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Kogi 2019: Battle for supremacy begins

Wale Ibrahim, Lokoja

With the conclusion of the primaries by all political parties in the run up to the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State where men were separated from boys and contenders from pretenders, all is now set for what could be described as the battle of the Titans, pitching the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, against the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Although, 22 candidates have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to contest for the Lugard House, Lokoja, the seat of government, only the APC and the PDP have the wherewithal to win the coveted crown.

Yahaya Bello, the incumbent governor is the candidate of APC, while Mr. Musa Wada, younger brother of the former governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada, emerged as his opponent in the PDP.

Candidates of some of the other political parties participating in the election are Samuel Alfa Audu (AA), Ibrahim Jubrin (APGA),  Dambo Dantelle (APM) , Natasha Akpoti (SPD), Joseph Idachaba (PPN), Godwin Atawodi (DA), Mrs. Justina  Abanida (ADC), Jimoh  Ahmadu (MAJA), Ibrahim Itodo (LP) and several others whose name have been made public.

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The election presents another opportunity for both the APC and PDP to rekindle their old rivalry. The two have enviable records of how they outwitted each other during previous elections in the Confluence State.

Political observers noted that the battle would be an interesting one, as opposition candidates have vowed to unseat Bello, who has the tag of a non-performing governor, hanging on his neck.

However, several factors will play up, as the clock ticks towards the election day. Aside from the tribal sentiments, which is already pronounced, others such as the achievements, political pedigree of candidates and how the contestants want to make a difference in the affairs of governance of the state and effect positive changes in the life of the electorate will also come into focus.

There are also the unresolved issues before, during and after the party primaries and the attendant consequences.

But more importantly, the task between the two major parties is how to win the heart of the electorate. But this would not be an easy task for any of the parties, unless they put their houses in order.

APC may suffer from internal revolt, following the not too perfect way it handled its primaries. Political observers in the state have described some of the wrong steps taken in the build up to and during the primary election, as not too healthy in party politics. It was noted that allowing 16 aspirants to cough out N22.5 million each, amounting toN360 million to purchase intent and nomination forms, only to later disqualify them on flimsy excuses may have dampened the spirit of oneness in the party.

A source told The Nigerian Xpress that the party did everything to favour the emergence of the incumbent. The fractured primary election only added to what has been termed the “divide and rule” style of Governor Bello, following his emergence after the death of Prince Abubakar Audu in 2015.

There are many factions of the party in the state and although recent reconciliation notwithstanding, many founding members of the party are still aggrieved, crying foul for not being carried along in the last four years.

Although, the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, and the National Working Committee, NWC, recently held a reconciliation meeting of all contestants to ensure unity among loyalists and to work for the victory of the party, The Nigerian Xpress learnt that more still needed to be done to convince aggrieved members to come fully on board.

But, the ruling party and its candidate will rely on the massive votes garnered for President Muhammadu Buhari during the presidential election. The party also won seven out of the nine House of Representatives seats from the state, won two out of three senatorial seats as well as clinching all the 25 seats in the state House of Assembly.

And, speaking shortly after picking the APC ticket, Governor Bello told journalists in Abuja that his numerous achievements are dotted across the three senatorial districts and announced that his government had established infrastructure in each of the 21 local government areas of the state.

The present administration is still basking in the euphoria of successfully tackling insecurity, which was the greatest problem of the state, as citizens now sleep with their eyes closed. Businesses have returned, while visitors and travelers pass through the state unmolested.

The opposition PDP has been struggling since losing power in 2015. But the party succeeded in organising one of the best party primaries in the state in recent past, despite the invasion of the Lokoja Confluence Stadium, venue of the exercise by gunmen.

Although, the primary election was rated fair, the result is still in contention. Two aspirants filed petitions to the appeal committee of the party, even as the National Working Committee, NWC, had issued Certificate of Return to the winner. Thirteen aspirants paid N312 million for the nomination form.

The opposition party is banking on the generally held view that Bello has failed the people of Kogi State. It is also flaunting its performance prior to 2015 when the state had its best run of good governance.

The party, in the process, dismissed claims by the ruling APC that it has achieved a lot. PDP is claiming that all existing infrastructures in the state were its projects and will be returned to power based on that. It said that the four years of maladministration of Governor Bello cannot be compared with its achievements during the 13 years it held sway in the state.

The opposition party alleged that since coming to office, the APC administration has never won any election genuinely, alleging that the use of force, intimidation and thuggery gave it power and not popularity.

Political observers and concerned citizens have expressed the fear that as witnessed during the last general elections, if stringent measures were not put in place, the November election may end up a charade.

They alleged that in the last elections, incumbency factor was fully utilised, as all the security apparatus in the state received instructions and directives from the governor, who is the Chief Security Officer of the state. Security officials openly participated in rigging and snatching of ballot boxes.

The PDP also accused APC of intimidating voters on the orders of top Government House officials, who led the operations.

According to reports, the officials who were provided cover by both fake and conventional police chased away voters and even arrested prospective voters on trumped up charges. Scores of agents of opposing political parties were arrested and detained in the Government House guard room.

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Patriotic citizens, who reported cases of electoral malpractices were either ignored or arrested. Senior security officers denied or encouraged malpractices committed by their juniors.

Another area of concern is the mercenary role of the Federal Government in state elections, especially as it affects their own party.

INEC is another problem as they either feign ignorance or outrightly support and even participate in election malpractices.

It was also alleged that during the last general elections, vote shops were created not far from polling stations where agents of parties and contestants voted, while security agents were used to arrange and organise voters, who collected money and were directed to where and who to vote for.

Despite all the allegations and counter allegations, realignments of political forces have continued unabated toward the gubernatorial polls. Youth groups and others are drumming support for their preferred candidates.

Meanwhile, at a recent stakeholders meeting at INEC State Headquarters in Lokoja, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. James Apam, disclosed that no fewer than 170,664 PVCs are unclaimed from 2010 and those who registered before the 2019 general elections.

He told the stakeholders that the commission would commence mobile distribution of the PVCs to assist the owners in their localities across the three senatorial district of the state.

 

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