MATTERS ARISING FROM ONDO GUBER POLL

The crisis which rocked the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state would have torpedoed the rhythm of the just concluded governorship election. In spite of the fact that the PDP has rejected the outcome of the election and accused INEC of complicity, feelers from the field showed that it was an improvement on that of Edo. Olurotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) polled a total of 224, 842 votes and was declared the governor elect by the Chief Returning Officer Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali. The legal crisis which bedeviled the PDP before the election was a big challenge to political party discipline and strict adherence to the internally laid down rules and procedures. It was also a sad reminder of the desperate antics of politicians and an in-built deficiency in our constitutional and electoral processes. The people of Ondo were lucky to have a governor elect today because Eyitayo Jegede did not throw spanners into the wheels of that process by running to the court to at least demand for a minimum of seven days to enable him forward the names of his agents as required by the electoral law. It was within his right to seek such relief because getting an appellate court to quash the order of the Abuja High Court compelling INEC to replace his name with that of Jimoh Ibrahim two days before the election was a race against time. Therefore, the possibility of granting such order by a court of competent jurisdiction was certain and that would have changed the entire narratives. In fairness to him, many had called on INEC to postpone the election. However, INEC had argued that this prerogative was reserved only for the political platforms upon which candidates contest elections not the candidates themselves, claiming that PDP as a party has been campaigning despite the candidate involved. The commission went ahead with the election not minding the hues and cries.
Those who championed the deliberate attempt to thwart and circumvent due process of electioneering in that state have been shamed by the boldness of the Appeal and Supreme Courts. Depending on ones’ line of thought; we must all collectively agree that a lot needs to be done to strengthen the weak hands of our democratic structures and electoral processes. With the legal controversies behind the authentic candidate of the PDP, the role of the judiciary, politicians, INEC and the eventual conclusion of the elections, it is time to interrogate the matters arising thereof. It must be re-emphasised that the questionable impartiality of INEC in the governorship election could not fly while induced and undue pressure mounted on the commission from external quarters has called to question the independence of INEC in conducting free, transparent and credible elections.
In fact, the deliberate gagging of the electoral umpire or the willingness of the commission to succumb to the whims and caprices of political forces and the capitalisation of same to frustrate the smooth running of the electoral processes in the country by politicians using the security agencies or the judiciary as a tool for manipulation is a course of concern to well- meaning individuals. Before the 2011 general elections, the National Assembly removed the power of INEC to disqualify candidates and surrendered same to political parties which are the platform upon which candidates for elections are sponsored. The decision was premised on the fact that INEC has become purely political, overbearing and usurped the responsibilities of political parties by choosing the candidates to recorganise without recourse to the political parties’ processes which threw candidates up. The era of Maurice Iwu as the INEC chairman saw to the entrenchment of this impunity. The supposedly well-thought out move by the National Assembly to ostracise the evil hands of interference from the selection processes of candidates for elective positions and in the affairs of political parties is gradually eroded by the nature of frivolous reliefs the courts grant to candidates especially the type awarded Jimoh Ibrahim by an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang.
From the onset, it was a well-known fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission from the days of Maurice Iwu has failed to garner the required implicit confidence of Nigerians. Many thought that with the successes recorded by Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC will consciously build on the feats, deviate from the old tradition with the arrival of APC and Prof Yakub and ensure that the culture of impunity and taking advantage of the fraught electoral processes to perpetrate electoral evil become a thing of the past. Nigerians were aware that the culture of playing ostrich by INEC did not start from this administration; however, the failure of the commission to redeem its name is evident in the inconclusiveness of elections conducted since March, 2015 especially in Rivers state. Incidentally, INEC has chosen to point accusing fingers at others without keeping its house in order. It has chosen the court order to obey and the one to ignore. Some have also alleged that INEC has continually refused to heed to wise counsel.
The inauguration of the constitutional and electoral reforms committee headed by the former Senate President Ken Nnamani will, “review the electoral environment, laws and experiences from recent elections conducted in Nigeria and make recommendations to strengthen and achieve the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria.” The move gives credence to the need for a truly strong and independent INEC free from the shackles of deliberately planted constitutional and political land mines. The governorship election in Ondo has reduced the tally to the staggered election schedules before the 2019 general elections to Anambra and Ekiti states. Nigerians are of the view that the space of time will allow the Nnamani’s committee to come up with implementable recommendations that will aid smooth conduct of elections and remove all encumbrances in the constitutional provisions and laws relating to elections in Nigeria.

Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, a Media and Communications Specialist is the publisher of thenewinsightng.blogspot.com. He wrote from Kaduna via sunnyeze02@yahoo.com and can be reached on 08060901201