In Kwara, an election to behold!

I started experiencing surprises right from the park where I boarded vehicle to cover the elections for my organization. At the park, I met numerous Kwarans boiling with determination and enthusiasm for a change in one of the oldest state in the country though without much development. This, they say, is due to what they […]

I started experiencing surprises right from the park where I boarded vehicle to cover the elections for my organization. At the park, I met numerous Kwarans boiling with determination and enthusiasm for a change in one of the oldest state in the country though without much development. This, they say, is due to what they described as enslavement by a particular family for a decade.

My greatest surprise came when I arrived the state capital and began my job as a journalist gathering statistic of Kwarans who have flooded into town for the purpose of exercising their civic right. Majority of parks’ officials visited at the state capital confirmed that the influx of people into the state is more than what they usually experience during any festivity.

“We are here to vote the Sarakis out,” was a confession that came from one of the people I interviewed during my visit to the parks. Most of them displayed a craving for change which they claimed is long overdue.

The state’s INEC was the next point which I visited where 18 vehicles, loaded with Military men were dispatched for a hitch free election. They took positions at some strategic places like the state’s own electronic media as well as all state boundaries.

Journalists and other election observers were accredited on friday in preparation for the big day. The state police command deployed 8254 of its men for this.

Possibility of postponing the election started building up as at Friday night when two parcels of election sensitive materials arrived carrying the same name, code number, same quantity and for the same constituency which INEC claimed could not explain.

The mixed reactions that greeted postponement of elections into the national assembly is a picture I cannot forget in a hurry because of the level of commitment, dedication, enthusiasm and determination exhibited by voters in their thirst for a new Kwara.

Electorate arrived at polling units as early as 5am all because they do not want to  experience what they encountered during voters registration and also to oblige INEC to conduct the elections in good time. Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed and left high and dry.

Though, INEC officials were nowhere to be found as at 10 am at all the polling units, I received a text message from INEC PRO informing that elections has been suspended in kwara central, South and Irepodun/Isin/Ekiti/Oke Ero federal constituencies for shortage of ballot papers and omission of DDP candidate’s name who was validly nominated. Pressmen were later addressed on the suspension by the state Resident Electoral Commission.

As journalists were filing this report through text messages and telephone calls, we were summoned back almost immediately for the bigger news: postponement of the whole election.

There were conflicting views by political parties’ agents who were at the INEC office over the initial suspension of elections in some parts of the state. Those who were satisfied with the initial suspension became shocked over the general postponement declaring that INEC compensate parties or be taken to court.

On the streets of the state capital were road blocks mounted everywhere. One can hardly drive for 20 minutes without meeting a road block fully guarded by police, army, civil defense and some other security personnel.

Despite the announcement of the postponement, there were no proper circulation of information to other INEC officials within and outside the state capital where they claimed they are not aware of the development as most of them claimed to have continued distributing ballot papers to polling units while accreditation was on going in some of the units.

Tired and aggrieved electorate blamed INEC for the problem while others blamed it on PDP saying they are attempting to frustrate Jega’s effort in conducting credible elections.

Although, it was a tasking and new experience for me, however, I believe it is worth it. I had the opportunity of experiencing first hand, Nigeria’s electoral process and to witness how determined Nigerians are in the struggle for a better country.