IGP, Disarm Ikedi Ohakim And Others, Before Democracy Takes Leave Of Nigeria

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After all the huge monetary expenditure and nervous debates to get it right in the 2011 elections, imagine this scenario: early morning on the election day(s) proper, pot-bellied men and women in police uniform leading legions of other kill-and-go uniformed men and women armed to the teeth are deployed to every nook and cranny of the area where election is taking place.

                                          

They drive menacingly on the streets in vehicles some of which bear police insignia; they shoot randomly into the air, their automatic rifles pointing in an intimidating manner towards early voters trekking to the polling booths, the awed voters escape to their respective homes and spread information that the streets are no-go areas. However, a few dare-the-devil voters and known supporters of the incumbent or protégé candidate of the out-going office holder still manage to cast their ballots. At the end of the day at the local INEC headquarters, a sea of uniformed men and women polices the counting of votes; and the locality's Resident Electoral Commissioner declares the incumbent or protégé candidate victorious in the election. The Commissioner and security boss in the state mount the rostrum and beating their chests declare that the election was most peaceful, free and fair. Thenceforth, more security operatives are unleashed on all over the place to ensure protests do not take place. The so-called losers are now left with no other option than to contest the election's outcome in Nigeria's law courts. Election petition on the conduct of the election is brought before the court, the best of Nigeria's senior advocates line up behind the incumbent winner or crony of the out-going office holder. Curtain closes!

Unless measures are taken to preclude the above scenario in the 2011 elections, it may play out in most of Nigeria's 36 states.

IGP, Disarm Ikedi Ohakim And Others, Before Democracy  Takes Leave Of Nigeria