By Simon Njoku

All eyes are now on Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari and Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Having failed woefully in addressing Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges, President Buhari now has the last opportunity to etch his name in gold for posterity. Saturday’s Presidential election success or failure will determine Buhari’s place in history.
How present and future generations of Nigerians will remember him after eight years in power should be his primary concern right now.
That is why he should leave no stone unturned to ensure that Nigerians’ votes in this election count.
This is a promise Buhari has echoed time without number.
Now, the time has come for him to walk the talk. He has to honour his promise to Nigerians and the international community.
Will he allow his penchant for nepotism and primordial considerations to becloud his sense of judgment once again?
It is common knowledge that the Chairman of the INEC, Yakubu, is his kinsman. Being also his appointee, the fear in many quarters is that the Presidency can influence Yakubu positively or negatively. In other words, Yakubu might dance to the President’s tune to the detriment of the interest of the nation. This is why not a few Nigerians have always clamoured for independent bodies to be entrusted with the responsibilities of appointing the INEC Chairman as well as the Chief Justice of the Federation.
In other countries, this might not constitute a major issue of concern but not in today’s Nigeria.

Nevertheless, recent developments in the polity seem to suggest that the President is determined to keep his promise of a free, fair and credible election. For instance, previous elections conducted by INEC in states like Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun have been adjudged to be free, fair and credible, with popular choices emerging winners. So far so good. Nobody has accused Buhari of meddling in these elections. Similarly, INEC has received praises for its neutrality and peaceful conduct of the elections. It has also been roundly commended for successful execution of programmes
leading up to the Presidential elections.
However, unlike the other elections, the Presidential election is a different ball game because the stakes are high.
It is usually marred by high level of electoral malpractices such as ballot box snatching, ballot box stuffing, multiple voting, under age voting, vote buying, thuggery and other forms of violence.
But, in tune with the President’s assurance that Nigerians’ votes will count in this election, INEC has introduced electronic voting using the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System).
The electronic voting system is expected to eliminate the identified electoral malpractices. For vote buying, the recent measure introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which saw to the redesign and introduction of new Naira notes, is intended to address the issue.

Yet, all these measures, many fear, could be skewed in favour of an anointed candidate. That is why Buhari and Yakubu have to come out clearly and strongly declare their neutrality in this election in order to sustain the interest and confidence of all stakeholders in the project.
INEC should be transparent in the conduct of this election at all levels, ensuring that child voters and aliens that hold Nigerian voter cards are deleted from the system.
Besides, its records should be open for inspection by accredited bodies or election observers/monitors.

Indeed, the success or failure of this election rests squarely on the shoulders of President Muhammad Buhari and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC, Chairman. They have all that is needed to deliver a free, fair and credible election to Nigerians, talk of human resources as well as the instruments for the enforcement of law and order. Buhari should aim to surpass the record set by former President Good luck Ebele Jonathan who till date enjoys the singular honour of organizing the most free, fair, peaceful and credible Presidential election in the country. Besides, successful conduct of this election guarantees Buhari a place of honour in the global hall of fame which rewards distinguished leaders and former heads of democracies with international assignments on retirement. Nigerian former leaders Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdusalam Abubakar and Jonathan already enjoy such privileges. Whether Buhari and Yakubu will go for glory or infamy will be determined by the outcome of the February 25, 2023, Presidential and National Assembly elections. One cannot but urge Buhari and Yakubu to go for glory and avoid infamy.

Simon Njoku, Feb. 2023.