By Chioma Gabriel, Deputy Editor
National legislative elections originally scheduled for last Saturday are taking place today in all but 15 of the 109 Senatorial Districts.

Richard Akinjide

Last Saturday’s postponement was announced hours after the vote was to begin against the backdrop of  widespread organizational  problems, an ominous start to a crucial vote period in Nigeria.

The postponement attracted immediate criticisms  across the world with some critics alleging there was more to it than the public was told. Some said the postponement  would give an unfair advantage to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. There were also the inevitable suggestions of sabotage.

Past elections were been seriously flawed, but the current Nigerian administration has pledged to hold credible, transparent elections using today’s election as a litmus test.

Today’s election the first of three landmark polls this month described as a critical test of whether Nigeria can organise credible polls  after a series of flawed and violent elections.

But the inability of last Saturday’s election to hold has left doubts in the minds of many. Would today’s elections hold or would there be a postponement again as is being speculated in some quarters. Would the discrepancies that came up last Saturday occur again in some quarters? Would the skirmishes amongst opposition political parties be avoided?

Would elections officials and material arrive on time in the  polling centers or would voters come very early and leave very frustrated?  What are politicians and political parties saying about today’s elections? Saturday Vanguard went to town and recorded the views of some politicians.

Chief Richard Akinjide, a top chieftain of the ruling PDP expresses optimism that today’s election would go on.
“I think that Jega  should go ahead by the grace of God. Nigerians  should do away with whatever fear they are experiencing about what happened last Saturday because as far as I’m concerned, elections would hold today.

There is no other way.”

Dr. Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra state and now a senatorial candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, also expresses hope that elections would hold across the country and in Anambra state today.

“Nobody is sure of anything anymore . What they have succeeded in doing is putting us on endless campaigns even when we are not very  sure of today and that is not good for the system. But it doesn’t look like they would postpone it except in some states as is being whispered in many quarters . Let’s just wait and see.”

Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa describes the current uncertainty as one of those things one experiences in life.

“Well, it’s one of the things that many experience occasionally. You plan very well but things may work the other way. Left to me, it may be an act of God. Perhaps, if we had it last week, disastrous things  could have happened. So, let’s not discourage Jega, let’s not scare him by our negative reactions.

Elections would hold today and I don’t believe there would be cause to shift elections again. That’s pessimism and we don’t need that. There won’t be any justification for shifting elections again”.

For Chief Chekwas Okorie, factional national chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, it would be national tragedy if elections don’t hold the second time.

“I have realised Jega was over rated. So many things happened that made me to believe that. He might have  been  a good labour leader but not a good administrator. INEC is an octopus organisation that requires more than Jega could handle.

If the elections don’t hold today, Nigerians would bring down this country. If he shifts it again, it would be disastrous. Some INEC offices were razed in some states last Saturday due to the cancellation of  last week’s elections . So, you can imagine what will happen if it doesn’t hold today.

But my advice is that Nigerians should be patient and  let Jega be the one exposing his own inadequacies because he is clearly overrated. I remember when he was made INEC Chairman, I wrote him 13 good letters but he did not respond to one . And he is having problem with his Commissioners. So, he does not come across as a good administrator but it’s in his own interest that this election holds today.”

Another top chieftain of PDP, Ebenezar Babatope says Jega’s integrity would be at stake if elections fail to hold today.

“We pray it holds. If it doesn’t, it will affect Jega’s integrity and he will resign. I think the problem now is that Jega is not carrying along the REC but he will change his modus operandi now. He has no other choice. Nigerians are clearly disappointed and he should not underestimate that.”

For the one time Political Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, “there are doubts because of discordant tunes. Now, they are saying papers may not be ready in all the states but instead of not holding elections in all the states at once, let the whole thing be shifted. Indeed, what is going on is a monumental failure. The elections must hold in all  the states in the federation the same day.”

In his opinion, former national chairman of PDP and a member of its board of trustees who is also contesting senatorial election in Benue North/East, Barnabas Gemade, “ I expect there would be elections because they would not postponed. INEC would make a difference today. Indeed this is one election that cost me the lives of my people who were shot recently and I pray the elections hold today.”

Alhaji MD Yusuf, former Inspector General of Police, IGP, and member of Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, says he is not confident with what is going on as “there are lots of stories going around. but the onus is on INEC and it’s duty to Nigerians.”

But the chairman of South-South Leaders Forum,  M.T. Mbu says, “Lets wait and see. We cannot know what’s happening but INEC should tell us what’s happening because for now, Nigerians cannot tolerate further postponement.”