The emergence of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the political space in Nigeria in 2014 eventually turned the narrative that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in their self ululation wanted to rule the country for at least 60 years uninterrupted. But such hallucination died just a little after incubation, precisely after 16 traumatic years which the opposition party at that time referred to as the years of the locusts.
The victories of the APC in both 2015 and 2019 elections has further continued to buffet the PDP shenanigan and depicting the ruling APC as a political party with tremendous strength and hope for the people. The party has continued to show Nigerians that it means business and ready for a third consecutive victories at the forthcoming general elections.
Today, the APC is putting machinery in motion to win the 2023 presidential election with a margin that will be too wide to contest based on the reality that while the main opposition party, PDP, is embroiled in internal wrangling and accusation of corruption and financial malfeasance, the APC remains focused with its systematic campaign across the length and breadth of the country.
No Nigerian can whisk away the record that the APC standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 1992 recorded the highest votes of a senator across the country under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). And he is poised to do it again on the nationwide scale on February 25, 2023.
From my personal findings, I disagree when people say the 2023 election is a three horse race. That’s off the mark. The election is strictly between Abubakar Atiku of the PDP and Asiwaju Tinubu while Peter Obi of the Labour Party will be among the also runs.
The reason is simply. Labour Party has become the political Abiku in Nigeria, an abiku which rises from its slumber during elections and goes to sleep again after losing. In other words, LP members always come together once election is around the corner to project third force under different names without success since 23 years ago.
Yes, the Peter Obi Movement looks scary, but massive crowd at rallies and Facebook had never influenced the political pendulum in the country before and it will not start now. Rather, it takes concerted efforts, time and tangible structures to win elections. It will also take a miracle for a wobbling and fumbling PDP to spring any surprise on February 25.
Aside from being a well organized party, the combination of the two political icons in President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Tinubu is the master stroke for 2023. The duo parades an unprecedented followership never known in the history of Nigeria.
Since the conclusion of the primary election of APC, it has been continuous engagement of party members and those who contested against the winner and lost at the primary election were reconciled. When the presidential candidate of APC picked his running mate in person of Kasim Shettima, some PDP and APC leaders, Dogara and Barbachir Lawal who were eyeing the position without political influence went to town to mobilize certain Christians against the Muslim Muslim ticket which is nothing new in our political history but despite their vociferous opposition, APC was able to resolve and march on.
As APC flagging off it campaign in Abuja on October 10, it is obvious that with the power of incumbency, 22 governors, several Senators, House of Representatives and House of Assemblies across the states, Local government Chairmen and available human and material logistics to prosecute this election, the party is going into the general elections as a united force, and needless to consult an oracle to reveal it’s going to be yet another sweet victory.
I also need to highlight the infrastructural milestone of the Buhari-led government and his fight against corruption which show that his government has achieved more than any previous governments. The recent onslaught on Boko Haram and bandits also gives a clear picture that there is bright light at the end of the darkest security tunnel.
Although the economy is really not showing any pleasant outlook despite multi-dimensional interventions; it’s not unexpected because of too many global economic problems like the impact of COVID-19 that lead to human and economic devastations which can’t be forgotten in a hurry.
Just as the world is trying to get out of the pandemic, we are now faced with Russia and Ukraine war which started about eight months ago with both countries as the leading suppliers of grains and petrochemicals. The consequences is skyrocketing cost of foods and energy across the world owing to the cost of gas.
In summary, the stability in APC ,coupled with the promise of Mr President and his wife to lead the campaign for the party and the presidential candidate, Bola Alhmed Tinubu and his running mate ,Kasim Shettima who are also enjoying large followership and the political alliances between the North and South West could just be enough for any political analyst to take to the bank as assurance for an unprecedented political victory for the ruling party.
.Otunba Sola Olatunji, Chairman of Ikale Heritage Development Association writes from Lagos.
