Buhari and APC congresses

The intense horse-trading and ploys witnessed in the just concluded ward, local government and state congresses of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have left the party more fractured than united. No political party can be crisis-free; especially when in power; internal squabble and scrabble for ‘who gets what’ are normal in political parties and […]

The intense horse-trading and ploys witnessed in the just concluded ward, local government and state congresses of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have left the party more fractured than united. No political party can be crisis-free; especially when in power; internal squabble and scrabble for ‘who gets what’ are normal in political parties and most common in nascent democracies like Nigeria’s.

The parallel party congresses which were witnessed in many states are nothing but the manifestation of various problems in the APC being amplified by the forthcoming 2019 elections. These problems are offshoots of six major issues which are; governors who want to control everything and everyone; second, ex-governors who want to control incumbent governors; third, second-term governors fighting senators for senate-seat tickets; fourth, senators who want to become governors; fifth, parliamentarians unsure of a return ticket and finally, party faithful and stakeholders who feel side-lined by state government or at the centre.

 Looking at the crisis in the APC from a political science perspective, the APC is struggling to effectively manage sudden fame and enormous power in the hands of different interests groups with diverse world views. The APC suddenly became very strong but with little respect for party supremacy and control. This is a problem.

As the national convention of the APC approaches, the game in the APC has gotten messier and personal – thus, the person of President Muhammadu Buhari is needed to put a stop to it.

President Buhari is known not to interfere in party affairs just as he is not interested in controlling party structures, even at his own ward level. This is mixed blessing for the APC. Buhari’s non-interference has entrenched internal democracy in the APC, as a party and at the same time has created a free-for-all atmosphere where everybody tries to put their personal interests above the party’s.

The results of just concluded congresses have divided the APC into groups purely based on political interests. Despite consisting of individuals with diverse ideologies and from different political backgrounds, harmony amongst members is still possible in the APC. This is achievable through genuine political reconciliation method of ‘give and take’ and a measure of ‘presidential touch’. This will help prevent aggrieved groups from moving to other parties. As things are now, it appears that Buhari is the only person that can resolve the problem in the APC.   Some bigwigs and stakeholders just need some ego-massage- a simple apology to them will do the trick, other people need assurance of tickets for their seats while some individuals need government patronage- contract or appointment. 

Zayyad I. Muhammad wrote from Jimeta, Adamawa State