The praise by Governor Soludo on the performance of INEC will definitely resonate positively with most Nigerians who have always wanted transparency and effectiveness in elections. A fair and peaceful election in a political arena where alleged rigging and logistical problems and voter intimidation are the order of the day is a refreshing change of direction.
The seamless polls in Anambra awaken voters’ ‘belief in the might of the ballot and slow the development of democratic institutions in Nigeria. It also indicates that the moment in which leadership, institutions, and citizens are on the same page, they can be able to hold credible elections.
The words of Soludo, thus, go deeper than the expression of gratitude; it is more of a yearning for an electoral system that functions and a nation whereby a win is secured not through manipulation but through good performance.
Nevertheless, the Nigerians will hope that this success story in Anambra can be emulated in other places. INEC needs to capitalize on this momentum by institutionalizing best practices in timely logistics, transparency in collating elections, and making good use of technology so that confidence in elections can no longer be a regional exception but a national reality.
Political leaders have been taught a clear lesson that credible elections enhance deepening of legitimacy and legitimacy enhances governance.
Nigerian democracy might still have its stable beats, one free, fair, and peaceful election at a time, just like the Anambra experience has.
