National Assembly Election: Commendation Gives Way to Complaints

The euphoria that greeted what was widely regarded as a successful conduct of the April 9 National Assembly election in Nigeria is gradually making way for complaints.

In an unprecedented manner, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, promptly conceded defeat when his constituency’s result was announced and indeed went further to congratulate the winner, saying ‘election is not a do or die’ duel.

Hopes that other losers would emulate Bankole have turned into a pipe dream as petitions are springing up from all corners of the country.

In Kwara State, the ACPN, founded by veteran politician Olusola Saraki, has joined nine other political parties to call for the cancellation of the election at which his own son, and current Governor Dr Bukola Saraki, won the Kwara Central senatorial seat. They allege that the ruling PDP connived with INEC to rig the elections there.

Both General Lawrence Onoja and Senator Joseph Akagaga of Benue State want the results that saw former PDP chairman, Barnabas Gemade and three-term Senate President, David Mark emerge as winners to be annulled.

General Onoja claims in his petition to have video evidence of ballot stuffing and under-age voting on election day.

Also, former Benue State governor George Akume has petitioned INEC, saying that security agents connived with the PDP to thumb print ballot papers during voting.
In Anambra State, ACN supporters took to the streets to protest the declaration of PDP’s Uche Ekwenife as the winner for the Aniocha Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituency.

There are many more protests, making observers to wonder whether the perceived shift from ‘do or die’ politics is only a mirage.