Igbo, as a case study in this thesis, will better buttress the truncation of vote counting in Nigeria. While the natural dictates of democracy empowers the electorate with their votes, the reverse is always the case in Nigeria. The intrepidity with which the citizenry, and the Igbo in particular have been undermined, really underscored the fraud that comes up each time as elections in Nigeria. Under normal circumstances, the PDP would have known that a group such as that, with registered voters across the length and breadth of Nigeria, is a force to be embraced jealously.

 

But with democracy taking Its roots, the neglect and "containment" of such a majority ethnic group, will be difficult, if not impossible. Otherwise, future elections would only continue to expose what usually appear as a lack of election management on the surface, but which beneath It, lies an Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder. A condition which the Nigerian state has unnecessarily inflicted on herself, trying to run away from one of her own. 

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Sadly, the policy of twisting the rule among other reasons, for the sake of one group, has in effect, affected the universal suffrage of other groups. In a bid to avoid the Igbo prominence, Its reverse effect has resulted in a pathological electoral fraud, whose multiplier effect is the inability of the innocent Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and the mass Nigerian electorate to express their will as to the choice of who will lead them. 

 

It will be recalled that the Hausa/Fulani, who had had no cause to protest in previous Presidential victories of their kinsmen have began to do so. This can be seen in the restiveness of  Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Gen. Buhari,  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar etc...

 

 And the message behind these political figures' protests vis-àvis the North,  is that they are done with the mentality of  "once-it-is-a Hausa-Fulani" everything is okay. Yes, they would want the Presidency, but through a transparent mechanism. In other words, they are saying that the votes of their people and other Nigerians MUST count as well. Thus, recent calls by their traditional leaders to stop the legal protests against Yar' Adua have been summarily dismissed as medieval and un-progressive.. 

 

The announcement of a 22 man electoral reform panel  was a step in the right direction. Though, pundits and the opposition have continued to argue that Mr.Yar' Adua has no moral leverage to do so, and that the announcement was a diversionary tactic. In fact, their insinuations can not be dismissed. Yar' Adua emerged Nigeria's President through a globally-observed flawed process. And there is the fear that he may not even implement a full recommendation of such a panel. Something that will see the PDP's "winning magic" obliterated.

 

 

But my take in the argument is that once Nigerians, and the opposition were satisfied  with the caliber of the members of the panel, and above all, their ability to make far reaching recommendations, they should be giving the chance. It is after all a process, independent of the election petitions pending in the courts against Yar' Adua..

 

The salient nature of this sort of panel cannot be over emphasized, as a full implementation of their eventual recommendations would be revolutionary. It will strategically imply that ethnic and political groups would reach out one another based, among other factors, on  numerical strength. And taking due cognizance of the respect accorded to minorities. A situation that is currently dictating the realignment in the mini-Nigerian state of Lagos.

 

 It further means that If I have to ask some one to join me on a ticket, I would have first and foremost, weighed the strength of his electorate, as against the current norm of relying on the mechanics of fraud to fix the out-come of elections.

 

It is assumed that the three most prominent figures of the panel--Justice Muhammadu Uwais, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, NBA President, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and of course their colleagues, have staked their integrity in the project.They are expected to rebuff any interference which may impede their ability to recommend sweeping changes in the way elections are conducted in the country. And in addition to these caliber of men, the like of Col. Abubakar Umar (Rtd) should have also made the list.

 

I must say that Olisa Agbokoba, with his impressive record on Civil Rights activism, knows too well that he must quickly disengage, in an event of external interference in their deliberations. The E.U. recommendations is a piece of information that would also be valuable to the members of this panel.

 

As Nigerians look forward to the 2011 elections, including the current petitions, It is hoped that their votes will finally count. Much as they anticipate a true independent electoral body

certified by all stake holders.

 

Chapters of Ohaneze Ndigbo in the seven Igbo-speaking state capitals, should embrace this development. Something that could bring to an end the imposition of leaders on them.