Nigeria’s political horizon is wearing a new outlook. With the emergence of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) and four others into the nation’s political landscape, the tempest and tempo of the country’s polity has been raised with emerging calculations and intrigues ahead of the 2019 general elections. But the pertinent question is can the new parties make any difference in the nation’s polity? By Fidelis Mac-Leva
The other political parties that have met the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) registration requirement include the Young Progressive Party (YPP), New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP), All Democratic Peoples Movement (ADPM) and the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
With the registration of these new parties, there are now 45 political parties in the country, even as INEC had at the last count received 103 applications out of which six associations are undergoing the initial assessment of their logos, names, acronyms and other legal requirements for registration.
INEC recently presented certificates of registration to the five new parties with a stern warning that it would continue to strictly monitor their activities and would not hesitate to apply sanctions against any violation of the law governing the terms and conditions of their registration.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who presented the certificates to the new parties at the commission’s headquarters, reminded them that they were no longer political associations but political parties. He reminded them that the law also provided for de-registration of parties and it would be vigorously applied as the need arises.
“I wish to remind you that as from today you are no longer political associations but registered political parties. As you are aware, political parties are at the heart of our democracy, under the constitution, no Nigerian can contest an election conducted by INEC unless he/she is sponsored by a political party,” Mahmood said.
While assuring the new parties of equal status with others, Yakubu said the commission would extend to them, all the rights and privileges under the constitution, the Electoral Act as well as INEC regulations and guidelines.
He said the commission would continue to strictly monitor the activities of all political parties and would not hesitate to apply sanctions against any violation of the law governing the terms and conditions of their operations. “I wish to remind all political parties that the law also provides for de-registration of parties and we shall vigorously apply this aspect of the law as the need arises”, he warned.
One of the new parties, the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), was earlier unveiled in Abuja where it professed its philosophy and ideals as the product of a new thinking. Interestingly, it seeks to displace the old order and enthrone an encompassing egalitarianism that will fill the yawning gap in Nigeria’s socio-political and economic landscape.
Earlier this year, the crisis rocking the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) took a new twist as some top members of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction were said to have applied to INEC to register an alternative platform to be known as the Advanced Peoples Democratic Party (APDP).
The aggrieved PDP members were said to have approached INEC with an application shortly after the judgment of the Port Harcourt High Court which sacked the Makarfi led caretaker committee in favour of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction of the party.
But INEC, which had no fewer than 50 applications from various interest groups seeking registration as political parties at that time, was not disposed to the registration of APDP on the grounds that it would be wrong for the commission to register a party with similar name with the PDP.
Consequently, INEC was said to have rejected the application and requested the applicants to apply with a new name in place of APDP. The commission later accepted the application and commenced the process of registration when the sponsors adopted the new name of APDA (Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance).
While many see APDA as a reincarnation of the APDP whose application was earlier rejected due to semblance of identity with the crisis-ridden PDP, watchers of political events believe that the new party, if well nurtured, would take over the position of the main opposition party and become a force to reckon with in 2019.
Touted to be an off-shoot and plan ‘B’ for the Senator Makarfi-led National caretaker committee of the PDP in the event it fails to secure victory at the Supreme Court, the registration of APDA has no doubt marked another milestone signaling the possibility of a highly and robustly contested poll in 2019. This is more so that the Makarfi committee had consistently accused the Sheriff faction of “cordially” working with some elements in the ruling APC to get the judgment in their favour.
Coming at a time when the country is approaching some outstanding by-elections, the three governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states that would ultimately usher in the 2019 general elections, many political watchers would be looking forward to whether these new political parties would make a difference.
INEC will particularly be expected to pay special attention to the conduct of these political parties as well as their candidates and supporter so that they don’t turn out to be merely playing to the gallery.
One way of making this difference is to assess the conduct of the new parties with regard to hate speeches which have become an entrenched norm in the nation’s polity.
While many say the nation’s political atmosphere may not remain the same with the unveiling of the new parties which analysts say presents hope for many Nigerians, including those disenchanted with the prevailing leadership, critics say the new parties may merely represent five additional leprous fingers to the nation’s polity.
According to their founding fathers, the new parties are coming on board with great determination to redefine partisan politics and political administration in Nigeria. APDA, for instance, says it presents a social contract with Nigerians driven by deliberate, conscious and patriotic conviction that the time has come to enthrone a national political platform that accommodates everyone in their quest to actualise their dreams and aspirations.
The party also seeks to introduce values that are premised on an inclusive Nigerian society that is founded on the principles of freedom, equality, solidarity and fairness, claiming its drive is to achieve social justice, job creation and economic development in a free market economy.
But not many Nigerians are optimistic because they are used to the sugar-coated and ornamented manifestoes of many a political party which end up being as good as the paper on which their names are written. It is against this backdrop that some critics say they are very skeptical when confronted with the beautiful and compelling ideas and ideals of the new political parties, such as the ones contained in the APDA constitution and manifesto. Only time will tell. https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/politics/2019-how-new-parties-will-change-nigeria-s-political-landscape/203821.htmllalasticlala |
