Democracy is incompatible with the persistent problems of tainted party primaries and divisive party candidacies in Nigeria’s modern political environment. The All Progressives Congress, APC, for example, has been fighting non-transparent party primaries, a wave of party cross-carpeting, super-imposition of candidates, and post-election litigations in Bauchi state.These intricacies can be linked to the party leaders’ failure to follow the institutional guidelines that govern party primaries in Nigeria.....Read The Full Story Here ▶
According to political analysts, flagrant impunity and reckless imposition of candidates against the will and wishes of its teeming members in the state were the major factors that contributed to the defeat of the opposition APC in the state by the incumbent Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The APC was formed in 2014 with the major objective of building Nigeria’s democratic institutions that will make it compete favourably with its contemporaries across the globe.
The party has held sway over the nation for nine consecutive years. Faithful to its political ideology, the APC demonstrated unwavering commitment to the growing of the nation’s economy. Former President Muhammadu Buhari came with three cardinal objectives; fighting corruption, insecurity and improving the economy. It is now left for Nigerians to judge whether or not these objectives have been achieved. Generally, the party has an agenda to improve citizens’ welfare and development of infrastructure.
However, in spite of its aggressive drive for the political and economic development of the nation, the APC is roundly criticised for its failure to bring to an end the current wave of insecurity, economic challenges and address youths restiveness. This no doubt has affected the party’s popularity compared to 2015 when its took over the government at the centre with majority seats of the National Assembly and state governors.
Consequently, former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar who defeated Rt. Hon. Auwal Jatau of PDP, now deputy governor of the state, became a victim of Bauchi APC fracas in 2019 leading to his defeat by Bala Mohammed of PDP. In his quest to preserve his integrity and loyalty at the national level, he was rewarded with a number of perceived political enemies at the state level. Olusola Saraki’s and Lawal Dogara’s emergence as senate president and speaker, respectively, of the 8th Assembly left the party in shackles.
The quest for sustainable democracy in Nigeria is hampered by the prevalence of intra-party conflict and opaque party primaries, and Bauchi state is no exception. Unresolved internal disputes led to the party’s second consecutive loss in 2023. In the wake of the 2023 gubernatorial primaries, which produced Air Marshall Baba Saddique Abubakar, the former Chief of Air Staff, as the party’s candidate, the party went into the election divided.
However, the flagbearer, who recently retired from the highest rank of the Nigeria Air Force, lacks deep connection with the grassroots compared to his rival, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, who represented Bauchi South Senatorial district between 2007 and 2010 before his appointment by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Kauran Bauchi took the advantage of the crack in APC to win his second term.
The candidates who participated at the party openly worked against their party. Lack of cohesion and unity among the major players was another important factor that came into play as they went into the elections split against a united PDP. After Senator Jika left the party to run against it, former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar SAN endorsed Governor Bala’s second term bid. The APC gained advantage when Nura Manu Soro was named Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s presidential coordinator. Unsurprisingly, APC defeated PDP in the presidential race but lost the gubernatorial contest.
The APC support base started in 2007 when Buhari’s ANPP which later formed the merger became a household name in Bauchi state.The ANPP, led by former governor Isa Yuguda, eventually united with other forces to defeat the powerful Governor Mu’azu. Both the presidential and governorship elections in 2015 were won by the APC by large margins. Based on the aforementioned claims, a lot of people believe that the APC had a better chance of reclaiming Bauchi state in 2027.
It may seem far off, the next round of elections will come sooner than later, giving the party a better chance of winning.The first step is to make sure that the party primaries are held in compliance with the law in selecting candidates. The only practical solution to ensure the party’s longevity is free, fair, and transparent primaries. To guarantee credible general elections and institutionalised internal democracy within the party, it must provide space for ordinary party members to hold political positions and reduce the power of political elite in the next party’s congresses.
The truth of the matter is that the APC in Bauchi state is battling some seemingly intractable internal crises which, if not quickly quelled, may stand as odds against the party’s chances of retaining power in 2027. Aggrieved members of the party have alleged that it is now being rocked by crises that need to be resolved. They claim that wanton abuse of due process, impunity and imposition of members against the wishes of party members, among many others, are the inadequacies of the party.
One finds it very curious to suppose that the APC, given its status as a product of three political parties which decided to merge in February 2013 under the auspices of changing the usual narratives in our democracy, ought to have, by now, overcome the crises currently rocking. The fact that former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar supported Governor Bala’s second term bid instead of his party’s candidate cannot be contested. Obviously, no right thinking Nigerian would expect him to work with those who truncated his second term bid in 2019.
Speculations are that prominent figures in the party are already warming up to fly the party’s flag in 2027. Notably are the party’s candidate in 2023, Air Marshall Saddique Baba Abubakar, the Senator representing Bauchi South Shehu Buba Umar, Minister of Health Mohammed Ali Pate, Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tugga, Dr.Musa Babayo ,Senator Haliru Dauda Jika and Mallam Nura Manu Soro, PhD. Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar’s supporters are already pushing for his return.
The party must as a matter of urgency revert to its glorious days of legal leadership recruitment process to run its course, and the fundamentals upon which the APC was founded must be strengthened. The party is currently surrounded by vibrant but ambitious politicians who value having friends across age groups, particularly in light of the growing calls for youth engagement in Nigerian politics and governance.
Fundamentally, the APC must institutionalise the known political culture of Bauchi state of non-imposition of candidates. It is a state where power and money cannot win elections. Former Governors Ahmed Adamu Muazu and Isa Yuguda both lost elections for the Senate in 2007 and 2015, respectively. It is believed that Bauchi electorate are the most informed and educated when it comes to voting in an elections. Party popularity plays little or no roles in deciding the fates of candidates.
As a matter of fact, the would-be state chairman for such a heterogeneous party like the APC in Bauchi state must be made of the right stuff that can make him well poised to quell the crises rocking the party. The state chairman, apart from being renowned, must wield the magic wand in reconciling the opposing forces like Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, and host of other party bigwigs in the state.
A house divided against itself cannot stand. I do not expect the house to fall but I do expect it will cease to be divided. The flag bearer must enjoy the overwhelming support of all aggrieved members. Unless the party does this, its dream of reclaiming Bauchi will be another documented illusion to be read. Accordingly, the party’s internal processes serve as a major foundation for its survival, efficacy, and buoyancy in Bauchi state ahead of 2027.
