Factors that shaped Benue elections

The April 2011 general elections are over, but the ripples of the election and its after-effect would linger on for a long time to come. Taking a holistic view of the whole process, one cannot but give kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for living up to the expectation of Nigerians, who expected so much from the electoral umpire, in spite of the initial hiccups and teething problems.
In Benue State, the people.’s expectations were two-fold. With the entrance of the party with the broom, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the state was divided into two major groups: those advocating for change and those comfortable with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This division cut across different interest groups, the elites, civil servants, youths, market traders, transporters and religious groups, among others. The two divides had their reasons why they will either vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or ACN. Though the PDP won most of all the elections in the state, nicking two senatorial seats, eight federal constituencies, 20 state House of Assembly slots and to crown it all, the governorship seat with 590,756 votes as against its rival ACN, which clinched one senatorial seat. The ACN also won three federal constituencies and eight state Assembly slots. It was runner-up in the governorship election, polling 499,313 votes.

However, the outcome of the National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections, remain bone of contention, with the ACN already at the tribunal to challenge the PDP victories. However, many factors contributed to the victory of the ruling PDP.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) factor
The state REC in Benue State, Nasir Ayilara, was expected to remain neutral and ensure the smooth conduct of the poll and see to it that the elections were not only free and fair, but also credible. However, political analysts in the Food Basket of the Nation have questioned Ayilara.’s neutrality in the election. He has severally been accused of collaborating with the ruling party to return it to power, saying that it is the PDP who gave him a clean bill of health for doing its bidding.

Consequently, while the electoral process was ongoing, opposition parties, especially, the ACN called for his removal. In a press statement in Makurdi, the state capital, the ACN governorship candidate, Prof. Steve Torkumah Ugbah accused the REC of several electoral misconduct among which are deliberate postponement of North-West senatorial election on the basis of inadequate provision of electoral materials from INEC headquarters, only to discover later that 92 per cent of the materials needed were available and sufficient enough to conduct the election and without any hindrance; collaboration with security agencies to rig the Benue North-East senatorial seat in favour of the PDP, with particular reference to Kastina-Ala, Logo and Ukum local government areas. Another accusation levelled against the REC was the appearance of the logo of a party not participating in the election on the ballot paper and allotted votes.

It was also alleged that though the metropolis were peaceful during the poll, the ruling PDP connived with security agents to perpetuate electoral fraud. The allegation against security operatives took another dimension when it was alleged that election materials were conveyed in coffins in some areas of the state, thus paving the way for massive rigging. To some extent where the security becomes tense, it posed threats or fear in the lives of average electorate who could not come out to exercise their franchise due to what some described as over sensitivity, as some hefty uniformed military personnel paraded streets of some major towns with heavy weapons as if the state was preparing for war.

Politics of cash and carry
Money, in some cases, was alleged to have changed hands in all nooks and crannies of the state few days to the National Assembly and governorship elections. Aspirants for the legislative positions and Governor Gabriel Suswam of the PDP on one hand in the Tiv speaking areas and the Senate President, Senator David Mark, on the other in Idomaland were said to have doled out millions of naira to prosecute elections in various locations, wards and polling booths across the state. It was also alleged that in Konshisha, the home of the former National Chairman of the PDP and now senator-elect on the platform of the party, Barnabas Gemade, votes were said to have been purchased for N2,000 per vote in favour of the PDP.

Violence
Despite the agreement by leaders of all participating political parties in the state before the law enforcement agencies to stamp out all forms of violence during and after the elections, their followers turned deaf ears to the plea to avoid violence. Cases of violence were reported in various areas of the state. In Logo, the party agent for Senator Joseph Akaagerger, the ACN senatorial candidate, the late Aondongu Abuku was brutally killed in cold blood by political thugs. PDP senator-elect, Gemade.’s aide was in turn also killed in the same manner in Tse-Agberagba, the Konshisha Local Government Area headquarters.Indeed, blood spilled in Gboko and property worth millions of naira destroyed when an attempted assassination was made by suspected PDP thugs on ACN chieftain and former council chairman, Hon. Simon Abua. Benue South, the senatorial district of Senate President Mark, was not exempted from violence as attacks and counters attack from both the PDP and ACN became rampant before and during the elections.

Individual personalities
Key players in Benue politics during the 2011 general elections also played vital roles in the outcome of the poll. These individuals include: former governor of the state, Senator George Akume, retired General Lawrence Onoja, Alhaji Usman Abubakar and Senator Joseph Akaagerger, all chieftains of the ACN, while from the PDP are the incumbent governor, Suswam, Mark and Gemade. These individuals played vital roles during the just concluded polls. Akume, by people.’s assessment did not only feed Benue people from his personal resources but brought many to limelight including Governor Suswam. This was responsible for his large followership and that of his party. The Onojas and Usmans, who controlled the Benue South from the strong ACN opposition, were not only heavyweights but men that could have at least delivered their constituencies. Equally, Senator Akaagerger, with military training did not easily lose to Gemade. From the ruling PDP, many still considered Governor Suswam to have moved Benue forward in his first fouryear term. With government machinery and incumbent factor, Suswam found it easier to penetrate Benue than his opponents from the other political parties, especially the ACN that is bent on challenging his victory.

Mark till date remains one of the pillars of Benue politics. As number three citizen of the country, Mark is believed by many to have set record of stability at the Senate that no Senate President has ever done. This came to bear with votes cast in his area as his influence no doubt determined the overall results in his area.

Party influence
For 12 years, the PDP has been the dominant party in the state, and has been in charge of the state since the beginning of the present democratisation process. This factor has made it impossible for any other party to overthrow it in the governance of the state. In its efforts to take over the control of the state, the ACN brought an American-trained professor of entrepreneurship and communication, whom they believe will use his wealth of experience, having spent 37 years in an enlightened and one of the most developed societies, to cause changes that Benue people yearn for. But majority of the people still hold the view that belonging to the mainstream of government remains the best option for the state. Particularly, some privileged politicians in the ruling PDP did everything possible to sell that idea to the people of the state.

After the election
The ruling party has given the green light to the aggrieved parties to lodge their complaints at the election petition tribunal in conformity with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010. The REC also made allusion to this fact when he announced the result of the governorship election. The ACN has since resolved to contest the result of the governorship election at the tribunal to determine the true winner of the poll. The party has rejected the result which returned Suswam as governor, saying that it won the election, and not the PDP. To this end, the party.’s flag bearer, Ugbah has refused to succumb to call for him to concede victory to Suswam.
On 29 May 2011 Governor Suswam was sworn in as the Governor of Benue State for another 4 years.

HENRY IYORKASE