By: Sani Danaudi Mohammed.
Democracy is incompatible with the persistent problems of tainted party primaries and divisive party candidacies in Nigeria’s modern political environment.The 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’s leaders failure to follow the institutional guidelines that govern party primaries in Nigeria.
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 people Democratic Party. 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 had held sway over the nation for 9 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 Economy. It is now left for Nigerians to judge whether or not such set goals were achieved. Generally, the party’s has an agenda setting of improvement of 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 end of the current wave of insecurity, economic challenges and address Youths restiveness. This is 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. It is not surprising, even at its peak, the anointed candidates of the party for the Senate President and Speakership were defeated by Senator Saraki and Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
Consequently, Former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar who won convincingly against Rt. Hon. Auwal Jatau of PDP now Deputy Governor of the State became a victim of Bauchi APC fracas in 2019 leading to his defeats by Senator Bala Abdulkadir 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. Saraki’s and Dogara’s emergence as Senate President and Speaker 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.
Comparatively speaking, though, the flag bearer, 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 CON, who represented Bauchi South Senatorial district between 2007 to 2010 before his appointment by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Kauran Bauchi took the advantage of the crack wall in APC to make win his second term.
Notably was that, the candidates who participated at the party openly work against their party. Lack of cohesiveness and unity among the major players was another important factor that came into play as they went into the elections split against a united political party (PDP).After Senator Jika left the party to run against it, former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar SAN endorsed Governor Bala second term bid. Although, the APC gained an advantage when Nura Manu Soro was named Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s presidential coordinator. Unsurprisingly, the APC faced off against the PDP in the presidential race but was unexpectedly defeated in the gubernatorial contest.
The All Progressive Congress support based started in 2007 when former President Buhari’s ANPP which later formed the merger became a household name in Bauchi State.The ANPP, led by former governor Isa Yuguda, eventually unites with other forces to defeat the powerful Governor Mu’azu. Both the presidential and governorship elections in 2015 were handily 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 likely come around sooner rather 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 order to select 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 elites 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. Most aggrieved members of the party have alleged that it is now being rocked by crises that need to be resolved. These aggrieved members claim that wanton abuse of due process, impunity and imposition of members against the wishes of party members, among many others, are the inadequacies currently identified with 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 by which it is currently rocked. The fact that former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar supported Governor Bala’s second term bid instead of his party candidate cannot be contested. Obviously, no right thinking Nigerian would expect him to work along those who truncated his second term ambition in 2019.
Speculations flying around the internet is that, prominent figures in the party are already rolling their drums 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. The former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar supporters are already pushing for his return and host of others to mention but few.
The party must as a matter of urgency revert back 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 none imposition of candidates against the will of the majority. It is a state where power and money never wins elections for candidates. Former Governors Ahmed Adamu Muazu and Mallam Isa Yuguda both lost elections to go the Senate in 2007 and 2015 respectively. It is believe that, Bauchi electorates are the most informed and educated when it comes to voting in an elections. Party’s popularity plays little or no roles in deciding the faith 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 which must prove very effective in reconciling the visibly opposing forces like the former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar SAN, the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara , Former Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu and host of other party bigwigs in the State. Ironically, this division is spreading down to Local Governments in rewards for loyalty to what many called their bosses ( Masu Gidanmu).
In the forthcoming party’s Congresses, the APC, as a political party, will have got, as its State chairman, someone who has the resilience, political sagacity, proven experience, good sense of human relations and capacity to salvage the party from the internal crises which currently threaten its survival. One thing is clear, the chairman must ensure that only someone that is deeply rooted and enjoy wide followership at the grassroots is forwarded for elections as the flag bearer of the party in 2027. Anyone who wins the Primaries should be accommodated and be regarded as the party’s best to fly the party’s flag by other party’s aspirants.
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. It will become all one thing or all the other. It is must one and without the party those fighting each other will cease to exist. The survival of the party is the reason both of them are members of the APC in Bauchi State and beyond. Therefore, the party made them who they are and they have to work hard to preserve and protect it. Let them remember that,not all will be only one will be.
Let me concludes here that ,The flag bearer must enjoy the overwhelming support of all other waring parties who feel offended and betrayed in one way or the other and are ready to work for the party’s victory. Unless the party does this ,its dream of reclaiming Bauchi again 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.
Danaudi, Public affairs analyst writes from Bauchi via danaaudicomrade@gmail.com.