Abdulqadir M. Habeeb, Kaduna
Against all odds, the APC national convention was finally held on March 26. This was in spite of several initial apprehensions from different quarters. Now that the dust has settled, losers are already licking their wounds and searching for a way forward. While some would decide to remain in the party, others might be finding their ways out to look for greener pasture elsewhere. I, meanwhile, congratulate the new National Working Committee led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu and wish them the very best in their tenure.
The national convention is supposed to be a democratic process, but what APC had was far from it. From reports, aside from the national chairmanship position conceded to the president, all other positions were decided by the governors themselves without much recourse to a fair democratic process. What happened was a forced consensus whereby contenders were surreptitiously coerced both behind the scenes and right there on the stage, under the floodlights at the Eagle Square in the Nation’s capital city. I had wished the party showed forth the progressiveness being touted about it.
The agony of youthful aspirants
I gleaned from many youthful aspirants who were initially buoyed by prior pronouncements from party leaders promising support for youth’s participation in party politics. I listened to their struggles and felt the palpable disbelief in how their ambitions flickered out. I saw downheartedness, sorrow and grief. I perceived a loss of hope in the system.
It is always easier to accept defeat when beaten in a fair and free contest than when might is used to subdue. Some would dust themselves up and come back while many would perish the idea of any further participation. Viewed from my lens, that’s a tragedy, that’s not the trajectory of a party building for the future, that’s not progressiveness, rather that’s retrogressive. Indeed, the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Going Forward
In the new electoral act, the bill with Clause 29(1) of the 2022 electoral bill, enjoined each political party to submit its list of candidates to INEC from lawful conduct of primaries not later than 180 days (6 months) before election day. This signifies that primary elections of parties are held earlier than usual. In earnest, major political parties would continue to shop for strong and viable candidates to fly their flags in the upcoming national elections. The dynamics of this electoral cycle are peculiar and interesting. For the first time since 2007, No incumbent would be on the ballot.
Secondly, also raging is the argument regarding rotational presidency between the northern and southern zones of the country, all promises for a tumultuous few months riding to the primaries.
The APC through its newly elected National executives has to manage and heal its house strategically. Any strong, wayward fallout from this convention might drastically polarize it leading up to the national primaries, hence drastically distorting its fortunes in future elections. It is the season of alignment, realignments, and alliances. I wish the party success in uniting its house towards the national primaries and even more at the general elections in 2023. And this for the new party leadership: A stitch in time; they say, saves nines.
‘Posterity shall vindicate the just’
Abdulqadir M. Habeeb, a columnist with The Informant247, is a strategist and IT Professional. He writes from Kaduna, Nigeria. He can be reached via habeebajebor@gmail.com