Elections: The votes and euphoria

The venue was FASCOM area on Zanna Dujima Road in a quiet residential. It was a comfortable walking distance so I carried my collapsible chair with me. The accreditation process was slow and boring because the card reader failed to recognize some finger prints. Such voters had to resort to manual accreditation. As we waited […]

The venue was FASCOM area on Zanna Dujima Road in a quiet residential. It was a comfortable walking distance so I carried my collapsible chair with me. The accreditation process was slow and boring because the card reader failed to recognize some finger prints. Such voters had to resort to manual accreditation. As we waited for voting to commence, INEC officials erected two canopies to provide shade for voters and later a good samaritan from a house nearby brought pure water for the thirsty voters. A lady who sat next to me said she rushed back from a trip abroad to be able to vote. I also told her that my colleagues and I who are members of the International Press Institute IPI had to cancel our planned participation at the annual IPI World Congress. The event, which is a global gathering of media executives and proprietors, was scheduled to hold in Yangon Myanmar. Members of the Nigerian delegation, usually a large number, looked forward to seeing Myanmar and listening to the interesting sessions lined up at the Congress.  However no self-respecting journalist would jump off to a conference when an important event, newsworthy and critical to the future of our country was scheduled for the same time.
After casting our votes many citizens stayed glued to their television sets to follow the results as INEC released them.  I spent my time trying to keep track of the election observers deployed by my primary nongovernmental organisation, the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), across all the states. The project was supported by Abuja based Shehu Musa Yar’adua   Foundation and Lagos based Reclaim Naija.  Elections went on quietly in almost all states except for a few incidents. The global community shared our concerns.
 Two days after the elections, a joint statement was issued by US Secretary of State John Kerry and UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. They commended the conduct of the elections. “Our governments welcome the largely peaceful vote on 28 March. The Nigerian people have shown a commendable determination to register their vote and choose their leaders. So far, we have seen no evidence of systemic manipulation of the process. But there are disturbing indications that the collation process – where the votes are finally counted – may be subject to deliberate political interference. This would contravene the letter and spirit of the Abuja Accord, to which both major parties committed themselves.
The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom would be very concerned by any attempts to undermine the independence of the Electoral Commission (INEC), or its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega; or in any way distort the expressed will of the Nigerian people.”
There were indeed moments of anxiety when the collation centre was besieged by an angry protester who disrupted the collation process. Professor Attahiru Jega maintained his cool and responded in an articulate and gentle manner to the grievances tabled before him.
When the General Muhammadu Buhari was declared as the winner, President Goodluck Jonathan in a spirit of sportsmanship promptly called to congratulate him and thanked all Nigerians for turning out en-masse for the elections.
He said ‘I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word. I have also expanded the space for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process. That is one legacy I will like to see endure. Although some people have expressed mixed feelings about the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress. As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else.’
General Muhammadu Buhari responded with a sober message expressed gratitude to Nigerians for choosing him and his party. He however cautioned supporters to consider his victory as a moment of reflection He said ‘the mood of the country as well as its current state did not warrant the type of wild celebrations reportedly going on in some cities across the country. General Buhari said anybody happy with the victory of the APC in the presidential election will not be involved in the molestation of opponents or the destruction of their property. “He or she is not with me, whoever does that,” Buhari, said. Citizens are waiting for his major acceptance speech after being officially declared winner by INEC.
The Bring Back Our Girls Network is already tabling our issue before the incoming government. Dr Hauwa Biu one of the network members sent a message titled ‘Nigeria Wins but Bring Back our Girls’ She said ‘whatever party you stand for or if you stand for none, know that our civic duty is now more important than ever, and our quest for justice for Chibok girls and all affected by the crisis is now more urgent. As we work towards the one year anniversary of that sad incident let us be renewed and demand that this administration does not leave the lost girls, women and children as part of their record. Such a sober reminder is beyond the euphoria.