After Jega, What Next?

By Chuks OLUIGBO

The just concluded 2011 general elections in Nigeria no doubt recorded some commendable successes. One thing that was obviously missing among Nigerians was the usual I-don’t-care attitude that had characterised previous elections in the country. Especially since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, the Nigerian electorate have been known for a certain lackadaisical, nonchalant attitude towards politics, a certain disenchantment with, or indifference to the electoral process occasioned perhaps by their perceived notion that their votes didn’t matter.

Prior to this time, it was not uncommon to hear many Nigerians make such comments as “Why should I bother myself registering or voting? My vote doesn’t count. Whether I vote or not, they will still rig themselves into power.” Such attitude disappeared in the 2011 elections. This time around, there seemed to have been a new consciousness, a new orientation, a re-awakening, a new zeal among Nigerians, old and young alike, to be part of the change process. The level of awareness and participation among Nigerians was a total departure from what it used to be; same for the interest shown. This is quite commendable. It is a welcome trend that should be consolidated upon.

President Goodluck Jonathan too deserves commendation for initiating the present process. Shortly after he was sworn-in as president following the death of former President Umar Musa Yar’Adua in May 2010, he expressed his commitment to a free, fair and credible electoral process in Nigeria. The forum was the maiden edition of the presidential media chat anchored by Gbenga Aruleba. While answering a question that bothered on the appointment of Prof Attahiru Jega as the new chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, President Jonathan said: “Because our elections have been usually controversial, most other societies believe that Nigeria is a leading country in Africa and we must conduct clean elections to give our leaders credibility and acceptability globally…. I have said it severally, when you travel out some officers that come to discuss with you, some as envoys of presidents of other countries, sometimes officers that are quite low, they raise the issues of elections, and I feel very humiliated, really, and I promised myself that if I’m in a position to conduct elections in this country, no other Nigerian president will experience that embarrassment; that at the end of the elections, people lower than you who ordinarily are not supposed to talk to you will raise issues of elections. It’s annoying. I feel bitter.... Like I did mention at other forums, whether I will run or not is immaterial in terms of the elections we are going to conduct in 2011. The elections in 2011 must be free and fair, and the votes of Nigerians must count.” And he re-echoed the same in many other forums across Nigeria.

Jega’s was one appointment that was widely applauded by Nigerians across board, and it would mark the beginning of a change process that would permeate INEC as well as the entire electoral process in the country.

No doubt, Prof Jega has lived up to the expectations of Nigerians. In spite of the earlier hitches that led to the postponement of the first batch of elections, the National Assembly elections, earlier scheduled for April 2, the 2011 general elections have so far been generally acclaimed as free, fair, transparent, and credible. That is not to say that it was a hundred percent success. No, there were certainly irregularities here and there. We expect aggrieved parties to seek redress at the courts.

Also commendable is the level of independence given to the electoral body, INEC. For the first time since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, the so-called power of incumbency was not really seen to be at play. Especially at the presidential poll, the incumbent became just a mere observer in the process, like every other Nigerian, like his fellow contestants. This was a clear break from the scenario that played out in 2003 and 2007 when President Olusegun Obasanjo played the role of the electoral umpire from behind the scene and his overbearing image could be seen looming large over the then INEC chairmen, Dr Guobadia (2003) and Prof Iwu (2007). For once, the term ‘independent’ prefixed to the former National Electoral Commission, NEC, by Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar in 1998 has become practical rather than mere nomenclature. Future presidents of Nigeria, whether they are re-contesting or not, are expected to toe this path of honour and steer clear of the electoral process, allowing INEC free hand to do its job.

Also, the ouster of the incumbent governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, by the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA's Owelle Rochas Okorocha, a hitherto inconceivable feat, was an indication that in the 2011 elections, the people truly spoke through the ballot box and that people's votes actually counted.

On the other hand, however, there is need to take another look at the incumbency factor and see what can be done. In the light of this, I agree with Steve Osuji who opined in “Democracy for incumbents” thus: “It must be possible to enthrone an acting president, governor, and even suspend the legislative chambers so that all contestants can be on an even keel. As it is, contesting against a sitting president or governor is like contesting against the entire country or state, or even the legislative chambers, as the case may be.”

One other commendable thing in these elections was the use of high profile academics as collation officers. Especially at the presidential polls, all the collation officers across the 36 states and the FCT were either former Vice-Chancellors, serving Vice-Chancellors, or seasoned professors of high repute and pedigree, men and women of integrity who have a name to protect; people who understand the saying that ‘a good name is better than riches’; highly principled persons who cannot easily be compromised. Undoubtedly, this was reflected in the quality of the collation process, and the transparency and finesse with which everything was handled. The argument being made by some analysts that Jega should not have concentrated on academics alone since there were men and women of integrity in other professions makes no sense to me. Jega is from the academic world; it was only natural for him to tap from his immediate constituency.

Looking back at it, it is easy to say that Nigerian politics has moved a step forward. It is no longer business as usual. To use the words of Harold Macmillan, one time British Prime Minister, ‘a wind of change’ has blown across Nigeria. And as President Jonathan himself said when he cast his vote at his Otueke-Ogbia polling booth on Saturday, April 16, these elections mark “a new dawn in our political evolution”.

But there are disturbing questions. As I have argued elsewhere, “We need strong institutions. But first, we need strong persons to build them, and afterwards, strong persons to keep them running.” Jega for sure is a strong man, and he has succeeded in conducting credible elections in Nigeria, but has he succeeded in instituting a strong electoral body? Has INEC become a stronger institution? Will the present successes recorded by INEC be sustainable, or will they be a one-off? Will INEC relapse into its former corrupt self after Jega, or will the person who succeeds Jega be as strong and carry on and improve on what Jega has achieved? Will the gains of the 2011 elections be consolidated upon, or will they be allowed to slip through our fingers? Answers to these questions will determine whether Jega's appointment was or was not a waste of time after all...