Right from the days of Action Congress of Nigeria, which formed a large chunk of political parties that metamorphosed into today’s All Progressives Congress, approaching election tribunals to seek redresses on the basis of malpractices has become the usual practice of the party. As a matter of fact, it worked for them. The process brought about the changes in governance in Edo, Osun and Ekiti States. Even in Ondo State, the present occupier of Akure’s Alagbaka House, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, was a product of the same process in connivance with the APC national leader, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, when he recovered his mandate from his former boss and governor of the state, late Chief Olusegun Agagu.
It is clear that gains recorded from some of these legal tussles were enormous. At least four states changed power from one party to another through election tribunals and high court pronouncements. In as much as I agreed with the outcome of those legal tussles; efforts must be made to clearly distinguish what constitute a fraudulent elections and otherwise. It is also clear that things are getting better in the country. The elections held recently, though may not be 100 per cent perfect, but there are great improvements. It might not be the freest but at least it is acceptable. The needless approaches of election tribunals in this era might be absolutely ill-conceived, unnecessary and gratuitous.
APC as a party should remember that in a few weeks time, they will be one dictating the pace and calling the shots in the country. Not every election will go their way as witnessed in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Taraba States. The same way everything has never gone the way of their main antagonist, the Peoples Democratic Party during its 16 years of reign, it is on record that up till today, PDP hardly approached tribunal for redresses whenever they lost an election. The moral here is the simple inability of the APC to see that elections will not be won all the time. Large turn-out of people during electioneering campaigns and rallies does not translate to automatic acceptance of the party. Are some of the masses who trooped into the election rallies not doing so due to financial inducement?
The bravery of President Goodluck Jonathan to quickly throw in the towel might be a gimmick for personal repositioning at the global stage, but that does not mean he would not have any case with evidences to present at tribunal if he wishes to. For instance, the issue of over under-aged voting in Kano State was rife, the lacklustre that characterised the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards and all sorts are enough for the president and his party to approach court, they were humbled to accept defeat, if it was the APC that lost the election on March 28, would they do the same? The next level of democracy in Nigeria will not be about voting system as technology is gradually instilling confidence but the ability of players to accept defeat and respect the will of the people instead of using courts for courting controversies.
It is understandable that most of the candidates approaching the tribunals are doing so at personal capacities, the party as an umbrella body can prevail on them to shun the act. The fact is that tribunals and other court cases against declared winners are bemused, diversionary and distractive. Yes, APC thought it should have won state like Taraba; Taraba State may be very close but they need to do more to garner the respect and trust of the people, later, with consistencies, it will be their turn. Also in Akwa Ibom and Rivers, to be candid, it is clear to all that it will be an uphill task to remove PDP in these two states. They are strategically located in the President’s region who are asking their son to continue not minding his shortcomings, not thinking about the effect of his administrative deficiencies on other region, threw all their muscles behind him, recorded over a million votes in some states, of course, the scenario reciprocated itself in the north, Kano states entered close to two million votes and Katsina State with a whooping close to one and half a million votes for his challenger.
The main issue is that APC do not have the required support it thought to have in those states where they lost. They have been outplayed; they should gear-up and prepare to present a formidable opposition in those states as they have done in the federal level for close to two decades. Their actions as strong opposition have yielded huge result. I am not in any form approving the thuggish and other unsavoury behaviours in Rivers but for the purpose of peace and tranquillity, we need to let go. Approaching court for every menial electoral issue is rapidly eroding the confidence of the citizens in them. They should rise up, play the game accordingly; not by abridging the process that brought them up in other areas. If PDP is going to court in all the states they have lost including the federal level, APC will lose focus and their performance may be catastrophic.
Jacob Ogunseye is of the JEDD Centre for Leadership and Direction. He writes from [email protected].