THE 2015 NIGERIA ELECTION: STORY AROUND IT

       

The March 28^th Nigeria’s Presidential poll is a major milestone event that will be engraved in the heart of many Nigerian’s especially the young ones for many years to come.

The intrigues that the election held as it approached daily cannot be overemphasized. The extension of date from Feb. 14^th to  March 28^th, the ‘hate speeches’ from election jingles and campaigns from party members/Loyalists, the prophecies from Clergy Men and even prediction from the advanced countries about the continuous future existence of the entity called “Nigeria,” sent cold shivers down the spine of many Nigeria as the election date drew nearer

All of these aforementioned became a source of security concern as to how peaceful the election would be. Further aggravating these worries is the issue of terrorism perpetuated by the Northern part of the country by the sect, ’Boko-haram’. Thus, the polity was heated up with fear and uncertainty.

Some of the rich Nigerians who could afford travelling abroad to European Nations, started flying out. There was so much exodus of people to the extent that five days before the election, the Muritala  International Airport Lagos, couldn’t cope with crowds of people waiting to travel by air. On the other hand, the middle class travelled from different urban city to their rural settlement in the bid to secure a safer haven for their life. Thus, by Friday, the day prior to the election, Lagos the most populous city in Africa had emitted a large number of her inhabitants to such an extent that its road which was usually characterized by high traffic was very free for motorist to ply.

Eventually, the election day came, some registered Voters couldn’t get accredited because they didn’t get their Permanent Voters Card(PVC); some had their PVC and therefore qualified to vote but they didn’t come out to perform their civic duty either because of security reasons, or because they had registered themselves initially in another polling unit.

 All these foregoing were the major reasons, why out of the 55million electorates in the country, about 30million eventually voted.

General Muhammad Buhari emerged victorious from the poll, and this has gotten most Nigerians ecstatic. Celebrations from all part of the country ravaged many streets in the nation, and at every small group, discussion about these seemingly successful electoral process is being discussed with great enthusiasm.

  

However, the social media no matter how detrimental it may appear to be as some popular opinion holds has hugely contributed in my own opinion in the emancipation, drive, mental change and perception of the masses. It has helped as a tool to open the eyes of the public, to monitor the whole process and definitely voice their opinion thereby leading to a successful electoral process.

Furthermore, while some people exercise fear in the future about the performance of the newly elected candidate, others have dispelled such fear saying, Nigeria is evolving gradually to global practices where electorates have power via the polling booth to install, sustain or change any elected candidates who fail to measure up during their first tenure in office.

Written by Gabriel Tundegold

Tundegold.com