“This explains why some people endlessly “win” elections even when nobody truly sees the process. This explains why figures often emerge faster than actual voters. This explains why democracy in some quarters has become nothing more than pre-written mathematics performed before frightened spectators”
What happened today in parts of Abia North under the guise of APC Senatorial primaries would be laughable if it were not such a tragic insult to democracy, decency and the intelligence of the people.
Somewhere deep inside bush paths and lonely farm tracks — far away from communities, party faithful and prying eyes — a strange political theatre unfolded.
A handful of angry looking men and women; probably they’d been kept waiting for too long without food, gathered around an OUK banner pretending to conduct ward primaries.
Not in a town hall.
Not in a party office.
Not before accredited delegates.
But hidden inside what looked more like an abandoned farmland pathway than a democratic venue.
And then came the performance.
The “returning officer” was clearly heard instructing the cameraman in vernacular:
“Let us video as if we are counting… let the man in front move forward…”
And suddenly the magic began.
1… 2… 3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10…11…12…13…14…15…16…17…18
Then from nowhere:
100..!
The immediately to:
150…151…152…153…154…155…156…157…!
Then:
200…201…202…203…204…205…206…207…!
Then:
300…! And immediately jumps to 359…!
At this point another overexcited voice screamed:
“1500!”
Only to be immediately corrected by another voice:
“The leader said 359!”
One would think it was a badly rehearsed village comedy skit.
Unfortunately, this was supposed to be a Senatorial primary election.
This is the tragedy of a political culture that has for years mistaken manipulation for strategy and impunity for intelligence.
This explains why some people endlessly “win” elections even when nobody truly sees the process.
This explains why figures often emerge faster than actual voters.
This explains why democracy in some quarters has become nothing more than pre-written mathematics performed before frightened spectators.
Today’s charade across Abia North exposes the rotten underbelly of a system that believes elections are not to be conducted…
but manufactured.
Yet there is something they still fail to understand:
2027 will not be business as usual.
The people are watching.
The cameras are watching.
History is watching.
And no amount of farm-road arithmetic will stop the rising political consciousness of the people.
Dr. Phillip Nto,
you now have before you what many only whispered about for years.
Evidence.
The question now is simple:
Do you have the balls to confront it? Will you confront it…
or surrender to it?
Because democracy dies not only through rigging…
…but through the silence of those who witnessed the fraud.
Abia North deserves better.
Nigeria deserves better.
Chief Dr. David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex MFR’OON
—Ugo’Ena” Nde Abiriba
