Jonathan’s Chances Slim, Says El-Rufai
As the 2011 general elections draw near, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates, including President Goodluck Jonathan, have slim chances of winning.
Malam el-Rufai says this is because Nigerians have become aware of the deceit and maladministration of the PDP in the past 12 years.
He also said the citizens were now very prepared to monitor their votes and take to the streets should their votes be tampered with.
In a lengthy message to our correspondent on the state of the nation and its preparedness for the election, the former minister said: “There is a lot of disenchantment with the ruling party and in some states like Benue and Katsina. Exodus to opposition parties may cause the PDP to lose at several levels.
“The PDP campaign rallies are drab celebration and dancing events with scanty crowds that have been described by one of the opposition candidates as ruling party’s ‘farewell party’.
“The two leading opposition parties – CPC and ACN – are exciting voters and drawing much larger crowds in most parts of the country than the ruling party. Financially and organisationally, Buhari’s new party CPC without any money or access to the resources of elected governors, has consistently attracted the largest crowds in campaign rallies.
“Without any reliable pre-election polls as guide, one can only hazard an informed guess after the National Assembly elections of 2 April.
“I am of the view though that if the elections are relatively free and fair as expected, it may well be that a clear winner does not emerge in the first ballot for the presidency on 9 April. And in a second round between the two leading candidates, anything can happen!
Grave risk of being voted out.
—Eromosele Ebhomele
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