THANK God it’s election day. It is a day Nigerians had anticipated for long, one on which the first honest election in years will take place. It should be able to reassure us all about the long-awaited return of good old Democracy. This is the people’s real first step in taking over power from unelected administrators in the 776 Local Government Areas and turning it into a power of the people, by the people and for the people.
For the great poor grassroots, this election should matter more than any other because through it they will elect people they know in flesh, people they can easily reach when the chips are down. The stakes are high for many Nigerians. To the nine registered political parties, the epochal event is the litmus test of their strength and future prospects. It is from here that a party would be able to thumb its chest as a viable outfit, one which might form the central government in the coming federal elections. The INEC has said for a party to survive the coming months, it has to gain a minimum of 5% in at least 24 states and the FCT. Jumping this hurdle is clearly a no mean task.
But jump it they must. This task rests squarely on the shoulders of politicians, party organisers who have now got their fingers crossed. To the average politician, today’s poll is the ‘decider,’ the event which will prove his worth in his own neighbourhood. For, party stalwarts are expected to ‘deliver’ their individual constituencies to the party by beating their opponents hands down. Indeed, while many will prove their mettle as the ‘big guns’ of local politics, many others will have their profile — and by implication their career — stunted. Only the tough will get going as the going gets tough.
The electoral commission itself, whose refrain appears to be ‘independent,’ will have to start proving its capability, fairness and independence as from today. It now has the opportunity. It should therefore be able to show that even in a country plagued for 14 years by unbroken military rule, an acceptable election can be smoothly organised and held.
During the Babangida and the Abacha eras, elections were trailed by charges of governmental interference. While the former regime created the political parties by military decree and ordered us all to pick our choice, the latter made a name by fiddling with the parties in order to serve a specific, unwholesome agenda.
Now we have a regime at pains to prove its integrity, seriousness of purpose and objectivity. The Abubakar government has of recent tried to show that it has no intention to meddle in the electoral process. Today’s voting is one of the various levels the regime will have to cross to convince the nation on this. So far, there haven’t been much cries or insinuations of unfair or politically-motivated disqualification of candidates based on secret security testimonials. Goodbye the age of muna-muna or magomago. Welcome the age of sensibility.
With the eyes of the world on Nigeria, we cannot afford to fail. The local polls are our democracy’s first real test-run. so the test has to be real good.
And it looks like Nigerians — and the world — are getting the message. Contrary to our recent experience when election time was overshadowed by gloom, uncertainty and tension, now there is an air of celebration. The mood is almost reminiscent of that in the Second Republic, though it’s still not the full time of big parties, big names, and big money. This air is bound to get more fragrant and exciting as the big hustings hold in the coming months.
Based on this understanding, therefore, it is almost easy to predict a hitch-free, albeit not perfect, election today. Crises-prone areas are to be watched. Politicians should also be prepared to accept defeat in good faith. All disagreements should be settled amicably either in court or through consultation. The 60 million eligible voters in INEC’s register should be able to settle the unending dispute over who should rule us in the various local councils. They’ve got the power.
* Published in my column, Melting Pot, in the New Nigerian Weekly today
