The governorship election in Anambra State on November 6 was one of many main occasions in Nigeria’s political scene final week.
On this week’s Politics Roundup, we regarded on the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee’s efficiency throughout the ballot.
We additionally thought-about another main occasions final week and their implications for the event of the nation.
INEC’s exhibiting in Anambra
Amid safety threats, the Anambra State governorship election was nonetheless held as scheduled on Saturday, November 6.
High contenders embody Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Mr Val Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
One other prime contender is Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The election carried out by the Mahmood Yakubu-led Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee was marred by problems with malfunctioning of INEC’s machines.
There have been additionally reviews of poll field snatching, vote-buying and different electoral irregularities within the election.
Implications
The Anambra election provided INEC a veritable alternative to launder its picture badly tainted by previous poor elections within the nation.
The failures of the fee’s machines, particularly card readers, throughout the election are worrisome. It exhibits the Yakubu-led INEC could not have the capability to conduct an election anticipated by Nigerians.
INEC failure to conduct a easy election in a single state is a worrying sign forward of the 2023 normal elections.
Different irregularities the ballot witnessed converse of the necessity for full adoption of expertise to unravel Nigeria’s electoral woes.
IPOB’s backtrack
On November 4, the Indigenous Individuals of Biafra (IPOB) backtracked from its sit-at-home order within the South-East.
The order meant to cease the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election was cancelled simply two days to the train.
In a press release by its Publicity Secretary, Emma Highly effective, IPOB mentioned, “Following the real intervention of our elders, esteemed conventional Establishments /Rulers and spiritual leaders, and after due consideration of the optimistic impacts of their engagement, the management of IPOB ably lead by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, hereby, and instantly CALL OFF THE ONE WEEK SIT AT HOME earlier declared to begin on November 5 to November 10, 2021.”
Implications
The choice of the secessionist group to withdraw its sit-at-home order confirmed the effectiveness of dialogue in battle decision.
The U-turn by IPOB after engagements with South-East stakeholders signifies battle is healthier dealt with if opposing forces interact in trustworthy conversations.
The event serves as a clue to the Nigerian authorities on the way it might tackle the battle within the area.
Ikoyi tragedy
In Ikoyi, Lagos State, a 21-storey constructing on November 1 crashed killing over 40 individuals. Amongst them was the proprietor of the constructing, Femi Osibona.
After the crash, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu arrange a panel to probe the constructing. The panel is remitted to unravel the basis explanation for what occurred to the constructing.
The Lagos State Governor mentioned unravelling the reason for the collapse would assist “everybody involved, together with the federal government”, study from the incident.
“Lagosians and the world will likely be watching and ready keenly with the total expectation that the fast and distant causes of this tragedy will likely be uncovered,” Sanwo-Olu added as he inaugurated the probe panel.
Implications
The Ikoyi tragedy exhibits why the federal government in any respect ranges should guarantee strict enforcement of constructing development rules within the nation.
It additionally helps why the Nationwide Meeting ought to go the Nationwide Constructing Code legislative doc. Because the doc, if handed, may help scale back the frequency at which buildings collapse throughout the nation.
To cease such tragedies the usage of quacks and low-quality supplies in constructing development should be checkmated. And this needs to be completed by the federal government and stakeholders within the development and actual property business.
Senator Goje’s harassment by thugs
On Friday, November 5, thugs barred the Senator representing Gombe Central, Muhammad Danjuma Goje, from coming into the state.
The thugs barricaded the Gombe-Bauchi Freeway close to the Worldwide Convention Centre. They set bonfires on the street, denying entry into or exterior Gombe.
They stopped Goje, who arrived on the Gombe Airport in Lawanti round 10:40 am, from attending a marriage programme within the state.
Implications
The remedy meted out to Goje factors to the worrying disconnect between Nigerian leaders and the individuals who voted them into energy.
There’s each probability the thugs won’t have launched into such an act if the senator is successfully representing them.
The declare Goje’s plight is politically motivated paints an image of harmful politics in Nigeria that wanted to be jettisoned.
