Supreme Court of Nigeria After the recent judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of Justice in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, cementing the victory recorded by Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25th Presidential Election in the country with the declaration that the election was free, fair and conducted with breach to the constitution of the country, reorganization of the leadership of the three parties that keenly showed interest in the legal battle may be influenced by the judgment.
The factors that may necessitate reshuffling of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party and the likely consequences of the reorganization will be considered in this article.
All Progressives Congress (APC)
The effect of the Supreme Court judgment may have less impact on APC, being the ruling party in the country but it may regroup the party so that the effect of the judgment would be subdued till around 2026 when the party will need every member to show their commitments to the party. Many of the party’s current leader might have given their loyalties to other political parties before the time and they may begin to fail the party.
For instance, as the Supreme Court judgment put an end to the 2023 General Electioneering issues, party members and bigwigs who have not been settled with appointments will no see not reason for the delay of their appointments, and may begin to sponsor “pressure groups” within the party. This may go a long way depending on the versatility of the Presidency and the Party’s leadership to manage the grievances.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
The majority of the leaders of the PDP only kept quiet because of the uncertainty that surrounds Supreme Court judgment. They were keeping peace in the party because no one could tell if Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would win the case or lose out as he had done.
Now, with the deliverance of the Supreme Court judgment, everyone’s idea in PDP may be superior and the party members may have to get prepared for the consequence of “Insincerity” that befell the party ahead of the 2023 General Election.
Very soon, some members of the party will begin to call for a new leadership of the party at the National level. Recall that the party currently relies on an Acting National chairman after the impeachment of its National Chairman, a few weeks after the General Election.
Choices of the region and who becomes the National Chairman of the party are already a cloud of war that may begin to rain on the PDP members.
Recall that despite the agitation by some southern members of PDP before the 2023 General Election, that a Southern presidential candidate should be presented for the 2023 election, the northern elements within the party colluded with few southerners to ensure Atiku Abubakar, a Northerner picked the presidential ticket.
Besides, after the presidential ticket of the party was picked by Atiku Abubakr, a Northerner, the National Chairmanship position of the party was still conceded to Iyorchia Ayu, another Northerner. This was grossly protested by some southern members of the party who identified the action as an act of “insincerity” with the doctrine of “Federal Character” as enshrined in the constitution of the country and the “Sharing Formula” of the party as being embraced at the national level by all great political parties in the country.
Now, As Atiku remained the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, knowing fully well that this will last till 2027 when the party will be conducting a fresh presidential primary, the question that may disrupt the party is if the National Chairmanship position of the party should still be in the North or South.
There may not be a straight response to this, as some of the southern members may see their northern colleagues playing with their intelligence.
Even though the National Chairmanship position of the party is left in the North Central where it currently resides, there may be uproars in the course of selecting who occupies the seat.
Currently, some members of the party are looking at pushing the former Senate President Bukola Saraki to occupy the seat but Atiku Abubakar may see the National Chairmanship of Saraki as a bait to his 2027 Presidential ambition under PDP.
Recall that Bukola Saraki, if well understood, only allowed Atiku Abubakar to display what he believed as his “last dancing steps” of vying for the presidential seat of Nigerian during the 2023 poll, however, Atiku still believes he can move more steps in 2027.
The choice of Bukola Saraki will be a delicate scenario that may devastatingly shake the party at all levels, any moment from now, knowing fully well that he also has presidential ambition in 2027.
Besides, even though Saraki’s national chairmanship slot is settled with Atiku, stiff opposition to whoever is nominated by Atiku’s bloc of PDP will emerge from the bloc of the former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who may presumably position the current Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Taofeek Arapaja or any of their allies from the North Central, most especially the former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, to become the National Chairman of the party.
Interestingly, the influence of Nyesom Wike could be projected ahead of Atiku Abubakar-Bukola Saraki combined, if the crisis finally begins.
The crisis that awaits the PDP after the Supreme Court judgment may have the party splitting into some political blocs of Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, Bukola Saraki, and a couple of others.
Labour Party
In the minds of many people, they see the Supreme Court judgment as the end of the Labour Party in Nigeria. This perception may not be current but it may render the party obsolete ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Already, the Labour Party is faced with a stinking leadership crisis between Abure and Lamidi Apapa. This has successfully disintegrated the party into two; traditional members (Apapa’s camp), and impromptu supporters (Abure’s camp).
The leadership crisis may soon regenerate within the Labour Party and it may lead to the unceremonious exit of Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election.
The certainty of the relevance of the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 election is very, very slim but the movement that gave impromptu relevance to the party may decide to register a new party once the leadership crisis begins.
Not very impossible, Mr. Peter Obi may be frustrated by the leadership crisis to presumably form a new party or rejoin the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), knowing fully well that the bulk of his votes are ethnoreligious-based with the ethnicity favorable to the APGA.
Category: World-News
Tag: Supreme Court judgment Daily Post Nigeria Bola Tinubu news
Written by Omooba Alekuwodo (omoobaalekuwodo)
Published 10/28/2023 12:09:53 PM