By : Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Political Parties are described as the Vehicle for seeking Political officers in Nigeria and Major Countries of the World.
Even though there is agitation for providing a close in Nigerian electoral laws to allow Independent Candidacy , but yet to be achieved.
It becomes a Culture during general elections time in Nigeria Politicians change their member ship from one Party to another .
2023 Elections in View : Aspirants Jumped from major Political Parties APC and PDP to other Parties considered as Small Parties.
Recently Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso former two term Governor of Kano State and two term Presidential Aspirant under both APC and PDP decamped to New Nigeria People’s Party – NNPP .
The main reason for his action according to political analyst is to get the Presidential ticked and form a third force Political structure in the Country.
The most recent defection is that of Peter Obi a Vice Presidential running mate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during 2019 election.
Shortly after Peter Obi defection Majority of the Nigerian Media reported that the former Anambara Governor joined the Labour Party.
Down to States accrosd the Country ,Kano State remain the most Populated State.
Beside its Population Comperative advantage ,Kano is the Political melting Pot of Nigeria’s Politics since Colonial and Post Colonial era.
MASS DEFECTION: KANO APC ON BRINK OF COLLAPSE
As never before, the current gale of defections, rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) party in Kano is a clear signal that the party is on the verge of imminent collapse, as majority of its stakeholders have already dumped the party to pitch their tent, with the newly formed Kwankwaso’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
Like a whirl wind from the blues, the sudden re-emergence of the (NNPP), formed over five years ago by Dr Boniface Anobolam, who is the current BOT Chairman destabilized the political equation in Kano when Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso suddenly dumped the PDP for NNPP.
Barely one week after Kwankwaso defected to the party, it ushered in an unprecedented decamping of Kano APC members to the party, a development that the party is heading to extinction, as the defection of members has continued unabated..
The gradual collapse of the party started manifesting when two factions emerged, following a protracted dispute between the G 7, championed by former two term Kano State Governor 2003 – 2011 and Presidential Candidate of defunct All Nigeria’s People Party ANPP in 2011 Senator Ibrahim Shekarau and that headed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over power sharing formula.
Unsatisfied with Ganduje’s power sharing formula in Kano APC, Shakarau’s faction approached the court but failed in its bid to secure 45 per cent control of the party that he was agitating for. Despite Shekarau’s failure to convince the court to grant his prayers, Ganduje pleaded with Shekarau’s camp to partner, with him to take the party to another level, an offer Shekarau’s faction vehemently turned down, insisting that fairness, justice and all-inclusiveness must be ensured and entrenched.
Earlier, Shekarau’s faction wrote the party headquarters on February 7, 2022, rejecting the sharing formula of the party structure for Kano and subsequently forwarded another letter to the APC headquarters titled,: ‘Re: Guidelines for harmonization of the party structure in Kano’ dated February 10, 2022.
In the latest letter, it demanded 55 per cent of the party structure, including the chairmanship position, which Ganduje turned down?
The letter was jointly signed by Shekarau (APC, Kano Central), Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), Tijjani Jobe (APC, D/Tofa/Rimingado Federal Constituency), Nasiru Gabasawa (APC, Gezawa/Gabasawa Federal Constituency), Haruna Dederi (APC, Karaye/Rogo Federal Constituency), Sha’aban Sharada (APC, Kano Municipal Federal Constituency) and Shehu Dalhatu (Chairman, Buhari Support Group).
Shekarau’s faction emphasized that any reconciliation committee and/or reconciliatory engagement must not be headed by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, noting that he is party to all the disagreements.
In continuation of the reconciliation process, the Shekarau’s group demanded the withdrawal of all appeals filed by the governor’s faction, as evidence of a transparent process, capable of strengthening and rekindling its confidence.
The letter reads in part, “We are in receipt of your letter dated February 8, 2022 in respect of the above stated subject matter. It was served on our leader, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (Sardaunan Kano, on February 9, 2022, and it is in response thereto we hereby write to you.
“We will continue to recognize your genuine intention to strengthen the APC through initiatives of reconciliation and peace building whenever the party faces internal disputes. Furthermore, we are confident that you are competent to make all the right decisions to move our party generally and the Kano State chapter particularly forward and restore it to the path of progress.
“The constitution of our great party has clear and unambiguous provisions in respect of the different caucuses of the party. We find it inappropriate to be subjected to any other suggested composition of the LG caucus.
“It is because of the aforementioned reasons and more that we forwarded to you our response to your letter of February 7, 2022 and now hereby reaffirm that: “We still stand by our proposal of 55 per cent with the state chairman in our favour, while conceding 45 per cent of the party positions to the governor’s side without any further compromise.
“Any reconciliation committee and/or re-conciliatory engagements must not be headed by the governor, as he is a party to all the disagreements.
“The continuation of the reconciliation process must be subject to the withdrawal of all appeals filed by the governor’s side as evidence of a transparent process capable of strengthening our confidence.
“We urge you, to have a deep introspection on the fault-lines in the Kano State chapter of our great party and do all that is necessary by following legal and constitutional means to redeem our situation.
To compound Ganduje’s woes, Kwankwaso, who has been out of power for over three years joined the Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP), as a launch pad to recapture Kano to his fold, emphasizing that Ganduje lacks the capacity to halt his calculated moves to take over the full control of Kano.
Mr. Tide Odogwu who is a Veteran Journalist with Vast experience in reporting Nigerian Politics says, With the emergence of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), it has put a halt to the age-long unchallenged dominance of the APC in Kano, as the political tide has automatically shifted to the hands of the NNPP, which is the political bride at the moment.
To further cripple Ganduje, Shekarau, who has suddenly become the beautiful political bride, is in the process of crossing over to NNPP, as to form a formidable front to edge out Ganduje, Kwankwaso is insisting lacks of political structure.
With the ongoing political development in quick succession, the political scenario in Kano is becoming clearer, as the NNPP is gradually taking over the political structure of the APC in Kano.
Some political watchers and stakeholders Our Correspondent exchanged views with in Kano, over the unfolding political development were convinced that Kwankwaso’s newly formed party will emerge victorious in the 2023 general election.
They argued that Kwankwaso would use his age-old political structure in the State to clinch the Governorship seat, alongside other critical political seats. In order to transform his game plans to a reality, Kwankwaso, who believes that former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau will be critical toward actualizing his dreams has wooed him to his side and Shekarau hasl formally defect to the party on the platform form where he will continue to pursue his next political ambition of Contesting as Senator to“In 2023, the general public will vote for competent individuals but not the political parties because these parties are simply rotating the key actors. People will watch with keen interest, who the candidates are decide for themselves who they want to represent them.”
However. the recent defection of Ganduje’s Chief of Staff, Ali Makoda to the NNPP will negatively affected Ganduje’s po;itical fortunes, due to Makoda’s political strength, which will negatively impact on the fortunes of APC in Dambatta and Makoda, which he represents.
it is indeed a loss to APC but a gain to NNPP
Following the unfolding political development, it is likely that NNPP will capture the soul Kano, come 2023 general elections, following the successive defection of who’s who on Kano politics to the NNPP.
The reflection of the mass defection of APC member to the NNPP is apparent that Kano people are yearning for change, real change, as the battle for the soul of Kano has been zeroed to between NNPP and APC, which is currently battling, with mass defection of members.
Nevertheless, following the unfolding political development in Kano State, particularly the defections of staunch APC members to the Opposition parties, the battle for the soul of Kano Gubernatorial seat will be an uphill task, as the pendulum is already swinging toward the NNPP, an impression, some political watchers have dismissed as untrue, insisting that other parties but certainly not the APC will clinch the Gubernatorial seat, come 2023.
Not too long ago, nine lawmakers dramatically defected to the NNPP, which has now become the beautiful bride in Kano politics.
Barring any unforeseen changes, the leadership of Kano may likely be captured by Kwankwaso’s New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), as he already has structures to consolidate his form grip of the State.
Most of the political big wigs in Kano are already eyeing the NNPP, as the party to pitch their tent with for the forthcoming political dispensation.
The last straw that is in the process of spelling doom for the Kano APC is attributable to a deadlock in power sharing tussle between the Shekarau-led G-7 and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje led faction.
Reacting to the gale of defections that hit Kano APC and its implications, the State Commissioner of Information, Comrade Muhammad Garba, said: “there is nothing new over the development, as it happened during the twilight stages of both the past administrations of Ibrahim Shekarau and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.The members decamping are those, who are aware that they will not emerge victorious at the primaries and the only option left for them is to defect to other political parties to try their luck on whether or they will be accommodated.”
The trend, he emphasized is nothing new in Kano politics, as it will soon subside, while the APC will continue to wax stringer in Kano, which has been and still a major stronghold for the APC.
“Politicians will continue to defect from the APC to the PDP and from the PDP to NNPP and vice versa, stressing that politics is dynamic and not static, as politicians, who feel cheated will continue to move from party to party adinfinitum.”
Reacting to the gale of defections, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s spokesman, Dr Sule Ya’u Sule, said the ongoing mass defection of APC members to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), is an indication that the Kano APC is on the verge of extinction. “All the defecting members were no longer at ease that the APC will satisfy their political ambition. They were convinced that the NNPP is the party to move to, where they are convinced that they will have a fulfillment of their political ambition.”
With Shekarau and Kwankwaso aboard the NNPP, they are convinced that the sky will be their limit in their political pursuit, come the 2023 general elections, as the NNPP is operating on the platform of the age-long political structure established by Kwankwaso.
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