Appraising the recent off-cycle elections in Nigeria

The country witnessed another round of polls in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States in what has been generally referred to as off-cycle election. Though political watchers and pundits described the off-cycle election as abnormal, it appears that has become the feature of elections in Nigeria not the bug. 

Apart from Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States, Anambra, Ondo, Edo and Ekiti States have had their share of the now trendy unusual elections. If one may ask, what is the cause or genesis of the off-cycle elections?

It was simply triggered by litigations from dissatisfied contestants, who refused to accept the verdict of the Electoral Umpire and in the case of Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In as much as going to court is the fundamental right of every individual whose rights have been violated, it is also important to exercise restraint in the rate with which we rush to court for every little thing.

Political analysts have averred that, there wouldn’t have been any reason to go to court over election matters, if INEC had been fair in conducting elections. After all, they argued litigations are expensive and time consuming. Who will ordinarily rush to court or embark on such wasteful venture, if the Electoral Umpire had done the needful? How many Electoral matters go to court in saner societies, where elections are largely free and fair? Well, the case in point in this discourse is the recent off cycle elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States, conducted by Nigeria’s Electoral Umpire, the INEC, led by Mamoud Yakubu.

Specifically talking the governorship elections of 11th November, 2023 in these three states. To what extent did INEC deliver on its mandate? From previous experiences, the recent off cycle elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States were to a large extent standard and as such could be referred to as free and fair.

In Bayelsa State, for instance, the APC Candidate in that Election, Chief Timipre Sylva has accepted the outcome of the election and has gone ahead to congratulate his opponent and PDP Candidate, Hon. Duoye Diri, indicative that INEC has performed its Statutory function of conducting a free and fair election in that State. This is other than the isolated case of kidnap of an Electoral Officer at Southern Ijaw and reported capsize of a boat conveying Electoral materials to the riverine polling areas.

It reminds one of 2015 Presidential Election in Nigeria, when the APC Candidate (Muhammadu Buhari) defeated the then incumbent President and Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who, as a true statesman accepted defeat and congratulated his opponent.

Though, nothing has been heard yet about the acceptance or rejection of the said polls in Imo State, we expect the contestants to take a cue from Sylva by congratulating their opponent and winner of the election, Hope Uzodinma, who is said to have recorded landslide victory in all the local government areas of Imo State. By this victory, he has transformed  himself from being referred to as Supreme Court Governor by his detractors to the Peoples Governor. Kudos to him!

Kogi State seems to have retained the status quo, with the PDP Candidate, Dino Melaye rejecting the outcome of the governorship election in that State. In fact, he was quoted to have described the election as mere selection, accusing INEC and everybody of massively rigging the Election. He has vowed to challenge the outcome of the election at the Tribunal and by extension the Appeal Court.

No matter how one looks at the recently concluded off-cycle elections, it was better than the last general elections. At least, results were released in record time and no life was lost while the exercise lasted. INEC therefore should sustain the tempo and improve on the current record in future elections.

Nigerian NewsDirect is hoping and looking forward to such a time when elections will be won at the polling units and not the court, especially now that majority of our judges now lay more emphasis on technicalities at the expense of evidence.

We are of the opinion that INEC performs its duties professionally to the extent that there will be no need for litigations. The politicians also have a role. They must play to the rule of the game by conducting themselves like the honourable persons they claim to be.

Sensitisation of their members on acceptable behaviour for elections, remains part of the duties of political parties that mean well for their country they intend to govern. Recruitment of thugs in any Election season should be abhorred and jettisoned by the political parties. Money politics should equally be shunned and condemned. A situation where elections are now for the highest bidders, is to say the least, anti-democratic.

We therefore look forward to a nation where free and fair elections will hold sway and even become a norm.

This is possible and doable. If smaller countries in Africa can do it, why can’t Nigeria that claims to be giant of Africa? So we do not have any reason not to join the progressives in this trip of civilisation and good governance.