It was just few years ago when mere mention of election evokes dread and terror among Nigerians. Election after elections gets stolen by political parties in power whose only interest is to perpetuate itself in power. Election in Nigeria is often treated as do or die affair by contending parties. It is do or die because political office holders use their office as conduit to amass unimaginable wealth by turning the public treasury into their personal piggy bank. When leaving office, same politicians go one step further by installing their puppet to succeed them so the money will keep flowing and expectation that their hand picked successors will cover their illegal activities when they were in office. Nigerians panic at mere mention of election because they have been abused by the process numerous times. They think it is an exercise in futility because their vote never counts due to perennial rigging of elections.
The independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was set up in 1998 to oversee elections in Nigeria. It is an organization that have been involved in numerous controversies such as disqualification of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar candidacy engineered by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo. He was subsequently added back after winning at the supreme court but the damage was already done.
Chief Eyo Esua was the first Nigerian Federal Electoral Commissioner (1964-1966) in the first republic. General Olusegun Obasanjo established a new Federal Electoral Commission headed by Chief Michael Ani to supervise 1979 election which returned power to civilian government headed by Shehu Shagari in the second republic. It was a fairly free election. Chief Ani was succeeded by Justice Victor Ovie Whisky who was succeeded by Professor Eme Awa (1987-1989) when General Ibrahim Babaginda and Sani Abacha attempted to return Nigeria to civilian rule which never materialized. He was succeeded by professor Humphrey Nwosu (1989-1993), Okon Uya and Chief Dagogo-Jack.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar established the current INEC with justice Ephraim Akpata as chairman. He was succeeded by Abel Guobadia appointed by civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo. He was responsible for 2003 election which was marred by massive and widespread irregularities and violence.
Guobadia retired in June 2005 and was succeeded by the Professor Maurice Iwu. Maurice Iwu became an unmitigated disaster. His tenure was perhaps the most controversial when compared to his successors. He barred foreign monitors from monitoring Nigerian election and allowed only foreign election observers. The 2007 election he conducted was marred by massive irregularities and blatant favoritism and was criticized by Nigerian and foreign observers for conduction election that fell below acceptable democratic standard.
President Goodluck Jonathan who succeeded late president Umaru Yar’Adua nominated Professor Attahiru Jega in June 2010 as new INEC chairman. He was confirmed by the senate shortly after his nomination. He conducted 2011 election which turned out to be one of the fairest presidential election ever held in Nigeria. They were irregularities and logistical problems in that election but the irregularities was minimal to change the presidential and gubernatorial election outcome. Subsequent gubernatorial elections he conducted in Delta, Bayelsa, Edo and recently Ondo state had fewer logistical problems which was expected in a country like Nigeria but election outcome was not in doubt or unexpected. The candidates who garnered most vote won as expected.
Free and fair election is now the rule in Nigeria rather than the exception since the nomination and approval of Professor Jega as INEC chief. He has been successful not because he knew more than his predecessors but because he is an honest and God fearing man who decided to do what is right. He abhorred bribery corruption which is rampant in Nigeria. Another credit goes to President Jonathan who decided to do the right thing by nominating such a patriotic Nigerian as INEC chairman. It is clear that President Jonathan is not the type of politician who wants to remain in office at all cost. Who said there is no hope for Nigeria. Nigeria will turn around when men of integrity like professor Jega takes the helm of key positions of responsibility. Nigerians now know that their vote will count in election as long as Professor Jega is charge. I hope future presidents will see the wisdom of appointing future INEC chairman of Professor Jega’s caliber and integrity. Free and fairer election is becoming the norm to the point that Nigerians no longer dread elections as they did few years ago.