20 Lessons from Nigeria’s Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections

Following two weeks of presidential and gubernatorial elections that has captivated the attention of the Nigerian public, what have we learned?

1. That the world is watching Nigeria. It was the first time that the president of United States of America issued a broadcast to Nigerians. In addition, not only did our elections get round the clock coverage on BBC Africa and CNN, it also was watched closely by internet hackers, Nigerian Cyber Army, who hacked into INEC’s website. Talk about attention!!!
2. That there is a word in the English dictionary called gubernatorial
3. That the use of card readers by INEC was largely successful. If hooligans planned to rig the elections they were stifled because they were restricted to the number of registered voters. However, more work is required by INEC to ensure under-aged voters do not register and their staff are properly sensitised for future use
4. That INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega, is the coolest, calmest and most collected Nigerian in the country. See my article on Men of the Moment
5. That Nigerians want change, hence the victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC). With 32 million accredited voters, the turnout was twice that of 2011. So if APC were to falter just as the incumbent has, they too will be kicked out at the next voting opportunity
6. That more should be done by the government and the electorate to increase the voting turnout – at 32 million, the turnout was 49% of the registered voters
7. That following its resounding defeat by 2.5 million votes, the People Democratic Party (PDP) will face its biggest test yet – solidarity within the party and a cohesive vision for the 2019 elections
8. That the elders in this great country care deeply about the future of their children
9. That the voting patterns in the general election suggest that most Nigerians still vote along ethnic lines. This pattern was demonstrated by the highly skewed votes in the south-south and south-east regions of approximately 90% to 10% in favour of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and that in the north-west, north-east and north-central regions of approximately 80% to 20% in favour of President elect, General Muhammadu Buhari
10. That a great deal of nation building is required by the President elect following the voting patterns in the north and south
11. That women such as Remi Sonaiya, presidential candidate of KOWA party, have heralded a path for female presidential candidates in this country
12. That Nigerians are a happy people and will not be frightened by reckless pronouncements from any Oba, Emir, Obi or traditional ruler with any appellation
13. That President Goodluck Jonathan deserves a special mention for being the first incumbent of a ruling party to concede defeat to the opposition peacefully, regardless of whether he was cajoled to do so as some quarters will have you believe.
14. That most Nigerian politicians are political prostitutes. Immediately after APC were declared victorious at the general elections, the number of politicians that jumped ship from the PDP to APC was perplexing. Virtually all political meanders claimed dissatisfaction with PDP prior to the election. My question to them is, ‘why did you not jump ship prior to the elections?’
15. That APC could be the new PDP except it closes the floodgates, for the reasons stated above.
16. That Femi Fani-Kayode, FFK as he is widely known, is a political prostitute. Click to see FFK’s comments while in the PDP, then in the APC and now for the PDP. What next FFK – APC? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgdPGtqE7uU
17. That Bode George will relocate from Nigeria and that National Party leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, would not care less. See link to see video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=znKSVOfeYcs
18. That governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose is likely to be impeached
19. That Stephen Keshi is highly unlikely to be the Super Eagles coach now that his godfather has lost the national elections
20. That above all, Nigeria will always stay as one nation regardless of its trials and tribulations, and that these elections are testament to this claim.

God Bless Nigeria

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