By Rotimi Fasan
THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party went into the last National Assembly elections that had the effect of a hurricane on its house of cards with a sense of hubris.

So confident was it of itself that when the Independent National Electoral Commission proposed to go ahead with the cancelled April 2 elections within 48 hours, it was the only party that did not object to the new date.

The PDP virtually went to town to proclaim its readiness for the elections anytime, anywhere and against any party that was bold enough to come forward. There was no doubt that the PDP was by its action sending out subtle message that it had no equal in the country.

INEC’s already fragile reputation, if not that of its respected chair, Attahiru Jega, was on the verge of total ruin and its death knell could be heard in the distance. But PDP stood impregnable as the party whose members once swore to rule Nigeria for the next 60 years.

Yet, in what is beginning to look like the greatest turnaround for a public institution in a very long time, INEC would redefine itself within a week, by conducting an election whose integrity is being seen as a sign that Nigeria may be headed in the right direction after all.

The PDP on the other hand seems yet in a stupor having suffered such unexpected loss as to make a big dent in its confidence level, especially in respect of the presidential and governorship elections. Such loss of confidence would manifest in the Party’s calls for talks with opposition parties.

PDP’s dominance has not been completely wiped off but the damage suffered by the party is indicative of its future prospects in Nigeria. If nothing else, the Party now knows it cannot take Nigerians for granted any more.

And considering the calibre of its members humbled in the National Assembly elections in spite of the support of the likes of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who many believe orchestrated PDP’s overwhelming dominance by his do-or-die politics of the 2007 elections- considering the magnitude of their loss, it’s clear the Party is in for a hard time except it retraces its steps.

But one question many Nigerians might have glossed over in their praise of the conduct of the April 9 election is whether that praise is not hinged on the loss suffered by the PDP.

In other words, are PDP’s electoral reversals enough reason to conclude that the election was without stains?

Would the same conclusion have been reached had the PDP maintained or, in fact, extended its tentacles on the political field? Certainly, the high pass mark given INEC’s conduct of the National Assembly election has much to do with the reversals in the fortunes of the PDP.

And perhaps the only reason that was so is the fact that the influence of such domineering individuals like Obasanjo is fading.

That process started shortly after the late President Umar Yar’Adua got to Abuja. Too laidback and certainly lacking the influence necessary for such domineering behaviour, unlike Obasanjo, President Yar’Adua didn’t seek to overturn electoral decisions against members of the PDP.

And judicial officers with powers over electoral matters didn’t have to anticipate his wish in that regard and so, perhaps, didn’t feel pressured to act in favour of the ruling party. In the end defeated members of the PDP started grumbling, as they did as one court after the other handed in decisions that sent a couple of PDP governors out of office after Goodluck Jonathan mounted the saddle.

But that does not mean that the PDP has not rigged or attempted to rig elections since then. Not even in the case of the April 9 election could it be said that rigging was absent as there were media reports of ballot snatching and other unwholesome acts by members of the party.

This is not absolving opposition parties of similar misdemeanour but the PDP, given its dominance of the field, seems to have perfected the act. That such overtly corrupt use of incumbency power has not availed it completely is the reason Nigerians and foreign observers alike have adjudged the last election credible.

Attahiru Jega and other members of INEC deserve their day in the sun as they bask in the eulogies coming their way.

Both winners and losers who have sent out notices of litigation are full of praises for INEC. Many of these praises might be self-serving, designed to win favour with INEC as the battle shifts to the courts in certain cases and in the hope that the electoral body might be led to cancel decisions already announced. While the parties praise Jega and INEC for their integrity, they cast aspersion on one another for their dishonourable behaviour during the election and demand that INEC cancel the election.

That might be the case playing out, not with the PDP this time, but between Dora Akunyili of APGA and Chris Ngige of ACN with regard to the senatorial seat in Anambra Central. Both candidates have at various times been declared winner even as we hear that the election is inconclusive.

In Eboyin State, opposition parties, while praising INEC, demanded that an election won by the PDP candidate be cancelled. INEC must take note of such calls and should not lose sight of its role as an umpire that should be impartial. It would need all the support it can get from non-partisan Nigerians to be able to forge ahead.

In Nigeria, where people do not criticise you to death they praise you to your grave. The thing is to be alert to such destructive criticism or the fulsome praises that are no less dangerous. INEC and Jega must not lose sight of this and should be bold to act in the overall interest of Nigeria.

What the results of the National Assembly election have shown is that the jury is yet out on the governorship and presidential positions currently being controlled by the PDP. Parties thought to be inconsequential to the race might pull some surprises, especially if they could come to some form of understanding with others.

While many Nigerians may not mind a PDP presidency led by Goodluck Jonathan, in the hope that a relatively fresh face from a minority region of Nigeria might bring something new to the table, it is doubtful if many would mourn the exit of many of the governors in the states controlled by the PDP.

Whatever the case may be, INEC cannot afford to go back to the pre-April 2 ways. It should be firm and responsible in the face of gushy praises.