The last 72 hours post the February 25th National Assembly and Presidential elections has thrown up a number of issues over the conduct and outcome of the election leaving Nigerians, Political Parties as well as other actors in the Electoral process in mixed reaction.
While some have have called for the cancelation of the election on the basis of violence and intimidation in some states, non transmission of real time results on the IRS Portal as promised by INEC among other issues, it is imperative to state that this election birthed a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s political process and history.
This is strongly demonstrated in the outcome of the election in some states where sitting governors assumed to be in political control of their domains lost their senatorial bids. Three of the G5 governors Samuel Ortom of Benue state, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State all lost in the election. Others are Ben Ayede of Cross River State, Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.
It appears Nigerians have finally succeeded in putting a stop to the perception that the Red Chambers is a retirement home for governors and that sitting governors have a monopoly to determine election outcomes. INEC appears to have finally returned Electoral Power to the people in this regard.
Notwithstanding, dissatisfied parties have rights and have been employed to seek redress through legal channels in the interest of the peace and security of the nation.
