As Nigerians go to the polls on March 28 to elect a president they will be hoping the upcoming elections go off without a hitch.
They will just want a peaceful, free and fair election. And they won’t be the only ones. Teams of local and international election observers are preparing to monitor the polls to make sure it is “free and fair” – and why not?
Free and fair is good. But there’s more to democracy than free and fair.
The problem with free and fair elections however is that they have not delivered much for Africa. According to data from the African Elections Database, over 90% of the 172 presidential elections held across the continent between 1990 and 2012 were declared free and fair by the panoply of election observers that descended on each one, yet in almost every case, the results were disputed by the losing candidate(s). Nigerians are all too familiar with this. Riots broke out in 2011 after current president Goodluck Jonathan won disputed elections with 800 people reportedly killed. There were widespread protests and rigging allegations in 2007. Both of these elections were certified free and fair. It may be time to reconsider.
Data from the Afrobarometer survey which seeks to capture perceptions of the political, social and economic atmosphere in the country suggest that about half of Nigerian voters believe elections are generally not free and fair, although that fraction dropped to about 48% in the 2012 survey.

In many African elections, there is often not much to choose between the candidates. And the upcoming Nigerian election is no different, policy comes secondary for many to identity politics of region and religion. Incumbent president Jonathan has campaigned on a platform of tackling the Islamist insurgency in the north, diversifying Nigeria’s oil-based economy and reducing youth unemployment. His main challenger, former military ruler Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has promised almost the same package with some regional nuance.
Change can be good

But, there is a real possibility that we might see a transfer of power from the government to the opposition for the first time. There has not been a change from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. If that happens, it will be a great advertisement for Nigerian democracy, much like recent elections have been for neighboring Ghana.
Ghana’s elections are often closely contested but this alone does not satisfactorily explain why Ghana is often held up as a good example of a thriving democracy. We can point to several other factors – from its free press to the central role civil society plays in shaping political discourse – but the most significant factor is its emerging tradition of power transitions between the government in power and the opposition.
Such power transitions are critical because they bring in fresh new faces and new ideas to government. On a much deeper level, these transitions are a powerful demonstration of what democracy is really about – that all citizens have a realistic chance of having their voices heard.
It is rare to have elections in Nigeria–and indeed many other African countries–where allegations of vote rigging do not surface after the results are announced. Frequently, these allegations are made even before the first ballot is cast. Already, Gen. Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has leveled allegations of a wide plot by the government to rig the elections, including a plot to sabotage voter card readers on Election Day and sponsoring ethnic militias to create chaos and violence after the elections.
Given the close nature of the race, the failure of the government to convince voters that nothing untoward is afoot is worrying. With such allegations hanging over the elections, there is a high possibility that if the results don’t go their way, opposition supporters will protest and riots could break out. And that is the last thing Nigerian democracy needs.
A consolidation of democracy in Nigeria is not only desirable for its own sake but is critically important for democracy on the continent. As Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, a strong democratically stable and prosperous Nigeria can assume its rightful place as the big brother in West Africa. For the rest of Africa, successful and peaceful democratic transition in Nigeria will be yet another powerful demonstration that closely contested elections in a polarized environment can have a positive outcome
Democracy works best when citizens feel that their votes count. And opposition parties have little incentive to disrupt the polls or prime their supporters to protest the results when they have a realistic chance of coming to power through the ballot. Perhaps the best way to break this cycle of post-election protests and riots and to consolidate democracy in Nigeria is for power to cycle regularly between the government and the opposition. These upcoming elections present just such an opportunity.
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http://qz.com/367558/if-nigerians-change-their-government-next-saturday-it-will-be-a-boost-for-african-democracy/

To submit our fragile democracy to an unrepentant tyrant will be the worst mistake to befall Africa.

Jonathan is the true face of democracy and progress.

We'll finally cease from being a laughing stock on the continent, no thanks to our Fedora-wearing c-in-c

No, the biggest mistake will be voting a coup plotter. A coup plotter is a thief.

Pity dis children chanting change.

GEJ'S TRANSFORMATION

ANAMBRA state:
Building of Aircraft Maintenance School at Akili – Ozuzo, Ogbaru Local Government Area.

Construction of Federal Government Secretariat in Awka

Exploring Public Private Partnership to Reconstruct Second Niger Bridge (Anambra – Delta States)

FGN Funded Ecological Projects in Anambra State : Nanka/Oko Landslide Project, the Nkisi Water Works

Erosion Control/Dredging Projects in Onitsha, the Okpolo/Ire Ojoto Erosion Control Project, Alor Town

Flood Control and Road Improvement Projects in Idemili Local Government Area

Rehabilitation of Onitsha – Owerri Road to Okija – Ihembosi – Afor – Ukpor – Ebenator – Ezenifite

Onitsha River Port – Fixed and ready

National Transmission Grid installed between Benin and Onitsha to prevent usual Nationwide Grid collapse

Sure – P Projects on Primary Health Care & Transformation

e – Wallet System in the distribution of agricultural inputs to the farmers and Dry Season Farming

Ongoing Nnewi 2 x 60MVA, 132/33KV Substation 2 x 60MVA, 132/33KV Substation at Oba and 2 x 132KV

Line Bays Extension at Nnewi, 2 x 60MVA, 132/33KV

Substation at Mpu with 2 x 60KV Line Bays Extension at Nnenwe

Onitsha – Oba – Nnewi – Ideato – Okigwe 132KV

Double – Circuit Line, Ugwuaji Nnenwe 132KV Double – Circuit Line 2 x 60MVA,132/33KV Substation at Nnenwe

Nnenwe – Mpu 132KV Double – Circuit Transmission Line, Onitsha – Ifitedunu and 2 x 132KV Double – Circuit Transmission Line, 2 x 60MVA, 132/33KV Substation at Ifitedunu and 2 x 132KV Line Bays Extension at Onitsha.

Modernisation of Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi

EBONYI state:
Establishment of a Federal University in Ndufe – Alike in Ebonyi State
Rehabilitation of 43 KM Obiozara – Uburu – Ishiagu Road 37Km Oji – Achi Obeagu – Maku – Awgu – Ndeabor – Mpu – Okpanku – Akaeze Road rehabilitation.
Construction of a Storey Hostel, Class room building and Procurement at the Federal Government Girls College Ezembo, Ebonyi State
Sure – P Projects on Primary Health Centres and others
Rehabilitation of Abakaliki – Mbok Road
Establishment of a New Teaching Hospital
e – wallet system for the Distribution of Agricultural Inputs to the farmers and Dry Season Farming Project
Ongoing 2x 60MVA, 132/33KV Substation at Amasiri and 2 x 13KV Substation at Abakaliki and Abakaliki – Amasiri 132KV Double – Circuit Line
Rehabilitation of Agricultural – Skills Training Centre.
Establishment of National Obstetric Fistula Centre Abakiliki

GEJ,S TRANSFORMATION

IMO state:
NDDC Projects: St Marks Estate and Federal Housing Estate Internal Road, New Owerri Ejizie – Izuogu Road in Akeme community of Arondizogu, and the Solar Powered Water Project at Mbaoma in Owerri North & Owerri Urban Water Scheme Project, Rehabilitation of Opkpuala – Iguruta Road(Imo and Rivers States), Reconstruction of Elele – Owerri Road

Sea – Port and Naval Base Project in Osse – Motor

Community (World Bank /FGN/Imo state) sponsored project
.
Construction of Administrative Complex and Entrepreneurial Studies Complex in Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO)

Construction of the new Federal High Court Owerri division complex

Establishment and Construction of a Court of Appeal Division in Owerri

14Km Mbaise – Ngwa Road with a bridge at Imo/ Abia State (Cost ₦2.94Billoin)

SURE – P Project on Primary Health Centres and other projects

Rehabilitation of Owerri – Port Harcourt Road

Ecological Control Projects at Nekede, Saint Kzito Secondary School in Muchina and the Umuoza – Ugri Erosion Control

Rehabilitation of the Sam Mbakwe International Airport Owerri

Egbema Power Plant (338MW)

e-wallet System in distribution of the agricultural inputs to the Farmers and Dry Season Farming Project

Ongoing Mbalano 2 x 30/40MVA, 132/33KV Substation and Okigwe 2 x 30/40MVA , 132/133KV Substation

Dualisation of Ada Owerri – Ikot – Ekpene Border Section Phase one in Imo, Abia and Akwa –Ibom States

Construction of Oguta River Port in Imo State