4th November, 2010
The woeful performance of the U.S. Democratic Party in Tuesdayâ€
When Democrats came to power in 2008, they captured the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate from the Republicans. They also secured the election of Barack Obama, the first black president, in the White House. It was a complete success.
The concatenation of successes and the ambitious Democratic agenda compelled some analysts to predict that Democrats were going to be in power at least for another decade. But, all the fantasy ended on Tuesday when Republicans won back the House in a landslide and gained seats in the Senate. For Obama, itâ€
In Nigeria, the internal crises rocking the self-styled largest party in Africa, the Peopleâ€
The PDP is threatened by a triumvirate of forces: The in-fighting within the party, the pressure from the opposition parties and the discontentment of voters who have felt disenfranchised for years.
At the national level, the selection or election of the PDP flag bearer in the presidential election next year is threatening to tear the party apart. While President Jonathanâ€
Signs that PDPâ€
In Ogun State, the party is embroiled in a war between the state lawmakers and the governor, Gbenga Daniel. The Ogun crisis is threatening PDPâ€
In Oyo State, there is in-fighting between Governor Alao Akala and other PDPÂ members.
In the South East, the PDP has lost Anambra State and only recaptured Abia State when the state governor, Theodore Orji, decamped to the PDP from the Progressive Peoples Alliance Party, PPA, under whose platform he was elected into office. The same thing applies in other states where the party is facing crises of legitimacy and survival.
With the discontentment of voters and pressure from the Action Congress of Nigeria in the South West, the All Nigeria Peopleâ€
The party seems to be waiting to implode. What happened to Democrats in America on Tuesday may soon befall PDP. The ongoing allignment of forces ahead of the 2011 election is there as a pointer. While Democrats mainly suffered from the economic crisis and some unpopular policies, the PDP is regarded by most voters as a party that rigs itself into power and that they are ready to stop such rigging and other election malpractices next year. Already, the one-man-one vote campaign has begun to checkmate PDPâ€
We call on the other political parties to begin to mobilise and sell their manifestoes to the voters and change the power equation by electing credible leaders that will be accountable to the people. It is only when the leaders are accountable to the electorate that meaningful development can take place.