2015: Why Professor Jega Must Go ––Buhari, Akande, Tinubu

Police barricade on their way and the sun blazing above, All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders marched on the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja on Thursday.

Leading the way were former Head of State Muhammadu Buhari, APC Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) former chairman Chief Ogbonnaya Onu and many others.

But what exactly is their mission and their demands?
They demanded the cancellation of the November 16 Anambra State governorship election, resignation of Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman, and dissolution of the management of the electoral body. In a scene reminiscent of the pro-democracy struggle between 1993 and 1998 during the military era, the leaders trekked for about five kilometrer from the APC National Secretariat in Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja to Zambezi Crescent in Maitama District where INEC is located.

The initial stage of the trek was piloted by Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi and many members of the National Assembly.

The “great trek” was later co-ordinated by a former National Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change, Buba Galadima, an engineer.

But when the procession took off, Gen. Buhari and other top leaders of APC withstood the rigours of standing in an open lorry for the protest march.

Waving brooms – the APC’s symbol – they brought traffic to a standstill for about two hours on the ever-busy Ademola Adetokunbo Street in Wuse II. Revolutionary songs blared from mounted speakers.

Many workers in the business district abandoned offices to identify with the protesters.

They held leaflets and placards with the following inscriptions:
“Anambrarians, Nigerians are with you”; “Anambra Election: Jega, not the INEC Messiah, Resign Now”;
“2015, No hope with Jega”; “No Supplementary Election in Anambra”; “Cancel Anambra Election Now”;
and “Election Fraud Must Stop Now”.

The procession, which started at about 10.30pm, berthed at the INEC headquarters at about 12.03pm.

The situation turned into a battle front with the protesters at one end and combat ready soldiers and policemen at another end. Journalists were left in between.

At the end of the day, their message was passed.