The Nigerian elections that I witnessed

SUNDAY DARE FROM PREMIUM TIMES

The elections were the first to spilt votes across three parties, a departure from the two party model to which we have become accustomed.

Overall, Nigeria’s democracy is on course, no matter what the naysayers and jingoists say. They have piled on; the tribe of individuals and groups who want to pull the house down simply because it does not bear the colour they want. The most recent election that produced Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president-elect is on sound footing and one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest.

The Nigerian presidential election was held and won fairly by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The elections were the first to spilt votes across three parties, a departure from the two party model to which we have become accustomed.

Despite lapses noted by various observer bodies, most international, as well as domestic groups, found the election to be a credible and accurate reflection of the will of the electorate. As with all democratic nations, we shall continue to strive to perfect our electoral processes. Yes, this election had its imperfections but not to the extent that we should obviate what was in fact the most logical and predictable result. Was the ruling party, with political leaders, structure and attestants of performance in many states, including landmark programmes and projects, not supposed to score votes?

In fact there was only one region in the country that did not yield victory in any of its states to anyone but a candidate from that region. Many have picked on this to further suggest the prevalence of ethnicity in our politics. Yet, in the South-West the presidential candidate of the APC lost his own state, a reflection of tolerance, diversity of opinion and ethnicity. Still, a campaign of discrediting and delegitimising the outcome of an election has been drummed up by those who have developed an attitude of ‘me or ruins’ towards politics.

Technology reduced the level of malpractice such as ballot box stealing and multiple voting by individuals. Violence was held to a low level. No question, Nigeria has to continue refining its electoral processes. However, it is simply unfair for the international media to ridicule this election simply because the outcome did not fit the narrative they had constructed. Nigeria should not be made to suffer because of the media’s lack of knowledge about it.

In all of these, some of our statesmen, a segment of both the international and national media, are mute about giving credit to one man to whom it is due. That person is President Muhammadu Buhari whose commitment to democracy, steadfastness, doggedness and overall boldness made the elections possible. This is against the backdrop of predictions by notable leaders that there will be no election in the country due to insecurity. President Buhari had an answer for them. He ensured maximum security for the elections. He resisted pressure to postpone or cancel the elections. He locked his doors against merchants of interim government and daresay third term beguilers. President Buhari’s lofty place in the history of democracy in Nigeria is secured.

President Buhari’s achievements in infrastructural development and social welfare in the past eight years remain unequaled by any previous government, save the immediate post-war era.

Now back to the elections proper. As an international journalist of nearly three decades, of which the larger part of my professional career was in Nigeria, I have witnessed many elections, many coups, annulments and violent ethnic, religious and political disruptions.