To many Nigerians and “true” friends of Nigeria, the last minute postponement of the National Assembly Elections of 2nd of April 2011 and the subsequent rescheduling of same for the 4th of April 2011 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (hereafter referred to simply as INEC) may not have come as a surprise. While one may see such actions as not only necessary but desirable giving the overwhelmingly burden on the INEC to protect the sanctity of the electoral process - safe guiding the voters and the votes of the electorate, hence the mandate of the elected representatives. Also, the plethora of complaints that was already beginning to surface barely 4 Hours into the election proper may justify such actions by the INEC.

However, what may not go down well with many Nigerians and “true” friends of Nigeria, is the lame excuses given by the INEC as reasons why a substantial number of polling units all over the country could not be supplied with the necessary sensitive polling materials such as the election result sheets to be used for the compilation of the electoral votes and the number of the electorates that cast their votes.
It is laughable that excuses such as the ‘tsunami’ in Japan, the war relief effort in Libya were cited as reasons the ‘vendor’ could not meet her obligation to deliver her part of the contract bargain. These excuses seem more like those to be heard from lips of a drunkard after long hours of (in the words of Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon) “peppersouping and bigstouting”. More worrisome is the seemingly attempt by the INEC to paint a picture that suggest nothing more could have been done to avert the shame this whole exercise has brought upon the nation. In countries where premium is placed on the whole electoral process, this self imposed challenge by INEC would have been surmounted with ease. One question that leaves a sour taste in my mouth is:
“Why did INEC not think of requesting the FG permission and more importantly the consent of ALL the political parties and major stake-holders for the Nigerian Air force to airlift these materials with the capability (albeit limited) of her large transport aircraft (such the Hercules C-130, the ATRs) to carry out the airlifting of these sensitive election materials? In countries like the UK, US, or even South Africa this would have been the case as effort would have been made (right from the moment the contract was drafted) to ensure that much of the contract sums budgeted are re-circulated among the different government agencies/function, hence reducing capital flight to a bearable minimum. The Nigerian Air Force would have through such ventures earned some much needed revenues and also prove her worth to Nigeria and Nigerians order than being only a WAR apparatus.”

Again, just like the voter registration exercise, this sudden postponement of the National Assembly elections due to logistical challenges show that INEC as currently is, is severely deficient and lack the capability to truly conduct a free, fair and credible election in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. As one of the foot soldiers who left the UK to participate and monitor the election in the Southern part of Nigeria, this was evident most of the polling units I visited had limited or no signage suggesting such was to be used as polling unit and that voting was to take place there with the duration clearly specified.

Another important issue this whole shameful exercise has thrown up is the undeniable fact that creating and maintaining credible INSTITUTIONS is the way to go in redeeming Nigeria instead of this unending clamour for individuals with impeccable pedigree. Yes, while these individuals (like the present INEC chairman- Prof. Jega) are surely required, such requirement must be seen as part of the holistic process of building and maintaining credible INSTITUTIONS. And to digress a little, this same argument goes for the recent clamour for the electorate to elect individuals as oppose to political parties in this election; with proponents of such calls often forgetting that the pillar and lintel of democracy lies in the ideology of participating political parties, hence the overriding need to expend our time and resources in building and maintaining political parties with ideology rather than expending same in propping up individuals. A serious question to be answered is: What happens when these individuals finally leave such offices or by a stroke of fate vacates such positions of power?

What I also find difficult to comprehend is why the INEC would find it comfortable to hold the governorship and the State Houses of election on the same day yet decided to hold the Presidential and National Assembly elections on two separate dates! One wonders what difficulty/challenge it would pose if these two elections are held on same day with the voters (at present) given two ballot papers to cast their votes for the president and representative of their choice. This in my opinion would save the country enormous resources and also help to enhance the credibility of the electoral process. I sincerely wonder if the INEC or indeed the Federal Government and the National Assembly truly know the cost implications (in revenues, relations and lives) of these staggered elections to Nigeria and Nigerians. If they truly do, one would have expected a valid and unbiased argument would have been put forward to the INEC to justify the need of such staggered elections. I am yet to be convinced by the argument put forward by the INEC for the need of such.

My final take on this whole ‘twos a too’ election drama Nigeria is currently engulfed in, is that the present leadership of the Federal Government and the National Assembly are to blame for this whole saga. Had the leadership of both arms of the government fully implemented the Electoral report of the Justice Uwais led election reform committee, this whole shameful debacle would have been avoided. Also, (let me say that this is not to score any political point but in essence an effort to put the blame squarely where it fits!) Had the leadership of the PDP – The national leadership, leadership of both houses and the leadership of the executive- not allowed her selfish desire and want to remain in power at all cost against the suppose overriding national interest, the much needed amended to the previous Electoral Act would have been carried out well over 6 months ago, thereby giving INEC ample time to carry out the much needed thorough ‘self cleansing’ (which I believe is largely response for her current failures) and also prepare adequately for the general elections, thereby avoiding putting Nigeria and Nigerians through the present embarrassment and shame.