The Election So Far, My Take.

Would you agree that if the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been really prepared to conduct this election, we would have seen a more organized, material ready, and free flowing process in what we’ve had or rather experienced today?

Just because there’s no violence so far doesn’t mean the election is perfect or mark INEC as a body prepared for it. Frankly speaking, i don’t even expect violence in this stage of the electoral process but in the aftermath of it. However, from what we’ve seen today, the delay in the arrival of voting material (a problem that we always see in all of the elections we’ve had in the past); The non-functional Card Readers in some locations, even with the removal of the protective film seal; The time it took to complete one voter’s accreditation etc., goes further to prove that INEC had never been ready for this election and that, is appalling and embarrassing to say the least. It will not be wrong to ask, is four years not enough to have gotten INEC prepared? Most of the problems we experienced in the past elections, and the ones we saw today, are basic and infant, to see that we still wallow in them even till this very moment, is disappointing and stain in our name.

For those of you who followed the process today, you already know that election was postponed in some locations, scheduled to be completed tomorrow, giving an additional day of delay for election results. We heard of gun shot that hospitalized a voter in Edo State. We heard of governors and other notable persons that went to polling units in bullet proof cars and thugs or bodyguards if you may, and we heard and saw the massive turn out of people, the only good thing that serves as a boost to our democracy.

Aside the glitches we saw here and there during the accreditation and voting process, which of course were plenty, the number of Nigerians that came out to vote, their attitude and conduct even when it was raining, was remarkable and gives hope to our nascent democracy, proves that there’s hope for Nigeria and Nigerians today.

To move pass this issues, we must get our acts together, prepare better for the remaining places/locations left and most importantly, immediately after this whole electoral process, begin to prepare for 2019.

God bless Nigeria!