From available facts, the Edo Local Government Elections brought back the ugly memories of our past elections.
It dragged us back into the abysmal misery of the helplessness and hopelessness we all felt during elections conducted under the watchful eyes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Since the conduct of the Edo elections, I have begun to understand better the import of President Goodluck Jonathan boast about his administration's ability to conduct "free and fair" elections from 2011 till date.

Let us compare and contrast elections under these men.

Obasanjo declared 'Do or die', Oshiomole declared 18 over 18 (That is he must win all the 18 Lgs in Edo), GEJ said "Don't rig for me"

Obasanjo cancelled election won by his "enemy" (he cancelled Imo state election won by Ifeanyi Ararume), Oshiomole cancelled election won in his "enemy" domain (he cancelled election won in Chief Tony Annenih's LG), GEJ is "too weak" to cancel any election.

Under OBJ it does not matter when ballot paper arrives (afterall the result has been written before election), under Oshiomole election materials arrived between 3pm-4pm and election closed by 6p.m, bogus figures are declared. Under GEJ, accreditation has its time frame, voting has its time frame, collation has its time frame, and declaration of result has its time frame.
Every process of the election is timed and these times are seen as sacrosanct by all.

Under Obj party faithful hijack election materials, in Oshiomole election, the deputy governor confessed that he carried ballot papers and election materials in his own personal car. Under GEJ no political office holder is allowed to even monitor elections talk less of carrying materials.
During Obasanjo thugs take over polling units to unleash violence on the people, in Edo election, a party chieftain (a state legislator) was caught with pump action. Security personnel are adequately deployed to safeguard the integrity of the ballot when GEJ conducts elections.

Under Obasanjo electoral laws are manipulated to suit the leader in connivance with the legislative arm, Oshiomole through the state legislature signed a new law three days to the election apparently to gag judiciary and subvert justice (he signed into law, a bill reducing the number of members of election tribunal from 7 to 3. Out of which two of the members can form a quorum). GEJ is "too weak" to dictate to the legislative arm of the government.

Obasanjo said even Jesus Christ cannot conduct free and fair election in Nigeria, Oshiomole admitted the Edosiec should apologise for the charade called election. Till date, GEJ boast of conducting an acclaimed "free and fair" election that even Bola Tinubu (leader of the opposition) acknowledged.

Under Obasanjo those who won during his fraudulent elections are quickly sworn-in to loot treasure before they are thrown out of office (case in question, Prof. Osunbor who was thrown out of office for Oshiomole), Oshio-baba sworn in his chairmen two days after elections. GEJ give ample time frame for those aggrieved to go to court to seek redress before swearing-in elected officers. (Case in question; Abuja area council election that was held in March, winners of the election will not be sworn in until May.)

Can I ask? What is the difference between Obasanjo and Oshiomole?
What is the difference between Oshiomole and GEJ's elections?
I dare say that we must all be vigilant. There are those who has vowed that we will not move forward. They are in PDP, they are in ACN, they are in CPC, they are in ANPP, they are are coalescing into APC. If Adams Oshiomole, whom we all thought is one of our hope for a better Nigeria can do worse than Obasanjo with the little power he has as the state governor, who then can we trust?

Akin Alex edits for Believe Africa Magazine. You can reach him on believeafrica@gmail.com.

No doubt the 2011 election was the second fairest and best election Nigeria has ever had and we must give him kudos 4 that.
Can we say that his second term election will be thesame? That is where the point is because in Nigeria's history second term election has always been our problem 4rm Tafawa Balewa to Shehun Sagari to Obasanjo and now Gej. This peaple usually get to the number one office with less input from themselve, but they alway want to continue by their own power in their second term.
So let us keep our fingers crossed and watch his electoral integrity in 2015.

At least, we saw people queue up peacefully, cast their votes and their votes were counted in their very presence and they knew who won the elections in units where elections took place. EDSG made good her pledge to fund EDSIEC and the failure of EDSIEC in bconductuing elections in few councils should be put on the chairman of that commission. The attempt at smear campaign against Oshiomhole is a very futile one indeed.

If only out of 36 states plus FCT in Nigeria elections took please peacefully in 34 states in 2003, Nigeria would have been a better place and disgruntled element like you would probably be cooling off in prisons.

I Like Oshiomohle, but that LG Elections last Saturday was a total farce.

Election materials didnt arrive VIRTUALLY EVERY Election centres till 1pm or 2pm, when Accreditation started, after many persons have already gone home; there were even some centres where materials didnt arrive till 4pm. Again, this was Sysyemic ie it happened in Virtually every centre across the state on that day; Elections had to be postponed in some LGs cos they didnt even arrive at all.

Yet, the Electoral body could not summon the will to cancel all the Elections; and Gov Oshiomohle accepted the results from such an election cos all the 16 Chairmen who were declared winners by the Electral dosy the very next day were from ACN. There is just too much hypocrisy in this country I swear. Osiomohle fall my hand that day.

PS: The rescheduled Election at least in Oredo was however better conducted.

Omo_Tier1: At least, we saw people queue up peacefully, cast their votes and their votes were counted in their very presence and they knew who won the elections in units where elections took place. EDSG made good her pledge to fund EDSIEC and the failure of EDSIEC in bconductuing elections in few councils should be put on the chairman of that commission. The attempt at smear campaign against Oshiomhole is a very futile one indeed.

If only out of 36 states plus FCT in Nigeria elections took please peacefully in 34 states in 2003, Nigeria would have been a better place and disgruntled element like you would probably be cooling off in prisons.

You don't judge electoral success by seeing people that queue up, Mister.
Election is a process and failure to adhere to the rules of the game is fraudulent.
If 2011 eletion was conducted the way Oshiomole conducted the last election, Oshiomole will not be in power by now.
If GEJ had declared 36 over 36, by now Nigeria will still be boiling. We are sick and tired of electoral manipulation by any emperor. Nigerians are no fools and we will never allow anybody under whatever guise to drag us back to Obj era.
So Mister, pls tell your employer, he has just shot himself in the leg.

GEJ election was done on excel sheet. It's simple: GEJ to his supporters "Guys not ballot snatching and distribution of arms, even police and other forces should lay low. Mr. Jega has Ms Excel experts in-house."

Shame on you and your GEJ.. So tell us another story.

Alxmyr:


You don't judge electoral success by seeing people that queue up, Mister.
Election is a process and failure to adhere to the rules of the game is fraudulent.
If 2011 eletion was conducted the way Oshiomole conducted the last election, Oshiomole will not be in power by now.
If GEJ had declared 36 over 36, by now Nigeria will still be boiling. We are sick and tired of electoral manipulation by any emperor. Nigerians are no fools and we will never allow anybody under whatever guise to drag us back to Obj era.
So Mister, pls tell your employer, he has just shot himself in the leg.

No, we judge success of elections by how bug free Excel2000 spreadsheet macro is to give you a 99.9% of registered voters on an election day

Omo_Tier1:
No, we judge success of elections by how bug free Excel2000 spreadsheet macro is to give you a 99.9% of registered voters on an election day

Eh yah.
Sorry for your losses.

Wat do u mean by oshiomole,jonathan and obasanjo election dats where d problem comes from why should elected officials have authority over election of other officials isnt dat d function of inec shouldnt dey be independent of governors and president dats where d president have to grant autonomy to inec though deir excesses ought to be checkd by d house of assemblt not executives with dat their will be a free and fair election to some extent.gej decided to conduct free and fair election in 2011 den he can also conduct a rigged election come 2015 if his chances of winning are slim dats wat am talking about. He should not have d power to decide wen a free and fair election to be conductd likewise governor oshiomole.lets attack our problem from d root and not like dis