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May 29, 2015, President Mohammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – the-then opposition party – took over power from Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party. Buhari, a tough ex-military commander and former head of state shot at the Presidency four times before his victory at the polls. Former President Goodluck Jonathan governed the country for 6 years, and conceded defeat to Buhari – a feat that has been acclaimed historic by world leaders. PDP lost grip of federal power last year, after 16 years. Now in the opposition, is there any hope again for the PDP to hold on to federal power in 2019 general elections considering the current situation in the party? Below is a list of why this may not be so.
1. Anti-corruption “War” of President Buhari: President Mohammadu Buhari anti-corruption mantra seems to be a dent on the image of the PDP. The acclaimed mess President Buhari is cleaning now is alleged to be the remains of the PDP government.
2. Factional Crisis in the PDP: Factions break political parties. The current face-off between Markarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff in PDP, and the extended problem with 2016 Edo PDP Governorship Candidates inform Nigerians of the choices to make during 2019 elections.
3. The Exit of The Party Heavy Weights: The defection and exit of PDP's heavyweights may hurt its chances at the 2019 polls. The exit of the likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku Abubakar, Murtala Nyako, Senator Ken Nnamani, Rabiu Kwakwanso, among others are considerable reasons the party may not return to power in 2019.
4. Selfish interest of party leaders: The crave for selfish interests as against the general good of the party, as evident in the recent Ali Modu Sheriff leadership crisis that has resulted in protests, and agitations despite court ruling is one of the reasons the giant party may not regain federal power come 2019.
5. Corruption Charges: Corruption allegations against PDP members in the ongoing arms deal scam, pension, and other cases may cause a major set back for the party in the 2019 elections.
6. PDP is No Longer a National Party: PDP appears to have suffered a serious deficit in the quantum of real power brokers across majority of the six geopolitical zones in the country. It is only the South-East and the South-South that the PDP apparently can boast of having a relative firm grip, though it has two governors in the South-West , as well as two out of the 19 governors in the northern part of the country. The wound inflicted by the exit of five governors elected on its platform preparatory to the 2015 general election, has not healed.
7. Not Now...: One of the major reasons Nigerians voted out the PDP administration was because Nigerians were tired of PDP 16 years of rule without much impact. Especially with the end of the last administration that witnessed intensified insurgency in the North east, Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment fraud & and loss of lives, massive looting, among others, Nigerians may not want to pull their weights in support of the PDP at the Federal level for the time being.
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2019 general elections is almost here, when Nigerians will go to the polls again. These stains on Nigeria's giant party may be the cause of their woes in the next elections.
1. Anti-corruption “War” of President Buhari: President Mohammadu Buhari anti-corruption mantra seems to be a dent on the image of the PDP. The acclaimed mess President Buhari is cleaning now is alleged to be the remains of the PDP government.
2. Factional Crisis in the PDP: Factions break political parties. The current face-off between Markarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff in PDP, and the extended problem with 2016 Edo PDP Governorship Candidates inform Nigerians of the choices to make during 2019 elections.
3. The Exit of The Party Heavy Weights: The defection and exit of PDP's heavyweights may hurt its chances at the 2019 polls. The exit of the likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku Abubakar, Murtala Nyako, Senator Ken Nnamani, Rabiu Kwakwanso, among others are considerable reasons the party may not return to power in 2019.
4. Selfish interest of party leaders: The crave for selfish interests as against the general good of the party, as evident in the recent Ali Modu Sheriff leadership crisis that has resulted in protests, and agitations despite court ruling is one of the reasons the giant party may not regain federal power come 2019.
5. Corruption Charges: Corruption allegations against PDP members in the ongoing arms deal scam, pension, and other cases may cause a major set back for the party in the 2019 elections.
6. PDP is No Longer a National Party: PDP appears to have suffered a serious deficit in the quantum of real power brokers across majority of the six geopolitical zones in the country. It is only the South-East and the South-South that the PDP apparently can boast of having a relative firm grip, though it has two governors in the South-West , as well as two out of the 19 governors in the northern part of the country. The wound inflicted by the exit of five governors elected on its platform preparatory to the 2015 general election, has not healed.
7. Not Now...: One of the major reasons Nigerians voted out the PDP administration was because Nigerians were tired of PDP 16 years of rule without much impact. Especially with the end of the last administration that witnessed intensified insurgency in the North east, Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment fraud & and loss of lives, massive looting, among others, Nigerians may not want to pull their weights in support of the PDP at the Federal level for the time being.
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2019 general elections is almost here, when Nigerians will go to the polls again. These stains on Nigeria's giant party may be the cause of their woes in the next elections.
