#APC : A New Bride on the Block Judging by the euphoria that has greeted the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the 2015 general election has already been won and lost. Another party with nationwide acceptance is what most Nigerians, including marginalised members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been longing for. Nigeria is back to a two-party system. All that is required to make the APC sail with the wind at its back is for its chieftains to manage the party’s acceptance properly. APC must have and maintain a seamless structure from the ward right up to the national level. No member of the party, no matter how rich or influential, should be able to dictate to it at any level. The party’s interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, has rightly indicated that its preoccupation now is forming solid structures from the ward level. Party supremacy will ensure that executives are able to control aspirants and not the other way round. And, for the party to win the respect of all, it must be democratic in all its dealings. This means that the process of electing party executives and candidates must follow the due process of election – emergence of true representatives through a credible, free and fair voting. Voting itself may still present a challenge to the new bride on the block. Despite the 14 years of unbroken “democratic” rule in Nigeria so far, many have not imbibed the democratic spirit of give and take. Others have not understood why the majority should have their way. Indeed, democracy has not taken root in the country because some of our leaders in the past 14 years have been destroying democracy rather than building it. Election rigging, imposition of candidates, do or die, “no vacancy” in Aso Rock or Government House, “PDP shall rule for 60 years” – all these are the antithesis of democracy. APC would do well, then, to invest in the reorientation of its members and, indeed, the Nigerian electorate. It has to live up to its name as a party for progressives. No doubt, the new party will face a major hurdle as it organises its congresses and convention across the country. It should strive to make losers happy by assuring them that the winner-take-all policy of certain administrations will have no place in an APC government. Consensus candidacy is not democratic, but it is advisable for the gladiators to adopt a semi-consensus approach in choosing the party’s presidential candidate at this stage. They could agree on a candidate that will be acceptable to all sections of the country and then support him in the party’s primary election. That way, they would banish discontent and disenchantment that usually follow the selection of a flag-bearer. In subsequent polls, with democracy maturing in the country and good governance emerging, party primaries would no longer be a threat to party cohesion. The threat to the PDP is quite obvious, for the people now have a choice to make. The ruling party has to reform itself or die a natural death. We do not wish the PDP dead – we want it to be alive and strong too. But let the people’s votes count in elections. Source: Leadership
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 03:11:52 +0000