We Can Make Credible Elections Possible

Rigging has so badly damaged our democracy that public faith in free and fair elections is diminishing rapidly. The fact that we need policemen or soldiers at polling stations tells badly about our culture of seeking to manipulate results. In normal situations, we don’t need soldiers and policemen to protect our votes. Politicians are so desperate for power that they won’t mind killing and rigging to overturn the will of the people. No laws can achieve free and fair elections, if Nigerians don’t change their attitude to politics.
However, the recent local government elections in Jigawa State, especially the one conducted in Kazaure Emirate, have reinforced my confidence that, with a positive change of attitude, we can achieve free and fair elections anywhere in Nigeria. The politicians and the people of Kazaure Emirate have set a standard of credible elections that would make us proud. The local government election held in Kazaure Emirate was peacefully conducted.

In fact, what is amazing about the election held in Kazaure was the spirit of sportsmanship demonstrated by the contestants. The election in Kazaure Emirate was supervised by four commissioners and a member of the House of Reps, Hon. Bashir Adamu. The four members of Governor Sule Lamido’s cabinets were Hon. Baba Santali, Hon. Nasiru Roni, Hon. Salisu Indirawa and Hon. Husaina Hussaini Adamu. These cabinet members demonstrated a high degree of responsibility during the conduct of the election. They held a meeting with all stakeholders where it was agreed that whoever won, regardless of his party, the losers should accept defeat in good faith.

Having got the contestants committed to these undertakings, the five commissioners who supervised the election have brought credibility to the election. With every contestant agreeing to accept honest defeat, the election turned out to be remarkably peaceful in Kazaure Emirate.

Everyone from the voters, the winners and losers was happy with the peaceful outcome of the election. Kazaure Emirate has set a standard which should be emulated by others.

From the outcome of the Kazaure Emirate local government election, it is obvious that Nigerians can make free and fair elections possible, provided the stakeholders are willing to behave honourably. These four cabinet members and the House of Reps member from the Kazaure Emirate have demonstrated leadership by example. Getting stakeholders to commit themselves to responsible behavior at the polls is a remarkable achievement in the conduct elections. As cabinet members, they behaved with dignity and patriotism by telling the contestants to concede defeat whichever party won.

One can therefore, argue that the successful conduct of any elections anywhere is as good as the behavior of the politicians and voters. In fact, Electoral laws alone are not enough guarantees to achieve free and fair elections. It is possible to achieve a culture of decent political behavior, provided our contestants don’t look at public office as a do-or-die affair. The desperation to get power by any means is largely responsible for the crises that attend elections in this country.

The outcome of the local council elections held in Kazaure Emirate should be emulated by other Nigerians. The Hon. Commissioners and the Rep have disappointed those who expected them to favour the ruling party in Jigawa State. Instead, they got the contestants to commit themselves to responsible and mature behavior by agreeing to respect the outcome of the polls, regardless of whichever party was the winner. As a result of this decent arrangement, the conduct of the local government election in Kazaure Emirate was wonderfully peaceful and free and fair. Losers accepted defeated without grudges or protests because the five commissioners that supervised the elections allowed a level playing ground for all contestants and their political parties. I am really impressed by the conduct of these commissioners from the Kazaure Emirate Council.

Kazaure is an advocate for credible elections and responsible political culture, wrote in from Jabi, Utako District, Abuja.

- Leadership

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