By Soibi Ransom

Elections in Nigeria have always had an irk of controversy sorrounding them. From the very first in the late seventies when General Obasanjo had conducted the battle between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Shehu Shagari. The outcome saw a controversial victor as Chief Awolowo was defeated by his rival and thus many from around his region were unsatisfactory with the role the military played in his defeat.

Shagari’s tenure had been trauncated by General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime through a coup and in another attempt to restore democracy in the 1993 elections between Bashir Tofa and MKO Abiola which was claimed to be freest and fairest election, the military headed by General Ibrahim Babangida had annulled the June 12 1993 elections leaving the seat to an interim government headed by Late Ernest Shonekan who would shortly be overthrown by General Sani Abacha his Minister for Defense.

In the aftermath of Sani Abacha’s death. Gen Abdusalami had worked tirelessly to ensure that democracy returned and in a space of less than a year he conducted another pool which saw Gen Obasanjo emerge as winner of the election.

From the Obasanjo era the condition of elections became very bad as thugs were used to swing the pools in favor of politicians. Democracy became a

https://dailymemoirsnews./2019/03/01/dear-nigerians-rigging-has-come-to-stay-by-soibi-ransom/

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