It was founded in 1998 when the then Military government lifted its ban on partisan politics. And for 14 years, it has controlled the nation’s political landscape. But issues in the party in recent times have caused apprehension over its chances to cross 2015. Has the end come for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? Saturday Vanguard’s LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU,in this Special Piece, x-rays events that may make or mar the party’s chances in the 2015 general elections. Has the end of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) come? This is onequestion the bigwigs of the party including President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan would not dare give vent to. From Right, Vice President Namadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan, Chairman Of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Deputy National Chairman, Sam Jaja and Chairman Board Of Trustees Of The Party, ChiefTony Anenih at the PDP’s 61 National Executive Committee recently The least they can admit is that the party is going through some crucibles that willmake it stronger ahead of the 2015 general elections. But in the reckoning ofthe opposition, PDP might just be on the verge of collapse. Why? The party in recent times has been so enmeshed in a series of crises that agitate the minds of many. First, it was the issue of automatic ticketsfor President Goodluck Jonathan, some performing governors and members of the National Assembly for another term in office as being championed by the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, ChiefAnthony Anenih. But even before Anenih shook the nation with the suggestion which many people had described as bizarre, there had been an all-time tsunami of disintegration which vehemently threatened the unity of the 36 governors of the Nigerian states under the umbrella of the Nigerian overnors Forum (NGF). Yet again, the problem sprawled, prompting the suspension of two governors: Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto from the party owing to alleged anti-party activities. But while Wamako has been recalled, Amaechi’s fate is still hanging. Meanwhile, the matter later continued, this time causing a mass sack of officials working at the national secretariat of theparty with the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. To this end, 16 officials including the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, were affected. Tukur only escaped removal by a whisker. Indeed, before the meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of theParty that held in Abuja on Thursday, Tukur’s continued stay as the National Chairman of the Party was almost doomed. But with the influence and insistence of President Jonathan, Tukur bounced back. The gale of resignations of the PDP officials in Abuja had a root. It was occasioned by the reports of a Committee chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Senator Puis Anyim Pius, who was asked to review the imports of the report of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on the PDP officials. According to the INEC, the elections that brought them to office were not properly conducted and so, they had to go. Be that as it may, while the issues abound, keen analysts express real fears that the PDP might be heading for the rocks which may affect its chances of retaining its hold in the forthcoming 2015 elections, citing various ill events bedeviling the party as reasons. Fallout ofNGF Elections The outcome of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, from which two parallel leaderships emerged, to some people, is an eloquent testimony that all is not well with the PDP. No one had envisaged that Rivers State Governor, Amaechi, would have won the election after so much hysteria, horse-trading and intrigues that played out against his candidacy. But against all the apparent impedimentswheeled on his way by the Presidency, the governors, especially the opposition governors, re-elected him for a second term. But that was not to be as Pro-Presidency Governors led by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. GoodswillAkpabio, swiftly regrouped and queued behind the Plateau State Governor, Mr. David Jonah Jang as their Chairman, not minding the 19/16 votes which gave Amaechi victory over Jang. At the moment, PDP controls more states than the opposition parties put together. The reasoning was that if all the PDP governors had obeyed the directives of the Presidency and voted for the President’s candidate, Amaechi would have lost in the election. But they rebuffed and voted for Amaechi. What this meant was that there were some PDP governors who were obviously not at home with the role played by the Presidency in the election. Meanwhile, to say that the problem in the NGF is over would be far from true.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 05:38:51 +0000