Nigeria: A Headache Fit for a King

21 February 2019
opinion

This Saturday February 23, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would have an opportunity to redeem himself. On Saturday last week, while we were preparing to cast our votes in the presidential election, we were confronted with the news that Yakubu had announced a postponement. Though we have had postponements before, this was the first time it was happening on an election day. We could only vent our angers on the indifferent and irreverent face of our television screen. This Saturday, he must be ready for the assignment. Nigerians are ready for him.

Nigeria is a vast and complex country from the Sahel-Savanah of the North to the swamp of potopoto Delta. On Election Day, INEC and its agents are expected to reach all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja and the 774 local governments. They would travel by air, train, Lorries, boats, donkeys, camels and on foot. For us in Ekiti State, the electoral materials would arrive often by air to the Akure Airport in neighbouring Ondo State where the essential materials would be kept with the branch of the Central Bank. By Friday, the materials would be brought by road to Ado, the capital of Ekiti State from where it would be distributed to the 16 local governments. Materials brought from Ado-Ekiti for the Ekiti West local government would be taken to Aramoko, the local government headquarters from where it would find its ways to Erio, Okemesi, Ido Ile, Erinjinyan, Ikogosi, Ajindo and other settlements.

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