The registration of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on the 31st July, 2013 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headed by Prof. Attahiru Jega has been described as a tonic Nigerians needed to upstage (dislodge) the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which people believe are now complacent in handling the affairs of the country.
Since May 29th 1999 when PDP mounted the saddle of the helm of affairs of Nigeria, it has held sway and refused to step down for any other political party. Political watchers and indeed well-meaning Nigerians have described the 14 years of the party’s reign in the country as that of torturous, bleak and unprogressive experience in the nation’s history.
This group or school of thought has hinged its reasons on the rate of corruption, unemployment, power outage, insecurity and just name it.
The worst being that elections in the country have not been free and fair since 1999.
Thanks to the National Assembly that recently voted in favour of abolishing state electoral commissions during the recent constitution amendment exercise.
For years so many state governors have refused to conduct local government elections, notable amongst them is Abia State governor, Theodore Orji who prefers to operate with hand-picked transition council chairmen since he assumed office as the chief executive of that state. The reason is not far-fetched as it is an open secret that he will commit corruption and go unchallenged.
He is banking on those his stooges not to oppose him for any reason.
What we are saying is that these anomalies were possible under one-party system, which the PDP has forced Nigeria to become since 1999.
Their prayer was further made possible by the inability of tiny multi parties in the country to challenge them. And now that another mega party has emerged through the registration of APC, Nigerians can now heave a sigh of relief.
No wonder the myriad of accolades that have heralded the emergence of APC shortly after INEC graciously announced the registration of APC as a political party in Nigeria.
Serving and retired political leaders in and outside Nigeria have hailed the advent of APC and commended INEC for living up to expectation and hearkening to the yearnings of Nigerians who have over the years clamoured for a change or at least an equal option politically.
That is why the advent of APC at this time has been described and seen as well-deserved.
Notable amongst prominent Nigerians who lauded the registration of APC are Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, popularly referred to as IBB, the only military president, the nation has ever produced. To IBB the emergence of APC will make politics more robust in the country.
Mohammed Belgore (SAN) sees the APC’s registration as victory for Nigerians, since according to him, it will bring new dawn to Nigeria’s democratic experiment. To Chief Deji Fasua, the PDP government during these number of years in the country has brought poverty, unemployment, corruption and lack of power to millions of Nigerians. He therefore urged the APC to tackle corruption head-long as soon as it assumes office at the centre, come 2015.
It is no longer news that several governors have hailed the registration of APC and worse still, ten PDP governors have threatened to abandon the ruling party for APC.
What we are saying is that as long as PDP has refused to put its house in order and allow crises to permeate its ranks and bounds, there is no way it can survive the onslaught of a mega opposition party like APC. The party has survived till date because of multiple petty parties that could not hold their own. Now that APC the only mega opposition party in the country since 1999 has emerged there is apprehension that ‘the cookies may crumble’ and why not when Nigerians are getting or are already fed up with the ruling party, which they alleged has taken the people for granted. Otherwise why would members of a ruling party be fighting among themselves, taking Rivers State as a case study. It is unheard of, incredible and ridiculous.
There is no gain-saying that if the trend continues like this, the 2015 election will only usher in a new party and thank God an alternative in the name of APC is here.
We therefore posit that unless the PDP starts now to strategize for 2015, it is possible by all variables that Aso Rock will elude them in 2015. A word they say is enough for the wise. ###
