ARE WE FATED TO PDP OR APC?

The spate of defections from one political party to the other, especially from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC, and vice versa, according to many political analysts is said to be good for the politics of Nigeria today, the question also coming to bare is that how will the APC be able to field candidates for various political seats come 2015 noting that there are so many politically desperate gladiators in their arena. Another question is that how will the ruling PDP ensure that they do not lose their seats come 2015. The aggrieved members of the PDP who defected to the APC are alleged to be the same class perpetuating the snag within the PDP; many Nigerians have said that this class of defectors will be the catalyst of crisis in the newly formed APC, it is also likened to the case of a product changing its brand and not its content, the difference is the same.

Many Nigerian have criticized the national  and economic growth under the ruling PDP for about 15 years, the internal democracy and series of open letters by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR to the incumbent revealed the state of disharmony within PDP. Responses to OBJ’s letter unanimously iterated the fact that the writer is guilty of the same allegations stated in his letters, responses from the Presidency and issues between OBJ and PDP big wigs shows that the former president was neither a saint judging from the stench of corruption during his administrations. The removal or subliminally, forced resignation of the erstwhile PDP chairman, Alhajhi Bamaga Tukur is a confirmation that the internal implosion within the PDP is unequivocal, the big question now is “Will APC be the credible alternative? There is seemingly a fresh air of relief for PDP as the new National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu is set to steer the party’s ship through the boisterous wind of defections and reconcile aggrieved party members in an effort to strengthen the party before 2015 elections, this tasks seems to be herculean as 11 Senators have also cross-carpeted to the APC with speculations of more to decamp. PDP Members in House of Representative, lead by Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande Adeola  requested the National Chairman to grant them automatic tickets in 2015 as an incentive for not defecting from the Party, however, the PDP Chairman have stated that there will be no automatic tickets for members as internal democracy will be followed through primaries.  

Mu'Azu

The coming together of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, CPC, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC to form the biggest merger ever in Nigeria, the All Progressive Congress, APC, which was finally registered in July 2013 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is set to be a revolutionary move to salvage Nigeria’s democracy from being a mono-party lead country. The APC is not; however, immune from internal crisis, recent cases in north and south–west of Nigeria over territorial leadership of the party sends the wrong signals to Nigerian electorate. The same set of politicians changing their political togas for another does not seem to have any serious significance to the objective of transforming the lives of the masses rather than seeking political relevance. The issue that bothers Nigerians today is the fact that APC is yet to come out with a clear itemized agenda for Nigerians. Rather they seem to have concentrated more in exhausting media time and spaces to criticize the ruling PDP. The APC should lay a formidable foundation to educate the electorate on their achievable schema for Nigerians come 2015 if given the golden mandate.

There is no doubt the PDP and APC can boast of some of their Governors doing well in their respective states, other minority parties such as Labour Party, LP and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, can also boast of the same as well as. But the major battle line was drawn since the merger plans for the APC began, with the prolonged registration of the APC alleged to be influenced by the PDP in connivance with INEC, sealing off of the provisional APC Secretariat in Abuja, to the mud-spattered fight between PDP Helmsman, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.  This predicted fight between the two major parties took a new dimension when APC directed its members in the National Assembly to frustrate the passage bills initiated by the PDP which includes 2014 Budget, confirmation of the newly appointed service chiefs as well as the screening of prospective ministers until tranquility is restored in Rivers State. Opinions from Nigerians defer on this issue, some stated that such moves will strengthen our democracy as practiced in advanced country which is considered to be healthy rivalry; some claim it is an act of sabotage and an act of insensitivity towards the plight of the people of Nigeria, either way, both parties have their vested interest in directing governance in Nigeria. The questioning of Mallam Nasir El Rufai, an APC chieftain on alleged incendiary statements by the State Security Services, SSS is debatable when considering statements made by some supporters of Mr. President in time past on PDP’s continuation to rule Nigeria .

Many Nigerians have come out to criticize the merger to be parading recycled class of politicians on one hand and also condemn the ruling PDP on the other. It is ironic that Nigerians who called for a strong opposition party are also criticizing it, these leads me to ask Nigerians if we are bound to either vote APC or PDP come 2015?

There are other parties duly registered by INEC, for credible Nigerians progressive in ideology and driven by the passion for a democratic change come 2015, now is the opportunity for such groups and individuals to identify themselves and play an active role in Nigeria’s politics by contesting or forming another merger if they feel the political strength of their party is not strong enough to win the mandate, instead of critiquing the PDP and APC yet complaining being passive in politics.

My hope is that in 2015, we will have to choose the best among the best and not the lesser of the evils for any seat of power in Nigeria as I hope we have a credible and LOVEly election come February 14, 2015 as it coincides with St. Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love.