With the registration of All Progressive Congress (APC) as Nigeria premier opposition party, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has once again reaffirmed their independence. They reassured Nigerians that they can be counted on to do the right thing when called upon.
Nigeria political parties are currently in disarray. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are practically in a mini civil war at the national level. Some governors want the National Chairman of the Party, Bamanga Tukur out as a precondition for peace. Those governors are holding series of meetings and strategizing on their next step. Some of them are seizing up the newly registered party to see if it is safe to jump ship. A lot of them are not convinced yet of the new party’s viability.
All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) are in disarray as well. They just managed to patch up their difference because of the upcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State. The stake is too high for APGA. Losing Anambra will mean not having any elected governor since Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has bolted away and will formally change his political affiliation to APC soon. APC threat is real for governor Peter Obi of Anambra. Former governor, Dr. Chris Ngige is a mortal threat to their dream of retaining the governorship. Other smaller parties have their own problems but they are insignificant in Nigerian political equation as of now.
The reason why Nigeria political parties are in disarray is because they all lack internal democracy. None of these parties are interested in holding clean, free and fair primary elections. The governors and federal ministers often try to impose their cronies as candidates for various offices. Here is how it works, the governor who is in charge of the state party structure installs a party chairman who will do his or her bidding. Presidents does Same thing at the federal level. When party members resists or speak-out against the imposition, they are promptly suspended for anti-party activities. The suspended members often head to court to get justice. The situation gradually degenerates into fierce political brawls which can go on for years.
Newly registered All Progressive Congress (APC) party is already having effect on other political organizations. It is nudging PDP into quick settlement of their differences so they can get ready for 2015 presidential election, Strong united opposition like APC will definitely distract PDP and force them to shed their complacency and impunity. We may see intra party fights soon in APC if the party leaders try to impose candidates on their members. Muhammadu Buhari may think that he deserves to be the presidential candidate since he is the most powerful and recognizable figure in the new party. Who knows what position former Lagos state governor, Bola Tinubu will want in the new political marriage. After all, he imposed current governor, Fashola who was his chief of staff on Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) members. In upcoming Anambra gubernatorial primaries, other prospective APC candidates are saying that they will not accept the imposition of former governor, senator Chris Ngige as a consensus candidate.
In view of the current state of Nigeria political parties, serious attention should be focused on ways to stabilize the political parties once and for all.
The only solution for the malaise bedeviling the parties is for all the parties to institute reform and adopt ironclad internal democratic process.
Consensus party nomination process must be thrown out the window. Consensus arrangement is alien to democracy. All political parties must throw open the nomination and primary process to everybody who wants to run. Charging expensive amount for party nomination forms as a way to winnow down the number of candidates encourages more cynicism on the part of Nigerians. They know that the eventual winner will try to recover the money spent to get the form by looting their treasury. Qualified applicants should all be allowed to file the necessary papers and run in their party primaries. Whoever emerges the winner should represent the party in the general election. It is the only way to carry all party members along and ensure lasting stability. People normally accept election result if the nomination and election is free and fair.
Any political party that will institute and practice strong internal democracy will emerge as the most stable political party in Nigeria. Nigerians will definitely take notice and may reward such party. Occasionally, some primaries will produce unelectable candidates in the general election, but the long term benefits outweighs the cost.