Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has promised to ensure the gubernatorial election set to take place in Sokoto state becomes one of the best, if not the best.
"Sokoto election would be the best ever and because of our commitment to free and fair election, we have left no stone unturned," he stated confidently.
He however has one fear.
"Our apprehension in Sokoto State is on the youth who move freely in the street with dangerous weapons like cutlasses and machetes. Please draw the attention of your supporters to this; you must insist that they don't carry weapons during the election and they must conduct themselves within the ambit of the laws," he warned.
He did not fail to announce the success story of the previous elections in his control.
"The election in April was adjudged to be the best in the country but we know that there are some areas that needed to be corrected and since the April elections we have been taking it as a challenge to address the imperfections. From Kogi, Adamawa and Bayelsa states we have noted remarkable improvement," he boasted.
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) would beg to disagree with him, however. Elections conducted in the three states he mentioned have been seriously contested by the party, who would always suspect foul play. All these are what Jega wants to get rid of, anyway.
My only fear is Jega's only fear. With youths wielding sticks and objects, ready to pelt anyone with them, there is bound to be trouble, even if the elections turn out free and fair. Now that it has been said, the security operatives would not claim they are unaware of this.