African Integrity Magazine – Nigeria – A survey of 2011 April Elections Dawn of a new Era in the Political process

Nigeria – A survey of 2011 April Elections Dawn of a new Era in the Political process

Jun 21, 2011 Samuel Africa News 0

Nigerian shows great enthusiasm to elect the political officer holders into the relevant public offices across the nation and with the level of a credibility of the electoral process which actually showed that the people’s votes counted to a large extent is actually the sign of new dawn of a new political era in Nigeria. The outcome of the April poll has brought to logical conclusion, the Nigerian Political balancing which gave room to a new face of politics that may lead to better political leadership and representation.

The presidential election on April 16, which re-elected Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, was another plus to Nigeria, where Nigerian elective politics was a game dominated only by three major ethnic groups, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. But the result which brought back elected president into power for next four years seems to have concealed these ethnic politic norms in Nigeria.

Again, the governorship and state House of Assembly offices were decided across the twenty four states federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released their result to show that, incumbency power failed their bid in re-elected some Governors into second term in the office. This was a welcome development in Nigeria politics. This is the era where re-election into office through the power of incumbency was one man one vote bases.

The outcome of the result in the South-West brought an end to the ruling party, people’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State and Oyo State, now controlled the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which has returned progressively to dominate the south-west political zone. This is an addition to the Ekiti and Osun States which it won through election petitions tribunal jurdication judgment last year.

In Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosu of ACN polled 372, 487 closed by his rivals PPN, Who scored 188, 698 and closely followed by PDP, who scored 188, 698 our closely followed by PDP, who scored 137, 051 votes, respectively, which lead to Ibikunle Amosu. Also in the House of Assembly election, ACN won in 18seats, ACN has got 6 and PDP secured 2 seats.

The PDP leaders flet bad that the party lost our in the governorship and state assembly election even though they claimed to have worked very hard for the party’s victory in the presidential election.

In Oyo State, the governorship Candidate of the ACN, Senator Abiola Ajumobi, was declared the winner. Ajimobi, was declared the winner. Ajimobi polled 420, 852 votes to defeat the sitting governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala of the PDP who had 387, 132 votes, while the former governor Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord Party (AP) who had 275, 763 votes. Again the incumbency crumbled here which lead Alao-Akala to become one of the governorship election loser causalities.

Ajimobi was seen by some people as some what a progressive, who will improve the condition of the people in the state and provide the infrastructure within and outside the state capital.

Ajimobi popularity state of the roads. Ajomobi popularity was further boosted by the endorsement he received from the Ibadan Elders form, a week before the elections held. A factor that may have counted against the incumbent Governors his relationship with some segments of the civil servants which until recently, was anything but cordial. In Lagos State ACN Chairman Henry Ajomale says, that the party won an election that has been adjudged the freest and fairest because of the good works of the present state governor. The ACN administration has gone shoulder higher because of rapid infrastructure development around the state the incumbent government under the leadership of Governor Fashola has already won the heart of many Lagos far and near. Fashola even said in one of speech after the outcome of the election that his victory in the April poll governorship election was nothing but for progressive governance. Governor Fashola promised that his administration would work tirelessly to surpass its achievements in the past four years.

The overwhelming victory of the ACN in the South-West is a reflection of the political re-direction which the former President Obasanjo forced on the people, to become part of the mainstream polities of the centre.

Nasarawa State, where Aliyu Akwe Doma, the incumbent governor, who is of the PDP failed to secure his re-elected position. He was defeated by his rival, Umaru Tanko Al-Makuru of the Congress for Progressive change CPC by polling 324, 823 against his heart rivalry Doma, who get 320, 938 this is only state that CPC won election. The victories of ANPP in Borno, Yobe and Zamfara States have proved that the party in recovering form what looked like a terminal political ailment.

The PDP surprisingly did not lose as much ground as was expected in 2011 elections. Rather, the party even won back Kano State which it lost to the ANPP in 2003. PDP chinched Kano governorship seat as Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of the state, staged a come back by defeating Salihu Sagir Takai, candidate of the ruling ANPP with 1.109million votes representing 46 percent of the total vote cast while his closest rival got 1.048million votes. In Katsina the home State of Buhari where the CPC was expected to win, the PDP came out victorious in Kebbi State, Saidu Dakugari was declared the winner, having polled 559,424 votes against 326,482 votes scored by Abubakar Mallam of the CPC, followed by ACN Kabiru Yaminu who polled 67,710 votes.

In Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, immediate past accountant general of the federation under PDP was declared winner. In the gubernatorial election while in Taraba State, Danbaba guntai of the PDP polled 361,176 to beat Mohammed Mustapha of the CPC who got 176,342 votes. Also in Kwara State, Ahmed emerged the winner of the election with a total of 254,969 votes under the platform of PDP as against ACN candidates Mohammed Dele Belgore, who polled 152,580 votes. In Plateau State, Jonah Jang, incumbency of the PDP was re-elected Governor he scored 773,547 to beat Mrs. Paulem Tellen, his deputy governor of Labour Party (LP) who scored 476,590 votes.

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State got his Second term mandate with 568,069 votes beating ACN candidate Steve Ugbah who got 499,646 votes. ACN reject the result of the poll. River State, Governor Chibuike Amaechi polled 1,178,529 votes to floor his predecessor, Celestine Omehia of APGA who 112,528 votes, while Abiye Sekibo came third place with 60,241 votes under platform of ACN.

From Akwa Ibom State, Godwill Akpabio (PDP) polled 957,585 votes to defeat his main challenges, Akpan Udo edehe of the ACN who scored 163,449 votes. While in Delta State Emmanuel Uduaghan, Incumbent governor polled 525,793 votes to defeat his main rival Great Ovadje Ogboru of the PDP, who polled 433,834.

In Enugu State flag bearer, PDP, Sullinan Chime, polling 49,790 votes to beat his closet rival, Okey Ezea of LD who pulled a distant 30,135 votes. Abia State where re-election of Theodore Orji, incumbency inter-played succeeded in his quest for a second tenure with a resounding victory in the gubernatorial election, he scored 641, 1568 votes against Reagan Ufomba of APGA with 49,921 votes. In Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi of the PDP was returned; Elechi polled a total of 287,217 votes to defeat his closet rival, Sen. Julius Ucha of ANPP, who scored 125,248 votes.

But Imo State where there was supplementary election in four Local governments following the petition by the PDP official that there was no election in those four Local governments. INEC rescheduled election to comply with electoral law. Rochas Okorocha of APGA won the election and seaded off the incumbent Governor PDP Candidate Ikediohakim.

Impressed by the new face and era of new Dawn in Nigeria democracy, the United States said the 2007 election showed a significant improvement over the country’s flawed 2001 election. Terrence Micculley, US ambassador to Nigeria described the election conduct as credible and transparent and historical.

ROLL CALL OF THE GOVERNORS IN CHARGE

Theodore Ahamefule Orji

Re-elected (PDP) Abia State

Godswill Obot Akpabio

Re-elected (PDP) Akwa-Ibom State

Gabriel T. Suswan

Re-elected (PDP) Benue State

Keshim Shettima

Newly elected (ANPP) Borno State

Emmanuel Uduaghan

Re-elected (PDP) Delta State

Sulwan Iheanacho Chime