The 2007 general elections, the third to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) since Nigeria’s return to electoral democracy in 1999, marked a watershed in the conduct of elections in the country and a big leap in Nigeria’s democratic process.

The elections effectively broke the cycle of several failed attempts by the country to successfully transfer power from one democratically elected government to another. This historic national achievement acquires greater value and import when considered against the formidable obstacles that needed to be overcome for the polls to be conducted.

There were ceaseless calls for the postponement of the elections, and various attempts were made to achieve that end. Then there was a resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta, promotion of election-related violence in various parts of the country by powerful interest groups, and a litany of litigation aimed at stalling the process. It took courage and determination on the part of the Commission to overcome these challenges.