The EMBA28 had their election recently to elect the Class Governor and his council members. I feel so happy talking about the process. Not only because I was the Electoral Officer who conducted the free, fair, transparent, and credible elections, but also the election happened within the period of Nigerian elections. The EMBA28 was just the next Saturday after the Nigerian Presidential and the National House of Assembly election. So, I was preparing election the same time Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman was also preparing. Mahmood was Nigerian INEC Boss, while I was LBS EMBA28 INEC Boss. You can see how powerful I was too😎. I have followed Nigeria electioneering process since 1999 and I have garnered enough experience around what have worked and what have not worked. Though, I have been an Electoral Officer in electing a Youth Leader in my community and in electing a Executive Council of my Secondary School Old Boys Association. But, EMBA28 Electoral function was for me, the little opportunity to address some of the concerns of electronic voting; a template for the future of Nigerian Election. I resolved to ensure that the 5 elements of the LBS Culture (Community, Mutual Respect, Service, Professionalism and Integrity) is reflected in this conduct So let me tell you how it all started.
When LBS management initiated the election process and asked our class to select the Electoral Officer as preferred. I already resolved not to contest for any council positions, so I threw in my interest for the Electoral Officer. It became a contest for two candidates. A WhatsApp poll was organized to select only one person. The poll was to last for only 5 hours; 4.00pm to 9.00pm. By 4pm when the poll opened till about 6pm both of us were having 50% of the votes. At some point during the day, I forgot I was in contest in WhatsApp. It was around 8.45pm when I got home and opened my phone to discover that my opponent was leading with 52% votes and I was struggling with 42% votes. I noticed he had already voted for himself and I kept my vote as a last minute save. Shortly, my phone rang and the question from the caller was, “James, are you sleeping”, that was when I realised it was a serious contest. Soon it was 9.00pm and the curtain was drawn. Guess what? I won the poll with 53% votes against my opponent who had 47% of the votes. It was like magic. After few minutes I was already on the phone with my opponent and laughing about the beautiful contest.
Now, I started putting the election strategies together; arranging for ‘PVCs, BVAS machines, IRev Portal and the rest’ in the Nigerian election context😎. I started putting together the best procedure to organize the election. The positions available for contest were communicated and interested candidates started applying for interest. Some persons were nominated by fellow classmates, but I ensured that I get acceptance consent from all nominated before publishing.
James Nwachuya #EMBA28
