification.
“But clearly, this is not good for the politics. Look at the international observers, some of them have been here in the last two weeks. What do you expect them to do now?”
“It is really not a good day for politics in Nigeria and Africa. Definitely, people do say there is no smoke without fire. Yes, INEC is supposed to be independent, they have appointing officers and they people who confirm their appointment. Definitely, this appears to me, the voice of Jacob the hand of Esau.
“Nigerians will not give room for any foul play. I think we should place on notice that this is not election about individuals. It is about INEC versus Nigeria. People have said clearly that the ongoing regime is not the best we can have. And INEC has a duty to be loyal to Nigerians and not to anybody”.
Daniel however, maintained a different position on the call for the resignation of INEC national chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, stressing that his resignation would further compounded the nation’s democracy problems.
“I accept. It may not be easy for you to ask the INEC chairman to resign if you don’t want to create a bigger problem. If they now want to have the election next week and you are asking the Chairman to resign, it will create a bigger problem”.
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“I think we should allow him to do what he wants to do before we talk of sanction”.
For Abdul Fatai Adeniji a civil servant INEC should have notified people about the postponement five hours before the election, not in the midnight when people have slept off.
“There is conspiracy in what INEC did, and i am suspecting a foul play, it has shown clearly that INEC is not independent, we want them to conduct free, fair and credible poll, some of my friends has traveled to their respective states because of this election, we are very disappointed in INEC”, he said.
Tosin Solanke, an Okada rider at University of Ibadan junction alleged that All Progressives Congress (APC ) masterminded the postponement because they knew the election would not favour them.
According to him, there is no genuine reason for INEC to postpone the election.
“There is no genuine reason for INEC to postpone the election, people are not inform on time about the postponement, we woke up with the surprise news that the poll has been postponed”.
Also speaking, Blessing Okah, a trader at Sango junction, who said that everything had been paralysed because of the restriction of movement and this has affected the business of the day.
Another respondent, Rafiu Adeleye said “it is impunity they (INEC) are un-serious set of people. They must all resign after all, they were given all the money and other logistics they asked for and also, they had four years to plan”.
Also commenting on the development, the national chairman of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Mr Emmanuel Dania queried the process, INEC has employed to deliver the elections.
He stated that the obvious reality of incompetence in the Nigerian institutions have very grave consequences on the generality of Nigerians.
Empathizing with the people, Dania charged Nigerians never to give to violence or public unrest but remain calm and resolute of the change they hope and desire of a new Nigeria.
He harped on the economic effect of such postponement and how much the economy would lose on Saturday (yesterday) since there was supposed to be no economic activity, and how inconvenient it would be for many who had left their homes and families in order to sleep over in hotels and other accommodations so that they can cast their votes.
“The announcement of the postponement or rescheduling of an election INEC had spent months planning and preparing on the very day of the election gives rooms to worry and questions the competence of the institutions of government in delivering vital services to Nigeria as much as the general elections.
“It is sad that a commission saddled with such a huge task would not be able to preempt the reasons given for rescheduling an election hours to its commencement.”
“Needless to say that the obvious reality of incompetence in the Nigerian institutions have very grave consequences on the generality of Nigerians. It is sad that a country as blessed as Nigeria would struggle at delivering an election as scheduled and almost become a predictable pattern of never keeping to the scheduled date of any general election. When asked during the week, the INEC Chairman confirmed to the whole world and in the front of camera and international observer and monitors that his commission is ready to conduct the elections”.
The ANN Chairman therefore called on all party faithful, lovers, believers and everyone that desires a new Nigeria to stay resolute and not deterred by the postponement but ensure that the next one week be used to galvanize every yet to decide voter to vote right.
Interestingly, the President of National Association of Nigeria Student (NANS), Danielson Bamidele Akpan said though NANS condemned the postponement of the elections just like every other stakeholders in the Nigerian democratic project but yet won’t call out members to embark on any protest either against INEC, political parties, government or any individual for that matter.
He said, ‘’Since the announcement of the postponement of Presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the early hours of 16th February, 2019, various media organizations and Nigerians across the globe have been calling me and other leaders of NANS to know if the students movement issued a directive for mass protest as was maliciously fed the public by desperate political actors and street opportunists.
“To this end, I wish to inform the general public that NANS under my leadership is yet to reach any conclusion on embarking on any protest against INEC or any of its officials. The public and particularly, security agencies should be wary of destructive elements masquerading as NANS leaders.
“Being a responsible organisation, we have since made further efforts at knowing the real issues necessitating the postponement and abreast of remedial actions being taken by INEC and stakeholders at solving identified problems as explained by the commission.”
According to him, as stakeholder in the Nigerian project they shall continue to support patriotic engagements that will deepen our democratic practice and ensure credible and peaceful conduct of the 2019 polls.
He urged the general public to disregard the purported rumour of any protest under his leadership and requested security agencies to be on alert and apprehend anyone or group of persons willing to disrupt public peace in the name of NANS especially at this crucial moment.
