The plea that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as presently constituted had no powers to conduct any election in Nigeria, was brought before a Federal High Court by the Action Congress (AC), 'far back' December 2009. The court's Justice Mohammed Liman found it most convenient to grant the plea two days before the Anambra  gubernatorial election. INEC promptly replied that it did not receive the court's judgement, hence such judgement would not affect the conduct and outcome of the Anambra gubernatorial election. AC's candidate for the election, Chris Ngige, participated full blast in the poll.

INEC numbered the ballot papers. Those who stole ballot papers and boxes discovered at the long run that they had engaged in futile exercises. Unrepentant election fraudsters sprayed money to sway voters to vote contrary to their consciences. People simply pocketed their money and turned around to vote according to their consciences. Above all, 'big men's movements were closely monitored. INEC boss had earlier warned them to remain 'big men' in their homes on election day. The percentage of registered voters that succeeded in casting their votes was not as much as expected due to INEC's  administrative hiccups; people loudly complained and condemned that but did not largely descend to violent reactions in protest.

Unusually, groups and people have been having kind words for Maurice Iwu's INEC since the election and its outcome. Fewer people abused INEC and its top hierarchy as obtained in the past after each election. Among the members of the cyber community who normally constituted the most virulent assailants of INEC and its leadership, the derogatory phrase  - 'iwuruwuru,' - (an acronym coined to denounce foul play during the past elections conducted by Iwu-led INEC) was scarcely employed by bloggers discussing the outcome of the election this time.

Above all, the ruling party, the PDP unarguably presented  one of the best candidates for the contest, but no sooner was the election results announced than the party's top-most hierarchy led by Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the election in which the party's candidate lost. You began to doubt you were in Nigeria. You could believe the party in  position of power in the country was beginning to jettison the 'do-or-die' spirit regarding winning elections. Or that pundits' predictions that midway  the ruling party could withdraw the rug from the feet of its candidate given the discordant tones that emanated during the party's state primaries had come to pass? 

The incumbent governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi of All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) won the election handsomely with 97,843 votes compared to his closest rival, Chris Ngige of AC, with 60,240 votes. Obi's die-hard opponents attributed his victory to incumbency factor and the larger-than-life shadows of Ikemba Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Ojukwu had earlier pleaded with the people of Anambra state to pay him 'the last respect' through returning Peter Obi to Government House, Awka. The Ikemba, a few months ago had threatened fire and brimstone if INEC through any unjust reasons denied Peter Obi a chance on the ballot. Alas, long before the votes were tallied, a smiling Ikemba was among the first party leaders to shower kind words for INEC for its good conduct of the election. Indeed, time flies.

But there are indications that neither Ikemba's shadows nor incumbency factor was very much instrumental to Obi's victory at the poll. Many believe Obi's satisfactory performance during his first term in office did the show. If this is the case, Anambra state has beamed a message to the rest of Nigeria. And the message is: living up to the electorate's aspirations is the only ticket to win elections.

Perhaps, less than fifty percent of eligible voters in Anambra state voted in that election, but from Nigeria's standard, that may not be enough to query the validity of the result.

Only one person is expected to govern Anambra state at any time. Therefore, rather than resorting to any other measures to upset the people's verdict in this election, and unarguably, compromise the state's development in the process, those that contested alongside Peter Obi are expected to give him a chance to continue to pilot the affairs of the state for the next four years. Mr. Obi, on the other hand, must not regard his ex-opponents as outright losers.

Anambra state is among the most politically volatile states in Nigeria. But so far the predictions of doomsday sayers have not come to pass. Instead, the people of the state appear, to have set a new milestone for peaceful elections in Nigeria. All things being equal.