Its quite interesting that the most anticipated 2019 is here and for Nigerians its the year to decide and elect who navigate the shop of State for another four years with the general elections in a month and few days time which makes it the most anticipated event everyone are looking up to this year with a lot of political tension and ups and down across several parties across the Federation.
Am excited about the election has it is an avenue to determine if the ruling party can maintain it Dominance and the real opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party can price the strings together to maintain their political Dominance in the political theatre of Nigeria.
Aside from the two major parties what interest me most is if there can be an alternative of other political parties aside both the APC and PDP after the election. Looking at it critically I would be quick to say other parties are not ready to take the mantle of Dominance away from the two parties but looking at recent scenario in APC and PDP and most especially APC quite possible some parties pull up a shocker against the big guns. The scenario that happened in the the race for the APC guber candidate of Ogun, zamfara and Imo has generated a lot of tussle with some party members and faithfuls against one another because of their respective “anointed candidate”. This has led to massive d defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress to political parties aside the Peoples Democratic Party. The issue in Ogun state has led to his excellency senator Ibukunle Amosun at logger head with his party National Chairman comrade Adams Oshiomhole with the Ogun State Governor remaining in the party while many of his loyalist and a substantial members of his loyalist and that of Honourable Akinlade has defected to ALL PEOPLE MOVEMENT (APM) with the governor who happens to be one of the senatorial candidate of the APC vouching to work against the party candidate in person of Prince Dapo Abiodun, also the tussle going on in the opposition camp of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun state makes it much open for other political party to claim the state after the PDP are yet to resolve who owns the PDP gubernatorial Ticket in ogun between Senator Buruji Kashamu and Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu.
Similarly it happened in imo State has the anointed candidate of his excellency Governor Rochas Okorocha was not favoured for the ticket as his inlaw Uche Nwosu left the party with party faithfuls and loyal men of Okorocha to AA which led to Okorocha saying he will never support the ruling party candidate in person of senator Hope Uzodinma.
Also the ruling party doesn’t have any candidate in elected offices in zamfara in 2019 which open the state for other party to fight for.
Party members has criticised the manners of conduct of the apc Primaries which saw the incumbent governor of Lagos Mr Akinwunmi Ambode lossing the party ticket to Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, though the Governor didn’t defect against all odds but the senator representing Kano state central senatorial district, Senator Shehu sanni left the party and join the Peoples redemption party.
Its possible with recent scenario that at least a party aside PDP and APC will have their candidate emerging but am pretty sure most of the other political parties are not ready yet to take the political driver seat from APC and PDP.
There has been massive defection from both parties last year with majority of the defectors changing sides with the two ruling parties while its only a Minority that defect to other political parties aside PDP or APC.
The presidential race is much interesting and getting intensified because other political parties are going every where to booster their chances of emerging in other to deny PDP the return of their 16 years of rulership and an alternative to APC four years of rulership as well.
An important favour is the aspect of vote buying, this is because the two ruling parties has the financial capacity which is way stronger than that of other parties and gives them the possibilities to mobilize resources in their way
Form all indications it will be quite hard and almost a mission impossible for other parties to dethrone both APC and PDP over night but I cant override them as I can see them polling up the numbers During the elections but will they get the needed number of votes to emerge?
Well i will like to Conclude that the general elections is here and there wont be any alternative to the two parties and I will like other parties to look and work towards the 2023 general elections which will increase their chances of winning but has it stands both parties will still continue their dominance in the 2019 general elections.
Written by
shokoya Olakunle Adeboye
(Social philosopher of Africa)
He’s a political researcher, social researcher, political analyst, a writer and a public speaker interested in public social issues.
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