A short overview of  the momentum that surrounded Buhari before the February presidential election. 

– author’s opinion on the 5 ways why the poll shift has given President Jonathan an edge over Buhari

Below is the full text of the opinion:
Before the February 14 elections presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeared to be heading for certain defeat, on the other hand, the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Party (APC), Gen Buhari, was souring on eagles wings. The euphoria around Buhari was so high that many renamed the month of February FeBuhari.  The APC presidential aspirant was almost sure of victory in the coming poll until the elections were postponed under controversial circumstances. Since then, the tides seem to have turned. The euphoria surrounding Buhari has suddenly diminished and it appears good luck might just be on the side of President Jonathan and the PDP once again. In this light, here are five reasons why the election postponement might have given Jonathan an edge over Gen Buhari.

The Recent Military Victories Against Boko Haram

The insecurity in the northeast of the country was the main reason why the elections were postponed. The military chiefs said the army might be unable to provide adequate security during the poll because they will be engaged in counter insurgency operations in the northeast of the country. The elections therefore had to be shifted.Now, the Nigerian Army has recorded significant victories against Boko Haram. These victories began three weeks ago with an assault on Sambisa forest, the notorious hideout of Boko Haram. On February 21, Saturday, the Nigerian army recorded another feat by  recapturing  the strategic town of Bama in northeastern Borno State from  Boko Haram and blocking the sects  march on the state capital of Maiduguri. Although President Jonathan has been increasingly criticised for his inaction against the terror group, these recent victories by the army has added boost to his chances in the forthcoming poll. Buoyed by Boko Haram’s retreat, President Jonathan on Tuesday, February 24,  said the tide has “definitely turned” against the militants. He has even promised to arrest Boko Haram leader, Shakau before the March 28 election. This new firm stance by the president is likely to win him more fan base among those who might have been skeptical about him.

Buhari Has Suffered A Battered Image Through Media Propaganda

The rescheduling of the general election by six weeks has given the PDP ample time to adopt divers media channels in attacking the image of Buhari. The party has now shifted from highlighting the achievements of President Jonathan’s administration to castigating and soiling the Image Of the APC presidential candidate. Buhari’s image has suffered from questions about his health; his dictatorial past; the 2011 post-election violence; and has even been labeled as an Islamist waiting to impose sharia on Nigeria if elected president. In achieving this PDP has sponsored divers groups who wash the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), African Independent Television (AIT) and other media stations with campaigns that raise questions on the character of Buhari. With few weeks to the elections, it is evident that Buhari’s image would suffer more attacks and this may sway many who once saw him as a fitting presidential candidate. With a battered Image courtesy of PDP propaganda, Goodluck Jonathan has gained significant advantage over Buharii.

APC Has Ran Out of Campaign Funds

On the 25 of February, Punch Newspaper reported that the APC has embarked on cost-saving measures for its rallies due to the shift in the dates of the general elections. The party was said to be opting  for other less capital intensive campaign strategies to deal with the challenge. Although a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu dismissed insinuations that the party is in financial trouble. The writing on the wall is clear for all to see. The APC which in past organised campaigns that draw mammoth crowds has struggled to repeat such feat .While President Jonathan with endless source of cash continues to travel round the country building his fan base. Buhari on the other hand has to lay low, aware of his limited source of cash. This has has  also hurt Buhari’s popularity to a large degree.

PDP Has Few Weeks To Plot Buhari’s Defeat

While the All Progressive Congress (APC) might have ran out of breath, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be perfecting plans to ensure that victory on March 28 is certain. This explains President Jonathan’s recent visit to the Yoruba traditional rulers who have unequivocally vowed their support to the president. In a country where integrity is scarce, the poll shift might have also have given the PDP ample time to plant people in strategic positions to ensure that the party emerges victorious on March 28.  Truth be told, the APC which seemed to have the edge before the election postponement is now struggling to catch up with the PDP. Within the next few weeks the euphoria that surrounds Buhari might have disappeared, giving Jonathan a clear edge over his rival.

APC Has Lost Momentum

APC has lost the element of surprise. Prior to February 14, the APC was the party to beat, with rallies drawing mammoth crowds all over the country, the momentum of the APC was at a crescendo. But With the rescheduling of the general elections the party has yet to gain the kind of moral it previously had. Like Femi Aribisala noted on Scam news : “the six week postponement of the election has effectively crippled the APC. It is no wonder then that the party has been grumbling non-stop. In the meantime, PDP has been able to get a full measure of the APC. Putting all its eggs in the 14th February date, which it insisted cannot and must not be changed; the APC played all its cards. It put all its eggs in one basket. However, PDP held some in reserve, banking on the postponement of the election.”

It seems the party threw all its weight behind the February 14 elections, now the ego of the party has been hurt by the poll shift. The APC appears to have ran out of ideas. This might be an explanation for Buhari’s recent trip to London and his speech at the Chatham House. A public relations stunt meant  to buy out time for the party to re-strategise and come out smoking. But while Buhari is in London giving public talks in a foreign country, President Jonathan is spreading his popularity by visiting troops battling Boko Haram and building his fan base ahead of March 28 poll. This has indeed giving Jonathan a boost ahead of Buhari.

I would have liked to see the PDP lose, but the the poll shift has worked in the PDP’s favour. What do you think, can Buhari still gain the momentum he had before the elections were postponed?


Source: http://theinfong.com/2015/03/5-ways-election-postponement-reduced-buhari-s-chances-of-winning/

...Are you better off now than you were 6 years ago before President Jonathan was sworn in as president after the death of President Umaru Yaradua? Are Nigerians living a higher quality of life now than before because they have access to better, good paying jobs, better healthcare, better education and infrastructure, power or electricity that has removed the need to invest in diesel generators? What is your perception of corruption in the country?

Follow links in my signature, NL is blocking any information that does not or may not favour the current government...?

#NEVER AGAIN @ APC PROPAGANDA, UP GALLANT ARMY

GEJ till 2019!!!

God bless our country

GEJ is the man of the moment,Pa Bookari should go and sit.it is surprising seeing Thiefnibu,Saraki and co shouting "fake Change".

APC planned to smuggle an old man into aso rock.


























But




#NEVER AGAIN shall an old man smell the house of aso!

GEJ greatly gain a lot of ground from this postponement. I would have been 50/50 if the election was to hold on Feb 14 but I can confidently say President GEJ is winning this one even as highlighted by the op. I think the North should concentrate more on preparing someone for 2019. David Mark or Ribadu are likely candidates to me.





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I agree - although it seems as if INEC weren't really prepared the postponement will allow PDP to plan their anticipated rigging.

As it stood initially with so few people collecting PVCs southside (likely because they have more important things to do) APC may have won just due to that.

They may very well lose and Nigerians can look forward to another 4 years of hell, but I don't think the progressives of Nigeria should lose hope. APC have fought a good fight and with good candidates they can win the next one and Nigeria can look forward to better times and a less corrupt government.

You guys should keep deceiving yourselves. For your information, APC is re-strategising for the final onslaught against the PDP.

It appears they have lost steam only to those who don't know the principles of warfare.

You guys better not give yourselves high BP by the time they come back and their campaigns goes round the country again on full throttle giving hope to the hopeless, and putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians who has forgotten how to smile due to the maladministration of the PDP.

Everyone seems to be turning to soothsayer,doomsayers and prophets.

Campaign funds have dried up?How do you know?Are you a signatory to any of their account?

APC has lost momentum?Osinbanjo is still campaigning single handedly across south west,so what's your point?Buhari did well in London.What momentum are you talking about?

By the way,i'm yet to see those prophets who proclaim GEJ will be declared winner in Feb 14 election come out and admit they were high on Otuoke dry gin and weed.

agabusta:
You guys should keep deceiving yourselves. For your information, APC is re-strategising for the final onslaught against the PDP.

It appears they have lost steam only to those who don't know the principles of warfare.

You guys better not give yourselves high BP by the time they come back and their campaigns goes round the country again on full throttle giving hope to the hopeless, and putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians who has forgotten how to smile due to the maladministration of the PDP.

Indeed!!!

Johna us d man till 2019..
If u like quote b abuse me, I don't quote n abuse u wen u chant Sai buhari...

agabusta:
You guys should keep deceiving yourselves. For your information, APC is re-strategising for the final onslaught against the PDP.

It appears they have lost steam only to those who don't know the principles of warfare.

You guys better not give yourselves high BP by the time they come back and their campaigns goes round the country again on full throttle giving hope to the hopeless, and putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians who has forgotten how to smile due to the maladministration of the PDP.

I think the reality has not yet dawned on you.

APC funding is from two major sources.
Tinubu's private pocket - which has grossly diminished after spending so much on rallies & media hype for Buhari's candidacy.
And Amaechi's Rivers allocation, which has been delayed for obvious reasons after the massive reduction of recent.

Lesson : Underestimate the 'clueless' GEJ at your peril.

SMH! The numbers still don't add up for PDP. On social media where Buhari had a lot of support, have you seen any difference? Just because people are a little more quiet right now doesn't mean they now support GEJ, far from it. After the Chatham speech, his followers came back to life and you'll start seeing more of that when he gets back.

The army is defeating Boko Haram right now and this is wonderful news. I'll however not be too quick to call it a victory. Do you really think the people that were affected will vote for PDP? People have died, they've lost family members. People's lives have been destroyed, their livelihood, their property, etc. Now they see the army just wiping these guys out like ants, do you really think they'll rejoice or do you think they won't be wondering why this wasn't done earlier?

When Boko Haram was just conducting suicide bombings, I could understand the argument a little bit that it wasn't a conventional war but at the time they started capturing territories the game changed. When they started capturing territories, I was thinking "now this over, they're going to be wiped out". This is because I didn't think these thugs stood a chance against our army in a conventional war but what did we start hearing, "tactical" retreats, soldiers running out of bullets and not being well equipped. Soldiers died for this reason, there was a mutiny. So please where exactly is the victory??

Even if those girls are returned today, it can't be a plus to Jonathan because he failed from the start and then its taking almost a year to get them back. Imagine what those girls have gone through?? Do you really believe those girls would really come back and want to go thank GEJ??

Last thing is, all they've done throughout the campaign is attack Buhari than even highlight their achievements, that hasn't worked what makes you think it'll work now? AIT made a documentary, it backfired big time judging by the AIT polls. Fayose started his round of attacks when Buhari went to London, in doing this he put attention back on Buhari. Buhari came out and gave a wonderful performance, they made the appearance more popular than it'll have normally been. The smear campaign didn't work before and it won't work now.

UP GEJ, UP PDP, UP NIGERIA

mrmetoo1:
SMH! The numbers still don't add up for PDP. On social media where Buhari had a lot of support, have you seen any difference? Just because people are a little more quiet right now doesn't mean they now support GEJ, far from it. After the Chatham speech, his followers came back to life and you'll start seeing more of that when he gets back.

The army is defeating Boko Haram right now and this is wonderful news. I'll however not be too quick to call it a victory. Do you really think the people that were affected will vote for PDP? People have died, they've lost family members. People's lives have been destroyed, their livelihood, their property, etc. Now they see the army just wiping these guys out like ants, do you really think they'll rejoice or do you think they won't be wondering why this wasn't done earlier?

When Boko Haram was just conducting suicide bombings, I could understand the argument a little bit that it wasn't a conventional war but at the time they started capturing territories the game changed. When they started capturing territories, I was thinking "now this over, they're going to be wiped out". This is because I didn't think these thugs stood a chance against our army in a conventional war but what did we start hearing, "tactical" retreats, soldiers running out of bullets and not being well equipped. Soldiers died for this reason, there was a mutiny. So please where exactly is the victory??

Even if those girls are returned today, it can't be a plus to Jonathan because he failed from the start and then its taking almost a year to get them back. Imagine what those girls have gone through?? Do you really believe those girls would really come back and want to go thank GEJ??

Last thing is, all they've done throughout the campaign is attack Buhari than even highlight their achievements, that hasn't worked but makes you think it'll work now? AIT made a documentary, it backfired big time judging by the AIT polls. Fayose started his round of attacks when Buhari went to London, in doing this he put attention back on Buhari. Buhari came out and gave a wonderful performance, they made the appearance more popular than it'll have normally been. The smear campaign didn't work before and it won't work now.

This suffices!

Buhari had no chance of winning even without the postponement. Forget the online propaganda of APC.

Buhari is headed for Daura .lol


GEJ till 2019.

Op your analysis is flawed. People have decided long ago. GEJ visit to SW is to pretend to reach out to the west but we all know it's not effective. You also talked about #GEJPHONEYWAR! Our eyes don open pass like that.
Two things. Yes two things that will make GEJ/PDP get reelected.
1. Ease Jega out and use TVC
2. Buy court judgment and disqualify GMB.

I think GEJ will succeed in one of the options otherwise this is APC's election to lose.

GEJ is a goner.

agabusta:
You guys should keep deceiving yourselves. For your information, APC is re-strategising for the final onslaught against the PDP.

It appears they have lost steam only to those who don't know the principles of warfare.

You guys better not give yourselves high BP by the time they come back and their campaigns goes round the country again on full throttle giving hope to the hopeless, and putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians who has forgotten how to smile due to the maladministration of the PDP.

Keep telling yourself that.never again will buhari rule this country again copy that and paste it on your forehead.

Let the fight begin
Oya supporters, start killing yourselves with words

Walahi, politics section is fun

temitemi1:
GEJ till 2019!!!

. Why would Ɣo̶̲̥̅̊u̶̲̥̅̊ be wishing GEJ to die by 2019? Are U̶̲̥̅̊ with your senses?

Q

queensmith:
I agree - although it seems as if INEC weren't really prepared the postponement will allow PDP to plan their anticipated rigging.

As it stood initially with so few people collecting PVCs southside (likely because they have more important things to do) APC may have won just due to that.

They may very well lose and Nigerians can look forward to another 4 years of hell, but I don't think the progressives of Nigeria should lose hope. APC have fought a good fight and with good candidates they can win the next one and Nigeria can look forward to better times and a less corrupt government.

The Northerners are waiting to vote, the south westerners are waiting to vote. The north central are waiting to vote. The north east is waiting to vote.
GEJ will manage what he can get but the south-south and the southeast will not be as locked down as 2011.
So no more noise making of creation of multiple IDs on nairaland. 28th March, nigerians will match incompetence and March a better deal to Asokoro.

PDP, can try again after 2019, but till then GMB .

GMB,the man destined to bring change.

Number 6

Buhari is sick and in coma in London

GEJ till Buhari enter grave.

parkhurst:
...Are you better off now than you were 6 years ago before President Jonathan was sworn in as president after the death of President Umaru Yaradua? Are Nigerians living a higher quality of life now than before because they have access to better, good paying jobs, better healthcare, better education and infrastructure, power or electricity that has removed the need to invest in diesel generators? What is your perception of corruption in the country?

Follow links in my signature, NL is blocking any information that does not or may not favour the current government...?

are these the only words u knw? any where I Enter, I see u posting dis same shiii

My question is..... Did the postpondment of the election increase jonatan chances of winning? Nigerians will decide nd not ur right up... Ur right up is ur own personal opinion...

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