Elections are almost over after almost 4 weeks. The winners are smiling and the losers are mostly accepting results while some are not satisfied with the outcome. The major players of the election were the ACN, ANPP, APGA and PDP. It makes me wonder why these parties can't just reach agreements with the relative invisible parties to merge. Most of those parties could not even win a councilor position. Talk about benchwarmers and spectators; it all comes down to greed. That brings me to the subject of the post. Prior to the general elections, many behind-the-scenes talks were going on about a coalition to face to the PDP. The PDP’s rating was down nationally and a lot of people thought it was the end of the party as we knew it. However, all the plans broke down and the parties held on to their flag bearers.
The PDP presented its charismatic candidate Goodluck Jonathan (who suddenly became the right candidate to so many within few months), the ACN presented its marketable and youthful Nuhu Ribadu, the CPC presented its 3 time runner Gen. Buhari and finally, the ANPP held on the Gov. Shekarau who presented Kano as his lab rat and success story. The election appeared it was going to be the most competitive in a long while. Numerous debates colored the preceding weeks and the stake got high. The results were counted and out the window went the competition. What happened? Isn’t Ribadu the change the youth wanted, a break from the norm? What did Gen. Buhari get wrong this time? Isn’t 3 tries enough to get the rules of the game right?
Blame it on the opposition! Despite the fact that ethnicity or region should not be the most prominent factor to decide who to vote for, it is sometimes relevant. This played out in the election. The three main oppositions were Northerners. These from the beginning divided the vote of the region into three. Different analysis compared Gen Buhari and Ribadu as having the same moral standard and approach to public office. Gen Buhari just being the older version of Ribadu or the other way around. These development further divided swing voters. These comparisons created confusion. The ACN and the CPC could not make up their mind and decided to go separate ways. The presence of Gov. Shekarau further split the votes. In addition, it is worthy of note to remember that the CPC is a creation of the fallout of Gen. Buhari with the ANPP. In reality, there is really nothing unique about these parties’ ideologies that could not have welcomed a coalition if truly they love Nigeria more than their personal ambitions.
I put the figures from the presidential election obtained by the ACN, CPC and ANPP and they were enough to rewrite the whole election results. The PDP is really the only national party despite their failure and setbacks. Despite the marketable profile of Ribadu he only won Osun State. The rest of the states were divided between the CPC and PDP. Click here.
This greed among political parties also is reflected in the National Assembly election results. The seats won by the opposition parties all put together are enough to challenge the PDP supremacy. Sometimes I wonder if these political parties actually conduct simple research and understand simple basic political rules. The PDP has survived again!
The PDP presented its charismatic candidate Goodluck Jonathan (who suddenly became the right candidate to so many within few months), the ACN presented its marketable and youthful Nuhu Ribadu, the CPC presented its 3 time runner Gen. Buhari and finally, the ANPP held on the Gov. Shekarau who presented Kano as his lab rat and success story. The election appeared it was going to be the most competitive in a long while. Numerous debates colored the preceding weeks and the stake got high. The results were counted and out the window went the competition. What happened? Isn’t Ribadu the change the youth wanted, a break from the norm? What did Gen. Buhari get wrong this time? Isn’t 3 tries enough to get the rules of the game right?
Blame it on the opposition! Despite the fact that ethnicity or region should not be the most prominent factor to decide who to vote for, it is sometimes relevant. This played out in the election. The three main oppositions were Northerners. These from the beginning divided the vote of the region into three. Different analysis compared Gen Buhari and Ribadu as having the same moral standard and approach to public office. Gen Buhari just being the older version of Ribadu or the other way around. These development further divided swing voters. These comparisons created confusion. The ACN and the CPC could not make up their mind and decided to go separate ways. The presence of Gov. Shekarau further split the votes. In addition, it is worthy of note to remember that the CPC is a creation of the fallout of Gen. Buhari with the ANPP. In reality, there is really nothing unique about these parties’ ideologies that could not have welcomed a coalition if truly they love Nigeria more than their personal ambitions.
I put the figures from the presidential election obtained by the ACN, CPC and ANPP and they were enough to rewrite the whole election results. The PDP is really the only national party despite their failure and setbacks. Despite the marketable profile of Ribadu he only won Osun State. The rest of the states were divided between the CPC and PDP. Click here.
This greed among political parties also is reflected in the National Assembly election results. The seats won by the opposition parties all put together are enough to challenge the PDP supremacy. Sometimes I wonder if these political parties actually conduct simple research and understand simple basic political rules. The PDP has survived again!
A look at the INEC list of political parties on their website just makes me think how many possible ways can actually exist to approach government. 63? I do not think so. Nigeria has way too many political parties. The big players should swallow up the benchwarmers. This would create a stronger and more serious political system. It is just ridiculous an aspirant could create a political party over night right after failing to secure a major political party’s ticket. The show is almost over and little or nothing can be done now. However, this year’s elections have successfully done one thing; make Nigerians more anxious and prepared for 2015. Many must have learnt their lessons. Best wishes to the political class of 2011. We are watching!
