Politicians With More Clout Than Their Parties

Party supremacy is a key feature of party politics in most democracies of the World. This was clearly demonstrated in the First; Second and even Third Republics in Nigeria. What this entails is that since the constitution did not allow for independent candidacy, then the party’s decisions are not only sacrosanct but are binding on all members of the party.

The concept of party supremacy also forestalled a powerful individual dictating to other members of the party. What it connotes is that every member of the political party works for the good of the party and cannot take any independent decision that may be in conflict with the party’s decision.

However, since the beginning of this democracy in 1999, the power of the parties has been eroded. Mostly the cause of the dwindling of the parties’ power is because parties are now being financed by powerful individuals, most especially elected governors and other elected officers rather than all members.

These powerful politicians are now feeling indispensable and are of the view that they can do anything and go scot- free.

As the campaign for the 2023 general elections kicked off last October, aggrieved members of different political parties have been threatening that they will not campaign for their parties and the candidates nominated by the parties.

They also feel that despite their decisions, they are too powerful to be disciplined by their parties for anti-party activities.

Those in this category include former All Progressive Congress, APC Chieftain in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, the Integrity Group within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP led by Nyesom Wike who is the Governor of Rivers State. Other members of the Integrity Group include Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuayi of Enugu State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George; former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke and former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang among others.

The Integrity Group has been at loggerhead with the PDP leadership since the completion of the party’s presidential primary which was won by the former Vice President of the country, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. They have insisted that since Atiku who is from the north had emerged as the presidential candidate of the party; Senator Iyorchia Ayu who is also from the north must resign as national chairman and be replaced by a southerner.

They have also insisted that unless their demand is met, they would not be part of the PDP presidential campaign and they have stayed off the campaign so far.

The Integrity Group had openly announced also that if their demand is not met, they will mobilize against the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the February 2023 presidential election.

NYESOM WIKE

Wike has said the decision on which presidential candidate to mobilize votes for in the forthcoming 2023 general election had been taken and will be revealed in January, 2023.

Wike disclosed this last Thursday while speaking at the inauguration of the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu Flyover in Rumuokwurusi Town, Obio-Akpor local government area of the State.

The governor assured that from January 2023, he will first embark on a state-wide campaign tour to tell Rivers people who they should vote for as President of Nigeria.

He said, thereafter, he will undertake a nation-wide campaign tour to tell Nigerians the most preferred presidential candidate deserving their votes.

Wike stated that Nigerians needed to know a reliable candidate that they can trust to deliver the needed national transformation with the expected capability and results.

The governor said: “So, from January next year, I will campaign to my people who they will vote for. So, all of you who have been in suspense. Who has been saying all kinds of things, abusing me, wait, January has come.

Few weeks back, Wike had come to Lagos to endorse his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for a second term in office.

The endorsement comes despite Wike’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party, having a governorship candidate in Lagos, in the person of Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor.

Wike has also pledged to support the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi with logistics for his campaign in Rivers State.

Wike, who invited the LP candidate to inaugurate the Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Flyover in Port-Harcourt, added that Obi had all the characteristics to lead Nigeria.

Wike said, “Each time you want to campaign in the state, let me know, all the logistics support, we will give to you.

“I know you as a person, you have all the criteria, you have all the characteristics to lead this country, and you have it. Nobody can deny that.”

He had also offered support to the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The development comes three days after Wike also offered support to the campaign of Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential Candidate.

Wike said he was one of the few people that met Kwankwaso, a former PDP member, not to leave the party because he was an asset to the PDP.

“I remember when I went to meet you in your house in Abuja to plead with you not to leave the party (PDP) because I knew you were an asset to the party. Even when they told me to leave you alone, I refused.”

“I have known you and I know you are a man of integrity so I want to say that whenever you want to campaign in Rivers State, I will provide you with all your logistics, just let me know when you want to come,” he said.

Wike has at different times calling on the leadership of the PDP to suspend him from the party if they can , saying nobody in the party has the gut to either suspend him or expel him from the party.

He said he had invested heavily in the party and dared anyone to sanction him based on anti party activity.

He boasted that when he came out in January to mention his preferred Presidential candidate that his loyalists in the PDP should vote for, nothing would happen. This means that the PDP’s leadership cannot do anything for him.

MAGNUS ABE

Magnus Abe served as a Senator for the Rivers South East Senatorial District of Rivers State. He was first elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2011 in the April 2011 Federal elections and again in a rerun poll in December 2016. In the 2015 general elections, he had lost a return bid to Senator Olaka Nwogu. But the poll, like others in Rivers, was invalidated by the court, necessitating a rerun poll.

Abe has since left the APC and picked the governorship ticket of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in Rivers State to contest the next year’s election.

Announcing his latest move and his declaration of joining the SDP, Abe said, “Yes, I am and I have been a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“I remain irrevocably committed to the ideals that have driven my politics through the years.

“We will continue to do all we can to improve internal democracy in the politics of our country and focus on the people.”

But answering questions on a national television monitored in Lagos penultimate week, Abe despite the fact that he had left the APC, said he will still campaign and seek votes for the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

When reminded about what he thinks of the SDP Presidential Candidate, Mr. Adewole Adebayo, he said he didn’t come to the Television to discuss Mr. Adebayo.

He however insisted that as far as he is concerned, he still remains a loyalist of Tinubu and will mobilize votes for him.

The open declaration or mobilization of support for another party’s presidential candidate, when his party, the SDP is fielding a candidate in the same election is an anti party activity.But like Wike and his group, Abe believes he can do whatever he likes and nobody can sanction him in his new party. The SDP has not done anything to caution Abe after his declaration to back Tinubu’s ambition to be the next occupant of Aso Rock Villa.

SEYI MAKINDE

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde sent a subtle solidarity message to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election when he was being endorsed by a section of the Pan-Yoruba Group, Afenifere in Akure few months ago.

This was made known by the Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Bayo Lawal who represented Seyi Makinde in Ondo State at the reception of Tinubu by the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

Lawal noted that though separated by political affiliation, Makinde is united by strong ethnic bonds.

Political pundits predicted defections with many believing the five aggrieved PDP governors, including Makinde might pitch their tents with the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu in the forthcoming election.

This was also reinforced by Makinde when he said he will go where the Yoruba people go in the next year’s presidential election.

Makinde also believes that his open support for Tinubu will not bring any sanction from the PDP. He is contesting a second term on the platform of the PDP as the governor of Oyo State.

SAMUEL ORTOM

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, last Thursday instead of campaigning for his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar charged people of the state and other eligible Nigerians to identify party candidates who have the prospects of helping the country before casting their votes in the coming elections.

The governor stated this while signing the N179.5 billion 2023 appropriation bills into law at the Government House, Makurdi.

He said the election should not be based on political parties but on the ability of the candidates to perform if elected.

“Though 2023 is pregnant and loaded, we hope that God will see us through all the challenges we are facing.

“A lot of us are expecting a turnaround, rebranding and refocusing. We as humans have tried but we hope that God himself will rescue us and give us peace, hope and all that will make the coming year enjoyable.

“Come 2023, let us work hard and vote according to the election and not according to the party.

“We must know those people who have prospects to help us and the country. Let us be truthful when we sit to consider this and may God direct us”.

CHARLES SOLUDO

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has described Atiku Abubakar , the Presidential Candidate of the PDP as one of the two leading candidates for next year’s presidential election.

He made the comment at the Governor’s Lodge in Awka, Anambra State when Atiku visited him before attending a campaign rally ahead of the polls.

“You are one of the two frontrunners for the presidency of Nigeria,” the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor said.

Soludo had a few weeks back said there are only two contenders for the presidency and described the others as “exciting drama!”

“The brutal truth (and some will say, God forbid) is that there are two persons/parties seriously contesting for president: the rest is exciting drama!” he wrote in a lengthy November article.

While welcoming Atiku to the state, Governor Soludo added that “Nigeria is one great country that, as far as I am concerned, is destined by God to be the largest, most prosperous, and powerful black nation on earth.”

He also said the state is open to receiving all candidates who should sell themselves to the residents of the South-East state.

Anambra should be an open space for all to come and tell the people what they have in stock for them as the 2023 election draws closer, Soludo added.

“Part of what we are asking for is to have a level playing ground for all and that is my own orientation,” he said.

The governor equally appealed to Atiku to address erosion issues in Anambra if he wins next year’s election.

Soludo is a chieftain of All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) and Professor Peter Umeadi is the presidential candidate of the party.

Umeadi is not one of the two candidates that Soludo described as frontliners in the next year’s election and he has not openly come out to support his candidature.

WABBA/OSIFO

The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba and Trade Union Congress, (TUC) President, Festus Osifo also seem to have dumped the Labour Party, (LP) Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi

When the organized Labour met with the APC Candidate, Tinubu in Abuja the labour leaders handed over the Workers ‘Charter‘to him.

Analysts are wondering why this decision is made when there is a presidential candidate in the Labour Party.

To many, this is confusing because by virtue of article 9 of the Constitution of the Labour Party, the current President of the NLC and TUC are members of the Board of Trustees of the LP.