The nation's political climate may be set for yet another dilemma if the Action Congress (AC) makes good its promise, to boycott future elections.

AC had recently announced that the party had decided to boycott future rerun elections until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is reconstituted. In a statement signed by AC's National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohamed it stated in strong terms that the party would not take part in any elections until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is overhauled and Prof Maurice Iwu removed as head of the commission.

The party, he said, took the stand in the light of what it called "skewed results" of the recent re-run elections in Adamawa and Kogi states. AC lamented that the country had been systematically railroaded into the comity of one-party states, where only one dominant party has to win all elections at all costs.

The party had alleged that, in spite of the determined efforts by the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will never allow a free and fair election ' for as long as INEC remains its parastatal and Prof Iwu and his cohorts remain in charge."

AC's suggestion is that it would be desirable if all opposition parties can come together to tackle the rampaging bull that the PDP has become, asserting that, "in the absence of that, they cannot and will not continue to be a part of the mockery that elections have become under the PDP-led federal government."

The Party stated unequivocally, "We have therefore decided not to participate in any election in this country until INEC is reconstituted with men and women of honour and until there are guarantees that elections can be held in a free and fair atmosphere. What we advise henceforth is for the PDP to compile the names of its candidates for any election and then forward such names to INEC for endorsement. The formality of having people vote should henceforth be done away with, because votes don't count in these climes anymore."

Even before the official declaration of AC's recent position, former National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, who is now a chieftain of the party Chief Audu Ogbe, had earlier shot the first salvo. He had revealed that it was no longer worth it to participate in future elections, as the people's votes were no longer respected.

Ogbe had condemned in strong terms the re-run elections that have been conducted in some states insisting that they were neither free nor fair. Aggrieved by what he called the manipulation of the electoral process he disclosed that his party (AC) 'will not participate in any future elections in the country because the political environment is not conducive for free and fair elections'. Insisting that ' There is no point being lured into an election when the result had been predetermined the night before the election'

Other damning allegations raised by Ogbe was that "There was no way any party in Nigeria can win an election with the Peoples Democratic Party controlling all the apparatus of state with INEC, headed by Prof Maurice Iwu as its appendage."

The allegations as have been revealed appears weighty but most Nigerians are divided on the use of boycott as a weapon in view of the nascent democracy that is evolving in the country.

For Mr Festus Keyamo, legal practitioner and human rights activist, the position of AC is well taken and in order. He believes that the country has reached to an alarming level in its destruction through political manipulation by one party that has held the entire country hostage. He said Nigerians couldn't continue to wait and watch the destruction of the polity by a group that does not mean well for the progress and development of the society.

'I support the boycott position of the Action Congress. There is no use to continue in an election that is massively rigged. The Peoples Democratic Party has perfected the rigging that no other party can dare to make impact, so what is the rational in participating' he queried.

The activist had disclosed that the fact that it appeared as if there was no protest about the massive rigging that took place during the re-run elections was because the ruling Party had perfected all rigging strategies with its appendage INEC.

'If the PDP thinks they can go ahead alone during election let them go ahead and we will see later what happens'. he threatened.

But chairman of, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Olapade Agoro, is of the opinion that caution must be taken in using boycott as a weapon especially in a democracy like ours. He advised that the Action Congress ought to give a second thought to their decision. Agoro, who is also leader of the National Action Council (NAC), went into memory lane to advise AC not to proscribe their political memory especially as it concerns our nation. He urged them to at all time remember the advice of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, that boycotting elections was not the best option for any political party, especially as a means of seeking political redress.

Agoro had encouraged AC to return to the battlefield and fight until those whom he described as 'the PDPmega-thieves' were defeated.

According to him "Chief Awolowo made us to realise that boycotting elections is not a good option; we should fight them until they are defeated. The Action Congress is coming to realization too late, but it should remain in the electoral struggle and fight against the PDP mega thieves; if you boycott they win and if you don't they have already won."

"AC is a leader in the opposition, and I mean a realistic opposition; the CNPP will back the AC up to the very highest level. Rather than boycott the elections, the party should go to court .AC has the wherewithal to pursue a good case to the highest level, and whenever there are signs of suffering in the land or whenever there is the need to give the robbers in power a good fight, CNPP will give full support but boycotting elections would give the ruling party opportunity to claim landslide victory'. Agoro submitted.

Former Senate President Dr Ken Nnamani also said that the option of a boycott was not the best solution against the backdrop of the nations growing democracy. He noted that the nations democracy cannot survive when there is no opposition.

"Strictly speaking our democracy cannot survive with only one party and I think we must do everything within our power to encourage other parties to get stronger and form viable opposition' he noted.

Nnamani urged AC to support electoral reform that will ensure that democratic structures were strengthened as well as restore more confidence in electoral practice.

'For me I support two or three political parties. It is not necessary having very weak political parties that cannot stand the test of time' he asserted

The politician noted that there was the need to ensure confidence in the electoral process if the nation must maintain political stability.

"Democracy survives better when there is healthy competition among political parties and that is what we must ensure that we promote, we must not encourage election boycott. It is not good for our development. We should work on electoral reform that will guarantee greater confidence political parties and voters' he counselled.

Chief Chekwas Okorie, former Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said AC's threat was a reflection of political immaturity on the party leadership. He said that election boycott had never yielded any result in Nigeria.

Okorie explained that what the nation needs at this point in time, is an electoral reform that will correct the corrupted system. AC's statement to boycott future election's will not change anything, it is a wrong approach ' he asserted.

Okorie asserted that 'if you like bring pastor Bankole or sheik Abubakar or one chief Ikechukwu they will not do better until the system is corrected through an electoral reform that can guarantee fairness to all'.

Andy Ike-Ezeani the Media Director for INEC said it is wrong for anybody to blame the commission of electoral manipulation. He said that INEC has been fair despite minor shortcomings as a developing democracy. Commenting on the AC's condemnation of election in Adamawa State, he said that 'INEC is very sure that if AC and the former vice-president Abubakar Atiku had won the election, they would have commended the outcome' adding that 'The commission (INEC) cannot change the wishes of the people just because AC and Abubakar should be made happy'

According to Ezeani 'the reaction reflects the problem with Nigeria politician. The same former vice-president had commended every facet of the election on the day of the poll, but when he saw the outcome, he made a U-turn. It is really sad the way we play our politics'.

In their submission, the West African Association of Political Parties (WAAPP) said the threat of election boycott would be counterproductive. WAAPP urged AC to work towards the establishment of an electoral system conducive for free and fair election, rather than threatening to boycott future polls on account of its grievance.

Perry Opara, President of the Association had told journalists in Lagos that the problems with the 2007 polls - and the bye-elections so far conducted - were a product of systemic failures and that continued criticisms of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was baseless.

"We are shocked at the comments of the AC to the effect that it would boycott future elections. That is not the solution. Boycott has never been effective in our political history, so the threat is very counterproductive. WAAP frowns at such statement as it is capable of derailing our democracy," he warned.

Opara, who is also the National Chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), counselled that AC should join others to overhaul the process that has made money and incumbency the major factors that determine electoral victory in Nigeria instead of manifestoes offered by each of the contending parties.

"Objective analysis of the 2007 elections and those before them show that the problem is with the electoral system and the environment. There is absolutely no problem with Maurice Iwu, INEC chairman. If the system is right, if we get the necessary mechanics in place, anybody would perform greatly as INEC chairman. But as it is, it can only get worse until correct things are done. he asserted, submitting further that "Iwu does not appoint any of his national commissioners and resident commissioners who are the real power-brokers in the INEC. And for the benefit of doubt, Iwu has no disciplinary powers; he can only deploy any erring officers. We must ensure a system that takes away the funding of INEC and appointment of its key officers from the grip of Mr. President who is a member of a political party. We must also stop a culture of the INEC begging the Presidency for funds to execute its project."

Urging AC to stop calling for reconstitution of INEC and removal of Iwu, a tenured officer, Opara advised, "it is important to underscore the fact that a party's performance in election has absolutely nothing to do with the composition of an electoral body. Any attempt to blame an electoral body for a misfortune in an election is diversionary and anti-democratic. Leaders should play politics with a spirit of sportsmanship".

Already the Governorship election for Sokoto and Bayelsa states have been slated for May 24 and whether AC will implement their threat is in the womb of time.