It’s the build up to another general election in Nigeria in which ballot will be casted for Presidential, Gubernatorial – 31 out of 36 states, Houses of Assembly across the federation and election into the national assembly (Parliament).
With barely three months to the first election session, that of the Presidential in February as stated by the election management board, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), several gimmicks and displays have been put up by political bigwigs. The Presidential race has been tagged a three-legged affair with supporters holding brief for who they believe has the advantage of winning and rescuing the nation from acute indebtedness and economic collapse.
A Three-Horse Race
Mr Tinubu, a Yoruba Muslim candidate is the flag bearer of the incumbent ruling party; Mr Atiku, a serial presidential runner has picked probably his last race after the dollarization of his party’s primary, and Mr Obi, whose decamping from the PDP and extensive interviews across notable news channels, has won the heart of many youths so called obidents whose participation in electioneering has dwindled in the past. However, a resurgence is noticed resulting in increased voters’ registration. As I write, I think of the many phases involved in the selection of candidates at the primary level of each political parties, the launching of the campaign committee, the tour across the federation especially in areas considered to be politically relevant to the candidate in question.
Nigeria’s politics is generally characterized by deep-pocketism, dollarization of primaries and nairalisation during campaigns.
Monies are usually kept in stock specifically to influence voters’ choice during election, a move countered by the new electoral law that criminalises vote buying and the new policy of the country’s apex bank on what has been considered abrupt change or redesign of the country’s currency, invalidating the naira notes by January 2023, a month away from the first phase of election. This move has sent ripples across boards leading to many discoveries, investigation and arrest of public officials guilty of hoarding money. According to the CBN director, Mr Godwin Emefiele, more than 80 per cent of the country’s printed money were outside the banks, this he believes has been the measure adopted by kidnappers and criminals to hoard large sums of money.
The APC’S Dilemma
Let me hark back to the rapid development in the political scene. After the ‘Great Confession’ of former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, declaring his birth right to the throne in his native tongue ‘Emi lo kan’ meaning ‘It’s my turn’ certain forces seem to align to ensure he clinched the ticket of his party which he co-founded in 2015 to dislodge the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The All-Progressives Congress (APC) represented by a broom clinched power in 2015 with Mr Buhari as the flagbearer. In his confession, Mr Tinubu ascribed Mr Buhari’s ascension to his ingenuity in canvassing and collapsing structures in his favour while disparaging the Governor of Ogun State, where he made this confession; Dapo Abiodun was chastened for disloyalty. This was nothing short of a ploy against Mr Osinbajo the nation’s Vice President and formerly Attorney-General under Mr Tinubu’s tenure as governor of the commercial capital of the country who also stood to contest the primary. The report of allowing a free ride for northern candidate made the outburst rather have ethnic colouration. Considering in retrospect the suddenness in which the Senate President threw his chest into the race while obtaining the form for Senate using a placeholder drew nationwide criticism and certain suspicion of the activities of the establishment in Nigeria.
Mr Ahmed Lawal, the Senate president is known for his rubber stamp approach to legislative duties especially in the area of obtaining loans, plunging the economy into disarray together with the executive.
Mr Tinubu, a Muslim by faith, eventually won the primaries not without drama of all sort conceivable and proceeded to select a running mate of same religious persuasion, this became another controversial tale many believe will have a stint on his chances of winning, expediency factor we are told necessitated the choice.
Jerry Anietie 