78 to battle Buhari in race for Aso Villa

There will be a long list of political parties on the ballot for next year’s presidential election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated that 78 challengers are facing President Muhammadu Buhari on February 16, 2019. Though the zoning arrangement favours a northerner to be president, Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI reports that majority of the candidates are from the South, with the Southeast and the Southwest dominating the contest.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari faces a motley crowd of challengers in the February 16, next year election. The election is generating so much excitement among Nigerians, particularly in the social media. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 78 challengers have emerged to face Buhari in the race for Aso Rock Villa, the nation’s seat of power.

So, there will be a long list of political parties on the ballot. But, ironically, the choices will still be limited, because the opposition is weak and fragmented. Most of the political parties are small parties that lack the nationwide structure to prosecute presidential elections. Small parties can succeed in making a big showing in a local election when they field popular candidates who will appeal to the electorate at that level, but in a nationwide contest, like the presidential election, bigger parties have better chances of winning.

Despite being touted as the “third force” earlier, the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-backed African Democratic Party (ADP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) could not muster enough support to challenge the dominance of the two major parties during the recent Osun State governorship election. The SDP came a distant third and could only play the role of the beautiful bride, helping the APC to win during the supplementary election that took place in seven polling units. Even in developed democracies, such as the United States or the United Kingdom, which equally have multiple political parties, the choice is usually limited to two parties or sometimes three – in the case of the latter.

Nevertheless, the emergence of young and vibrant candidates like Donald Duke, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, Fela Durotoye, Obadiah Mailafia, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, Omoyele Sowore, Pastor Chris Okotie and others have raised the hope of Nigerians that true change can be witnessed in the near future, if the electorate can muster the courage to reject the old school politicians and vote for a young, detribalised and solution-centred candidate, without laying emphasis on his religious inclination and where he comes from. In this regard, it is noteworthy that with the exception of Mailafia all the above candidates are making a statement by contesting against the zoning sentiment that it is the turn of the North to produce the president in 2019.

Thus, though the zoning arrangement currently favours a northerner to occupy the position, majority of the candidates contesting next year’s presidential are from the South; with the Southeast and the Southwest dominating the contest. Nevertheless, a great majority of the candidates are not in the race to clinch the plum job. Many of them merely want to add the phrase “former presidential candidate” to their long resume. Others are simply interested in using it as a bargaining chip to secure one political appointment or the other.

The full list of candidates and their parties are as follows: Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC); Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Donald Duke, Social Democratic Party (SDP); Kingsley Moghalu, Young Progressives Party (YPP); Obiageli Ezekwesili, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); Chris Okotie, Fresh Democratic Party (FDP); Hamza Al-Mustapha, Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN); Obadiah Mailafia, African Democratic Congress (ADC); Fela Durotoye, Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN); Omoyele Sowore, Africa Action Congress (AAC); and Gbenga Hashim-Olawepo, Alliance for Peoples Trust (APT).

Others are: Moses Shipi, All Blending Party (ABP); Samuel Eke, Green Party of Nigeria (GPN); Mark Emmanuel, United Patriots (UP); Hamisu Santuraki, Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN); Moses Ajibiowu, National Unity Party (NUP); Nwokeafor Ikechukwu, Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD); Aliyu Ibrahim, African People Alliance (APA); John Ilongwo, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP); Yunusa Tanko, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP); Ike keke, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Yusufu Obaje, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP); Ize-Iyamu David, Better Nigeria Peoples Party (BNPP); Samuel Fagbenro-Byron, Kowa Party (KP); Rabia Hassan, National Action Council (NAC); Nnamdi Madu, Independent Democrats (ID); Tope Fasua, Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP); and Obinna Ikeagwuonu, African People’s Party (APP).

Also on the list are: Isaac Ositelu, Accord Party; Frank Ukonga, Democratic Alternative (DA); Shitu Kabir Advance, Peoples Democratic Party (APDP); Usman Muhammed, Labour Party (LP); Asukwuo Archibong, Nigeria for Democracy (ND); Chuks Nwachukwu, All Grassroots Alliance (AGA); Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA); Yusuf Yabaji,            Action Democratic Party (ADP); Nsehe Nseobong, Restoration Party of Nigeria (RPN); Chukwudi Osuala, Rebuild Nigeria Party (RNP); John Wilson Gbor, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Usman Ibrahim, National Rescue Movement (NRM); Sunday Eguzolugo, Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP); and Chike Ukaegbu, Advanced Allied Party (AAP).

The list also includes: Umenwa Godwin, All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP); Isiaka Balogun, United Democratic Party (UDP); Lewis Abah, Change Advocacy Party (CAP); Babatunde Ademola, Nigeria Community Movement Party (NCMP); Ahmed Buhari, Sustainable National Party (SNP); John Dara Alliance of Social Democrats (ASD); Kriz David, Liberation Movement (LM); Isah Bashayi          Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN); Emmanuel Etim, Change Nigeria (CN); Habib Mohammed,                        United Democratic Party (UDP); Angela Johnson, Alliance for a United Nigeria (AUN); John Onwubuya, Freedom and Justice Party (FJP); Mashood Shittu                        Alternative Party of Nigeria (APN); Yusuf Dantale, Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Ahmed Inuwa, United Party of Nigeria (UPN); Geff Ojinika, Coalition For Change (CFC); and Robinson Akpua, National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP).

The remaining candidates are: Victor Okhai, Providence Peoples Congress (PPC); Dr. Olapade Agoro, National Action Council (NAC); Williams Olusola Awosola, Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC; Alhaji Ahmed Sakil, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN); Isaac Babatunde-Ositelu, Accord A; Alhaji Isa Bashiru, Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party (ANDP); Mallam Hussein Abubakar, Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA); Rex Adebanjo, Youth Party of Nigeria (YPN); Prof. Peter Nwangwu, We the People of Nigeria Party (WPNP); Eunice Atuejide, National Interest Party (NIP); Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); and Dr. Davidson Isibor Akhimien, Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN).

Buhari

The consensus of observers is that President Buhari is facing a tough re-election battle. Unlike four years ago when his emergence as the candidate of the APC generated a lot of momentum across the country, this time around he is expected to convince the electorate that he has acquitted himself well in his first term so far to secure their support.

In other words, next year’s presidential election has been described as a referendum on the performance of the Buhari administration in the last three and half years. One of such observers, Chief Chekwas Okorie, puts it this way: “This is because the electorate would be looking at his achievements or otherwise during his tenure so far. So, it becomes a referendum in the sense that the number of people who think he has done well would be voting yes, while those who believe that he has performed woefully would be voting no, by voting for another candidate.”

In this regard, Buhari is adjudged to have done well in some respects and performed woefully in others. For instance, the administration has gone a long way in its bid to diversify the economy through encouragement of agriculture, particularly the boost in local production of rice. The upsurge in local production of rice, it is said, has not only reduced the country’s food-dependency on other countries, but also narrowed the gap in the country’s balance of trade with other nations.

The administration also appears determined to upgrade the country’s infrastructure. The Federal Government in March approved the transfer of about $650 million (about N198.9 billion) to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), as the initial funding for the take-off of the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), including the Lagos-Kano Standard Rail Gauge project. The initiative is aimed at eliminating the risks of project funding, cost variation and completion that have plagued the development of the nation’s critical infrastructure assets over the last few decades. President Buhari has also been hailed for his courage in attempting to recover some of the country’s looted funds from key officials of the immediate past administration.

On the flip side, the administration’s handling of the deteriorating security situation in the country has exposed it to ridicule than any other issue. It may have subdued Boko Haram insurgents. The terrorist group, which held swathes of territory across the Northeast in 2014, is not as strong as it used to be. But the administration has a more deadly group of terrorists on its hands, with the upsurge in the killings of so-called herdsmen in Benue, Taraba and elsewhere in the country. The continued detention of the Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, after he has been granted bail by the court several times, has also sparked a series of demonstrations in recently. Many Nigerians have showed concern about the way the protest is degenerating, particularly the reported shootings in Abuja The administration has been getting a lot of flaks for the increasing insecurity, because it failed to nip the crises in the bud.

From all indications, many Nigerians that voted for the President in the last presidential election seem to be disappointed by his performance so far. Besides, the coalition that campaigned for his emergence four years ago also appears to have crumbled. For instance, the APC has been hit with a wave of defections in recent times. Within the political establishment, even within the ruling party, many had hoped that the President would opt out of the race. Some of the retired military generals who had been very influential since the aftermath of the 1967 to 1970 civil war, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Theophilus Danjuma and Ibrahim Babangida, had prevailed on Buhari not to run.

But, since Buhari has the power of incumbency, he remains the candidate to beat, in spite of the challenges facing the ruling party.

Atiku

The emergence of Abubakar, popularly known as Atiku, as the candidate of the PDP at the recent national convention of the party in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has generated a considerable amount of interest among Nigerians. The man who was Vice President between 1999 and 2007, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the platform of the PDP is widely perceived as one candidate that is capable of giving President Buhari a good fight all over the country.

The PDP candidate may not have the type of integrity that endeared candidate Buhari to a cross section of the electorate in 2014/2015, but he has many other ingredients that can propel him to victory in next year’s presidential election, if properly articulated and deployed towards the 2019 battle. One of such ingredients is his contacts across the nation; he is one man that has cultivated a lot of business and political associates around the country over the years. Another is his huge financial war chest – and he may likely be willing to deploy it towards winning the position he has been seeking since 2007, when he first contested on the platform of the defunct Action Congress (AC).

Whether Atiku will be able to defeat the APC standard bearer is another matter. But, for the first time, he is contesting on a platform that would give him the sort of leverage he requires to sell himself to the electorate. This is not only his first serious shot at the presidency, but may also be his last, given his age and the power rotational arrangement between the North and the South. So, he may likely give it everything he can muster to win the contest.

Nevertheless, his candidacy may be bogged down by the corruption baggage he carries. How this will pan out remains to be seen. The deeply corrupt image he has today arose out of the spat he had with Obasanjo towards the end of their second term, but the allegations have not been substantiated since 2007 when they left office to date. In a recent report attributed the President’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, the Presidency dismissed Atiku’s bid for the position, saying he is too corrupt and greedy to lead Nigeria.

Atiku’s supporters however argue that since he has not been indicted by a court of law, the corruption tag may not dissuade people from voting for him. Besides, they say the style adopted by President Buhari in his fight against corruption and the allegation that he has been shielding his close associates accused of same has not really portrayed the administration as one committed to tackling the menace.

Duke

Donald Duke, 56, was the governor of Cross River State from May 1999 to May 2007. He recently joined the SDP to realise his ambition of running for the office of president. As governor, Duke was credited with strategic thinking and courage that led to the transforming of the capital city of Cross River State, Calabar, into a viable tourism, commercial and sports hub, as well as the building of Tinapa business resort and the renovation of the Obudu Ranch Resort.

Condemning zoning of political offices, Duke said it remained unconstitutional, “as it limits the choices we have as a country to a section of the country”. He added: “As rational as they may see it, it remains unconstitutional and there are not enough strong voices out there speaking up objectively. Besides, democracy is all about choice, how then do we limit the choices we have to some section of the country or the other? Can we under such aegis obtain the best? Nigeria can only be whole when the sum total of its parts is able to contest freely and at will for the highest office in the land.”

In addition, he disagreed with those who say that only two political parties have the physical presence nationwide to win the presidency in a general election. He said he hopes his participation would enrich the playing field and offer Nigerians wider options.

Ezekwesili

Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, popularly known as Oby Ezekwesili, is a leading chartered accountant who was co-founder of global anticorruption group, Transparency International. Ezekwesili, 55, is a former Vice President of the World Bank and a former Minister of Education. At a press conference in Lagos on Monday the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) said the agenda of the oparty is to create jobs, create wealth and take 80 million Nigerians out of poverty.

Ezekwesili described the two major political parties, the APC and the PDP, as “Siamese twins of failure and destruction” and urged Nigerians to make the right leadership choice that would reposition the country. She said both Buhari and Atiku are not good enough for Nigeria, because “the current cycle of failures are not sustainable” and that at this juncture the country deserves a tried and tested leadership “that is data driven, independent minded and solution centred”.

Moghalu

Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, 55, is a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who is running to be president on the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). Moghalu said his vision for Nigeria is set out in his new book: Build, Innovate, Grow (BIG), which was released in February. The YPP candidate said he plans to unseat Buhari, by using the President’s own poor record to defeat him. He challenged Buhari to presidential debate, saying the President should not be allowed to dodge the debate by sending Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to represent him.

Durotoye

Adetokunbo Fela Durotoye, 46, is the candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN). He is optimistic that Nigeria is greatly blessed and that the younger generation has what it takes to transform the country’s economy. To clinch the ticket, he defeated Moghalu and nine other young presidential aspirants after a two-stage voting process. The ANN flag bearer is a business consultant, leadership expert, motivational speaker and the president of the Gemstone Nation Builders Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation targeted at training youths towards transformational leadership and social change. Durotoye whose parents were university lecturers is passionate about education. He believes that unemployment is tied to the poor standard of education in the country.

Mailafia

Obadiah Mailafia is a career economist, banker and international development specialist with over 25 years’ experience. He serves as the Chief of Staff of the 80-member African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States based in Brussels, Belgium. The ADC candidate is a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and a former Special Adviser to the President on Economic and Policy Matters. Following his emergence as the ADC presidential flag bearer, Mailafia expressed optimism that, if elected, he would implement various economic policies that would help to grow the Nigerian economy. He said: “We need to focus on implementation. This country is not short of ideas and we have several economic documents, the current one is the National Economic Recovery Document, 2017 to 2020. It is very solid and well written. I will engage in rigorous implementation of these policies and also engage policy analysts that are conversant with daily happenings in various sectors of the economy.”

Olawepo-Hashim

Olawepo-Hashim, 49, is the flag bearer of the Alliance for Peoples Trust (APT), a merger of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), the People’s Trust (PT) and a faction of the National Intervention Movement (NIM). He is a businessman with interest in the energy sector. An offspring of a Yoruba mother and a Hausa father from Kebbi, the graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Lagos and Master’s Degree holder in Global Affairs from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom is a bridge builder of sorts. He is a Christian who was raised in Niger and Kwara States. He has also been described as a non-conformist who will not compromise his principles for pecuniary gains. The APT candidate was a founding member of the PDP. Indeed, he was the first elected Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party in 1999. He resigned in 2006, after leading a protest for the entrenchment of internal democracy and due process when the leadership set out to illegally extend its two-year tenure other than by constitutional means. Whereas Olawepo-Hashim stood to benefit from the process; he opposed it on the ground of its unconstitutionality.

Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, the founder of online news agency Sahara Reporters, is the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC). Sowore, 47, is one of the young, vibrant candidates contesting to change the country’s political narratives. Driven by fearless ideas, the AAC candidate said he would disrupt Nigeria’s political space the way he disrupted the media space with Sahara Reporters. He is reported to have started the online newspaper with one staff (himself) and one laptop. Like Moghalu, he also rejected Durotoye’s emergence as a consensus candidate of the coalition of political parties, the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT).

Okotie

Born on June 16, 1958, Christopher Oghenebrorie Okotie, popularly known as Chris Okotie, is the General Overseer of the Household of God Church, a Pentecostal congregation in Lagos. Okotie who is contesting on the platform of Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) has made three failed attempts – 2003, 2007 and 2011 – to become the President. When he declared his intention to run again early last month, Okotie called on other political parties to adopt him as a consensus candidate. He said: “I want to re-affirm my call for an interim government and to ask those that are concerned, who are the political actors to consider me as a consensus candidate. I have referred to myself as a consensus remedial facilitator because of the existential threats that we have now and I think that it’s time for us to lay aside the habiliments of our political affiliations and to embrace a new nationalistic philosophy that can salvage this country at this time.”

Agoro

Agoro indicated in his acceptance speech after he emerged the flag bearer of the National Action Council (NAC) that the flag bearer of the National Action Council (NAC) that the country is in dire need of a clean and visionary leader. He added: “It is a shame and terribly bad that our so-called leaders are not proud to be called Nigerians.” He said President Buhari has no reason to seek a second-term mandate, because “he has failed Nigerians”.

Adesanya-Davies

Adesanya-Davis, 56, is aspiring to be Nigeria’s first female president. She said: “I am aspiring to be the next president of Nigeria. I am out to put laughter of joy on the mouth of all. I have discussed this with the former presidential candidate, Sarah Jubril, who incidentally is from Kwara State. Her reaction was that ‘if miracles like this will ever happen, we have paid the price in Kwara State and it is going to happen in the state.”

Adesanya-Davies is an educational consultant and an associate professor of linguistics with specialisation in applied linguistics and communication. She is a former director of the Centre for Vocational Skills, Entrepreneurial and General Studies, Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She is a linguist, educationist, poet, communication expert, advocacy and activist.

Akhimien

With several university degrees in foreign languages, international law and diplomacy, strategic and conflict management in addition to several years of military service and post military engagement as private security service provider, Akhimien who is the candidate of the Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN) is certainly not a pedestrian candidate for the office of the President. The national president of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria believes that the growing insecurity in Nigeria stems from pervasive injustices in the land. He said: “Most of the security challenges that we are experiencing today would not have been on the table if not for these pervasive injustices. Wherever there is injustice I am telling you even the best security measures will not hold sway.”