By David Agabi, Africa’s Printed.
The Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) on 21st January 2024 declared the results of the elections conducted on 20th January 2024 across the 27 Local Government Councils and 312 Wards in the State.
Declaring the results Sunday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the BOSIEC Chairman, Lawan Maina said as empowered by the law under section 10 as the Chief Returning Officer of the State posited that the APC won all the positions so contested.
However, monitoring the election Saturday, AfrcaSPRINT observed a peaceful process with materials arriving at some polling units such as 009, Lamisula Ward, Maiduguri Municipal Council at 8:30 am, accreditation by 9:00, and voting at 9: 30.
Speaking with some party agents across the participating parties including the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) and opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) assert that the election went without rancour, harassment, and intimidation of any kind.
On the part of the voters, our reporters observed a smooth process without any case of double voting, ballot stuffing, or ballot snatching.
The security architecture comprising the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigerian Immigration, and the military were at various strategic positions to ward off miscreants and hoodlums that usually characterized election.
There was the restriction of vehicular movement through roadblocks and closure of business premises all in a bid to give the people room to turn out and perform their civic responsibility without difficulty.
Expectedly, there was no incidence of fighting, protest, or brutality in all the areas covered.
On the part of the elderly and other special persons, some aged people especially women of over 80 years and above turn up for the election to cast their vote, when questioned on why they’re still interested in such affairs, an elderly, Ladi Muhammed Kawu who spoke on behalf of others said they want to bequeath a legacy of fair participation for their unborn generation.
In a random interview with some candidates vying for Chairmanship and Councillor positions across the political divide in the two local governments, Maiduguri Municipal Council and Jere LGA maintained that the exercise was done in accordance with laid down State electoral laws and their party ideals.
Seeking the views of the leaders of political parties that participated in the exercise, AfricaSPRINT among other pressmen conducted a press interview with the Borno State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Hon. Bello Ayuba, who commended BOSIEC and all other stakeholders involved in the smooth electioneering exercise, averring that Borno State is peaceful and calm as against some report that demonizes the State as one chaotic and unstable place.
He expressed joy over the entire process and the calm disposition and good conduct of the people during and after the entire exercise.
The State Chairman used the occasion to thank the Executive Governor, His Excellency Prof Babagana Umara Zulum in particular, and his government for his steadfastness, benevolence, and quest to fulfill his promises of bettering the lives of the Borno people by conducting the Council polls which is very close and dear to the grassroots.
Speaking further, the APC Chieftain while acknowledging that in every context there must be a winner and loser called on the winners to be magnanimous in victory and losers to accept their fate noting that the voice and wishes of the people should be respected.
“Borno, according to some people is a kind of place that people cannot move even in the town, but you’ve come here and you have seen things for yourself, you have gone around monitoring the election, no rancour, no intimidation, there’s peace and the people are very friendly, honestly, so, you’re in the right place”
On the expectation of the winners, the Borno State party Chairman urged all that wins the election to meet the expectations of government “We will urge all those who win the elections to live up to the expectation of government. His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State is hardworking, if you cannot perform, you cannot even come closer to him, you have to be always upright”
For the incoming Chairmen and Councillors, “it is our hope and expectation that they’ll perform creditably well, we are not saying this or that party is the one that will win the election, whereas as the APC State Chairman I’m pretty sure my party will all the elections”
In regards to how candidates emerge, Hon Ayuba said that concerning his party the APC, the party gave equal opportunity to all the eligible and well-meaning members of the party and all the processes of proper screening, the committee was constituted and aspirants were screened for both chairmanship and councilor position and the end, primaries were conducted to elect the candidates, so we did everything according to law and we hope that the third tier of government which is the local government will be given proper attention” he concluded.
RECOMMENDATION
My experience in the field point to the fact that People With Disabilities such as cripples, the blind, and Albinos among others were not very visible, therefore I recommend the Government of Borno State in general and Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) should create more awareness or fine-tune a way of accommodating them properly in the coming elections.
