In what many thought would have resulted in a conflagration of violence marred with series of electoral malpractices and political malfeasance's as grossly and widely anticipated owing to the political norm and dictates in Africa, the reverse became the case as the much anticipated Nigeria General elections held 23rd Feb. 2019 finally came to a peaceful climax with the incumbent returning elected for a second term of four years. The election which was originally billed for Saturday 16th Feb. 2019 was staged around the 36 states of the Federation saw the incumbent president getting a majority of votes to emerge winner of the presidential polls.
Winning a majority votes at the battleground states and obvious swings states around the Federation to earn a total vote count of fifteen million one hundred and ninety one thousand eight hundred and four (15,191,847) to defeat the candidate of the opposition party who scored a total valid vote count of Eleven million two hundred and sixty two thousand nine hundred and seventy eight (11,262,978) to emerge winner of the presidential contest.
For a majority of Nigerians it was a moments they have longed for. An historic moments most especially to those first time voters whose electioneering debut through the ballot comes along with a spectacle of upright enthusiasm alongside a vibe of strong patriotic dedication and fecundity. To some others, the preparedness and readiness to vote was akin to a diastolic and Systolic compression as they calmly and patiently waited on queue armed with their PVCs, ready to make a difference through the power of their vote.
In a crisp atmosphere, the mood rattled fervently through the wind as the momentum continues to build regardless of the seemingly tensed situation abound. Indeed, their collective patriotism now wears uniform ordinances as Nigerians gears up with ready minds and heart all set to pledge their allegiance to God and country.
A spectacle of fair scenery was largely acclaimed given the credibility of polls as obvious reality checks from within and around the world indicates remarks to a nearly perfect electoral conduct devoid of illicit misconduct, citizen disenfranchisement, and political muscling of opposition. It turns out to be an electoral process where the vast majority of Nigerians were allowed to vote for their choice candidate through the ballot on account of their free will without fear or favor, duress’s or dogmas.
The victory path which didn't come like a walk in the pack saw her major opposition contender Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) bringing to the forebear a battle of survival like never before from start to finish. With over 90 registered political parties participating in the process, the obvious clash was a clear contest between the two leading political gladiators from the two major parties in Nigeria. Indeed, the momentum was high as the frequency of the Nigerian political atmosphere got steamy with basic political rhetoric's en-route the process of electioneering.
The collation of result which was officially opened Sunday 24th, Feb. by the electoral commission chairman at exactly 6:00 hrs local time spare-headed the eventual process; The actual process of results collation as read by the various states returning officers started Monday 25th Feb. at exactly 11:30 am local on until a climatic end of the process Wednesday 27th Feb. at exactly 1:45 am local time when all results from the federation has been called out and compiled according to the electoral rules and dictates.
Announcing the result from the international conference center in full glare of all party agents and officials as represented at the nation’s capital Abuja, the electoral National commission umpire having presided over the results collation on a marathon process of three days, took the audience attention as he formally reeled out the results scored by each contending aspirants as collated.
Despite the conjectures of few party agents whose questions slightly halted the final process of the collation procedures and completion, the electoral boss stood his demeanor as he vividly explained all grey areas as raised by party agent using preliminary reports as obtained. Hence, he sets out to performing his constitutional and electoral rituals as enshrined thereof.
He continues with this fine and very noble words afterward; "I Prof Prof Mahmood Yakubu hereby certify that i am the chief returning officer for the presidential election held on the 23rd February, 2019. That the elections was contested and the candidates received the following votes.
Total Number of registered voters 82,344,107
Total Number of accredited votes 29, 364,209
Total vote cast 28,614,190
Total valid votes 27,324,583
Rejected votes 129, 289, 607
AAC 33,953
ADC 97,874
ADP 54,930
APC 15,191,847
PDP 11,262,978
SDP 34,746……
"That Muhammadu Buhari of the APC having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and his return elected".
International communities have continued to roll out congratulatory messages to the incumbent for not just victory at the polls, also for conducting free, fair, and credible polls amidst obvious challenges and setbacks. Foremost among those who sent in a word of commendation affirming the overall process was the government of the United Kingdom who appraised the process for conforming to international standard on credibility.
According to the UK verdict, the electoral results as obtained by the commission is in outright consonance with that obtained through the civil society parallel vote’s tabulation process.
In a similar fate, a non- governmental organization "YIAGA Africa" has also commended the process as they acknowledged the results as obtained by the nation's electoral commission as tallying with that obtained by their findings. According to the nonprofit organization, her projections that the All Progressive Congress should receive between 50.0% and 55.05% of the total vote count correlate with that of the electoral announcement. Also, a projected percentage between 41.2-47.0% for the opposition party (PDP) seems very relative with the commission’s assessment.
Despite the obvious, the opposition party in a world press conference through their candidate has objected to their failure at the polls as they threaten to head to the court with an illusory hope of securing victory.
Link To Article: https://youth-journal.org/nigeria-presidential-elections-a-spectacle-of-honesty-and-c
