You witnessed the campaigns that preceded a local government election in your area in which the favourite candidate was defeated. Give a vivid account of th...

Answer Details

Model answer: Account of a local government election (before, during and after), explaining why the favourite candidate lost.

This is a narrative/descriptive account addressed to friends. It should be organised clearly into the three stages and give reasons for the defeat.

My friends, the local government election in our area was one of the most dramatic events I have ever witnessed, and I want to give you a vivid account of all that happened before, during and after it.

Before the election, the whole area was alive with campaigning. Posters covered every wall, loudspeakers blared from morning till night, and rallies were held in market squares and school fields. The favourite, Chief Danladi, was a wealthy and popular man who drew the largest crowds. He shared money, rice and branded shirts, and everyone assumed his victory was certain. His main rival, Mr. Okoro, was less known and far less rich, but he moved quietly from house to house, listening to people's complaints about bad roads, poor schools and unemployment, and promising practical solutions.

On the day of the election, voters trooped out early and stood patiently in long queues under the hot sun. Party agents watched the ballot boxes like hawks, and police officers kept order. There were a few tense moments when supporters of the two camps exchanged hot words, but voting went on peacefully. As counting began that evening, an anxious silence fell over the crowd gathered at the collation centre.

After the results were announced, there was uproar. To the shock of nearly everyone, Mr. Okoro had defeated the mighty Chief Danladi. The chief's supporters stood in stunned disbelief, while Okoro's few but loyal followers erupted in wild jubilation, singing and dancing far into the night.

Why did the favourite lose? In my view, several reasons combined against him. First, Chief Danladi relied too heavily on his wealth and grew complacent, believing that money alone would buy votes. Secondly, he took the electorate for granted and made vague promises, while Okoro addressed the people's real problems. Thirdly, many voters had grown tired of empty generosity and were determined to reward a candidate who seemed sincere. Finally, the secret ballot allowed people to collect the chief's gifts yet vote according to their conscience.

The election taught me a lasting lesson: that in a true democracy, the will of the people, and not the weight of a purse, decides who governs.