Just before PDP implodes

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s show of shame, especially in Adamawa Enugu, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ogun and Oyo states is the best example of  political sycophancy.Taking Adamawa as a case study, the Adamu Muazu-led National Working Committee (NWC), a couple of weeks ago, conducted a peaceful and transparent House of Assembly election, which result was […]

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s show of shame, especially in Adamawa Enugu, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ogun and Oyo states is the best example of  political sycophancy.
Taking Adamawa as a case study, the Adamu Muazu-led National Working Committee (NWC), a couple of weeks ago, conducted a peaceful and transparent House of Assembly election, which result was announced on a national television.  Ironically, 24 hours to the conduct of the House of Representatives and Senate primaries, the same NWC announced to the world that the NASS and governorship primaries earlier scheduled between December 6 to 8, 2014, had been moved to Abuja as a result of insecurity in the state. This jaundiced reason was in the wake of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries just concluded in the state capital without any security breach.
It is widely believed that the dramatic and swift drafting of Nuhu Ribadu from the APC to the PDP shortly before the commencement of the sale of expression of interest and governorship nomination forms for PDP aspirants, was the handiwork of the national chairman. And it was meant to protect an interest. While there’s no crime in doing that, however, it was morally wrong and undemocratic for a person of his caliber to do that. It is clear that the PDP, which prides itself as the biggest party in Africa, has a phobia for elections. That is why its stakeholders prefer the process of consensus and boardroom arrangement. This is contrary to democratic ethics.
The outcome of the Adamawa PDP primaries, to say the least, was a fraud. The state travelled a similar path in 2007, which led to its present precarious political situation. What is playing out is an indication that democracy under the present administration is losing ground at an alarming rate. And President Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP NWC and his supporters do not seem to give a damn.
Miffed by the undemocratic posture of the leadership of the PDP at the national level, the Adamawa governorship/NASS aspirants and other stakeholders, at a press conference in Yola recently, rejected the purported movement of the state primaries to Abuja without any good reason.
Truly, Article 26(a) of the PDP guidelines on primaries provides that in the conduct of primaries for the party’s candidates for the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the primaries shall be held at the senatorial district headquarters. All the delegates to the special congress shall assemble in the constituency headquarters. Equally of note is Article 19 (a) which provides that the designated venue, date and time for such primaries shall be published and made known to aspirants, at least seven days before the date of the election.
Unfortunately, the leadership of the party brazenly breached all contents of the aforementioned electoral laws and its constitutional provisions. It instead rewarded cronyism, inefficiency and incompetence in Adamawa and other states mentioned above in the just concluded primaries.
I am of the opinion that this method is purposely hatched for the fear of losing power. But this is extremely dangerous. Frankly speaking, any political party that doesn’t include democratic tenets in its internal affairs cannot bequeath same as a legacy to the nation.
One factor that would work against the re-election bid of President Jonathan is the fact that his government has been grossly hijacked by third-rate politicians. These politicians have infested this administration with  monumental corruption, nepotism, cronyism, arrogance, and above all, absolute disregard for the cultural complexities of the country.  
Another big burden to the Adamawa PDP is probably the national chairman and the thorny hands of a presidential aide from the state who is strategically planted in the presidency to perfect an agenda. His highly controversial ways of doing things are in contrast to the characters of just leaders.  His politics contrast with the wishes of majority of Adamawa people.
Based on the impunity introduced into the system by the ruling party over-time, I have, since 2007, been an exponent of a political system that has two dominant parties. I am of the conviction that only that kind of system can guarantee the survival and sustenance of our hard-earned democracy.  Before Nigeria ends up like Egypt, Syria or Libya, if this trend continues, it is advisable that citizens should “shine their eyes.’’  The above countries had a single leader and family at the helm of affairs for decades. That was the frustration of the people in spite of the fact that the leaders provided good leadership.  In our own case in Nigeria, though not a single leader, a single bungling political party has threatened to enslave the country for 60 years.
It is therefore left for Nigerians to make a proper choice before the opportunity slips out of their hands in 2015.
Wabundani wrote from Abuja.