NIGERIA DECIDES

Today we will be taking a critical review of the recent Presidential Elections held in Nigeria, its implications and review of some critical stakeholders on the electioneering process.

We went to the polls, we voted, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the Presidential election winner. He has since received his certificate of return, making him the president-elect. Loved by some and despised by others, his journey to victory has undoubtedly been a difficult one, not only for him and his competitors, but also for the public.

Even President Buhari admitted that there were technical issues with the electronic transmission of the results during the elections. He also mentioned that there are some things that could be done better to ensure transparency and credibility in the voting process. He did, however, state that none of the identified issues posed a threat to the free and fairness of the elections.

Some may disagree with his stance, given that representatives from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had held a joint press conference the day before. They wanted INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu to step down, insinuating that the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections were marred by violence, rigging, and voter intimidation. The three parties demanded that the elections be rerun because they believe INEC tainted the election before the collation process began. This is because, as required by the electoral act, the total number of accredited voters and the results from all polling units were not updated on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) before the results from each state were announced. Both the INEC Chairman and the President have requested that all aggrieved parties present their evidence of election fraud and appear in court. This is something I would love to see happen.

So far, neither of the two leading candidates, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku or Mr. Peter Obi, has issued a statement or congratulated the president-elect. Their parties have also made no statements regarding the president-declaration. elect’s I can only assume they are deep in thought, weighing all available options and strategizing their next move. If nothing unexpected happens, the president-elect will be sworn in on May 29, 2023, and any cases brought before the courts must be resolved before that date.

Many people have been moving with caution since the elections ended. In the event of civil unrest, some businesses have declared early closures or asked their employees to work from home. A few skirmishes were also reported in the Lagos area, but they were quickly resolved. It is difficult to say whether the results will benefit a large number of people. Vox-pops organized by some media outlets revealed that people appear uninterested in the news. Except within the APC’s ranks, it appears that there has been no widespread joy. While some people are celebrating their candidate’s victory on social media, many others are expressing their displeasure, believing that their candidate was cheated out of his mandate. Emotions are running high, and nerves are frayed.

Non-APC supporters may believe that all is lost, but this should not be the case. Winning the presidency is significant but influencing the status quo and potentially igniting change across the political landscape may be even more significant. This election revealed some positives, the most notable of which is that many people have become more politically aware. Many people were encouraged to register to vote, and many others joined political parties to support their preferred candidates. I was hoping that increased voter awareness would result in a massive voter turnout, but unfortunately, many people were unable to collect their voter cards, and many others did not vote.

It was heartwarming to see people band together to support their preferred political party. Take, for example, the Labour Party. Previously a little-known party, once Peter Obi joined and many people decided to support him, awareness grew, despite the fact that many people did not understand the party’s ideology. The Labour Party did not win the presidency as declared by INEC, but they did receive a large number of votes from across the country. They have also won several seats in the National Assembly, and who knows what will happen in the upcoming gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections?

It is now time for all parties to assess their gains and losses and plan for the future. The new president would be sworn in after the elections and all associated events were completed. The work that lies ahead will not be easy. I’ve always wondered why anyone would accept the challenge of leading this diverse nation, given all the problems we face and those that are sure to arise. What are some quick wins I’d like to see the next president achieve?

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of this election cycle was the amount of bitterness and division spread by several people, both within political parties and among citizens. Many people found it difficult to accept that their friends and family were supporting candidates other than their own. Insults, unprintable names, and accusations have been freely exchanged. It would probably help to calm some nerves if the new president could form a cabinet that included members from other parties. People expect a cabinet full of the best minds the country has to offer, and expanding the tentacles could help. I’m just curious if other political parties would be willing to join a cabinet formed by their opponent.

Several issues, including the nation’s dwindling economic fortunes, the naira cash swap program, fuel subsidy, banditry, and the terrorism war, must be addressed urgently. Plans to address these issues must be communicated, and implementation must begin immediately.

I’d also like to see a president who is very accessible to the public. Unfortunately, our recent experiences have been quite poor in this regard because leaders have ended up acting like rulers who are not accountable to the people who elected them. Consistent media sessions on current hot topics would be a refreshing change. Utterances must reflect the country’s unity rather than fan the flames of hatred.

The elephant in the room has been the discussion about restructuring the country, and we need to have it. There are numerous fundamental issues that are dependent on restructuring in collaboration with numerous aggrieved parties. Addressing this issue will undoubtedly help to solve many of our country’s problems. This debate is linked to state autonomy in several areas, including internal security and resource control. If we do not address these issues, we will continue to suffer in those areas.

While the president is neither a magician nor a savior, it is also critical that verifiable action be taken to address our national issues, even if not all will be resolved overnight. The incoming president has a lot of work ahead of him. It will not be easy, but we, the people, must play our part in holding government at all levels accountable. We must all play a role in steering this country in the right direction. This is how I see things right now.

Till we meet again to consider another interesting topic have a great weekend.

Wale