Preserving The People’s Mandate: A Commentary

The schedule for Nigeria 2015 General Elections does not have a slot for gubernatorial election contest in Anambra State simply because the state had successfully elected and inaugurated a governor in year 2014.But this did not in any way dilute the vigorous campaign mounted by the various political gladiators and parties across the state nor did it dampen the enthusiasm of the people in the contest for other positions like the national and state legislative positions.

Although the governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano is not contesting for any elective post now, he is actively involved campaigning for all the candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who were virtually running on his ticket of exemplary performance in office in just one-year. It is also noteworthy that Ndi Anambra has shown great appreciation and admiration of that feat and responded with overwhelming support and readiness to join the quest for a new Anambra hence the conspicuous queues behind APGA candidates during the campaign stops. The widely acknowledged good governance and mobilization of the people by Governor Obiano is also attributed with boosting the massive turn-out of voters for the March 28, 2015 electionsin the state.

However it has since become obvious to Ndi Anambra that the enthusiasm shown in the performance of their civic responsibility by casting their votes for preferred APGA candidates for the National Assembly at the various Polling Booths were immediately deflated by the announced election results. Whereas exit results from the booths showed massive support for APGA candidates, the final results as collated and eventually announced by the electoral umpire stated otherwise. Thus many are left reeling in shock and unbelief at the brazen heist orchestrated by a few protected individuals who are bent on foisting afresh, a regime of brigandage reminiscent of the by-gone era in Anambra of fifteen years ago when might appeared right in the state politics and governance.

Yes Ndi Anambra are still reeling in shock because their will,freely expressed at the Polling Booths last Saturday was brazenly violated. The results which were manipulated at the collation stages by anti-democratic forces even favored candidates who never showed up in our communities to campaign.Tales of hijack, coercion and intimidation of both officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party agents by compromised security agents left Ndi Anambra stupefied at various collation centres. It is instructive that despite these assaults to our collective sensibilities by desperate politicians our people remained calm in the face of extreme provocation.

There is no doubt that a dubious victory choreographed from the nation's capital and orchestrated by political desperadoes in our midst has been foisted on us all. We appeal to Ndi Anambra, all APGA members and lovers of democracy to remain calm and law abiding in the face of such brigandage since redress to the injustices will surely come.

Granted that Ndi Anambra committed so much energy and passion towards the election of their preferred candidates for the National Assemblies but were eventually short-changed by the falsified results with some already feeling frustrated and apathetic towards further participation in the electoral process. There is need for caution that it would mount to throwing-in the towel and allowing the locusts to once-more fester and take over our state. Indeed, Ndi Anambra and all people of good will should not be despondent or allow themselves to be cowed to submission.

The recent history of our dear state and the leading role she played in the recovery of stolen mandates should rather re-enforce and strengthen the belief of all the APGA candidates who clearly won based on results from the various Polling Booths. The fact that some among us decided to take us back to the dark days when fear and bedlam pervaded our state does not mean that we are ready to acquiesce. Ndi Anambra and indeed the administration of governor Obiano have made a quantum leap forward and we cannot afford to be defeated but rather take the well-defined recourse to the rule-of-the law.

The era of peace and security currently prevailing in Anambra state gives us hope that the future is brighter like never before. Therefore the message to all who feel like giving-up is that this is the time to actually gird our lions for the main battle towards sustaining the legacy of good governance in Anambra state. All told, we must not allow the anti-democratic forces to deter us. Let us continue to come out en masse to vote. The real victory lies in ensuring that our votes continue to speak in unison. That is the right way to not only recover but preserve the mandate Ndi Anambra gave to their preferred APGA candidates.

Ozumba, a public affairs commentator writes from Enugwu-Ukwu