Nigeria 2015 Elections: The gathering storm

There are also indications that the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, may defect from the PDP to the APC, to fight for the Presidential ticket of the party. However, it is generally believed that the Speaker is more likely to pick the governorship ticket for Sokoto, his home state, in 2015, to give him more time to mature, before he aims for the big league, as he is perceived to be quite young.

The APC leadership could face a dilemma picking one out of these presidential aspirants as its flag bearer. However, the groundswell of public opinion seems to favour the retired General. He ran against former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and lost. Buhari also contested against the late President Yar’Adua in 2007 and Jonathan in 2011.

He consented to the idea of a merger of four political parties, namely the ANPP, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in February 2013, to brighten his chances at next year’s polls.

However, political watchers say Buhari does not have age on his side, which may affect his chances. He is over 70. But he had declared at a function organised by the Silverbird Group in Lagos in 2012 that he is too ‘young’ to quit politics.

Watershed elections
During a political rally in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in August, Buhari predicted that the 2015 general elections would be a ‘watershed’ in the nation’s political history.

Buhari said: “We are at a crossroads in this country. 2015 is going to be another watershed in Nigerian politics. We decided to come together as a party so that we can rescue this country from bad governance.”

Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, is widely considered a strong candidate for Vice-president slot to the eventual flag bearer of the APC on account of his religion, and commitment to the cause of the opposition. Being a Southern Christian, pundits say he would make a good running mate to any of the Muslim Presidential aspirants from the North Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, a Muslim, who belongs to the APC, is another likely contender for the position of Vice-president.

But analysts say it might be difficult for the APC to float a Muslim-Muslim ticket in a country where religious sentiments are high. Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha of APGA is also touted as a possible Vice-President. Bola Tinubu, reportedly the main financier of the APC, is believed to be interested in becoming the Senate President.

However, the APC itself is facing internal wrangling as some aggrieved members are quitting the party due to what analysts describe as political realignments. Tom Ikimi is the latest high-profile personality to withdraw his membership of the party. He cited overbearing influence of the party’s leadership as main reason for leaving.

Meanwhile, the APC has faulted the President’s directive that all electoral materials for the 2015 general elections should be printed by the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC). The party views this order as a threat to the impartiality of the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the conduct of a free, fair and credible elections in the country.

In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said even though there is nothing wrong in having the NSPMC print electoral materials, as it will create more jobs for Nigerians, it was opposed to the directive on the grounds that it could be abused by the ruling party to manipulate the conduct of the polls.

APC said: “INEC should be left to determine where to print its electoral materials to ensure the integrity of such materials.”

The race, which is certainly getting more interesting by the day, will assume another dimension when the candidates eventually declare their intention.