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Political intrigues and the 2019 presidential election

By Carl Umegboro
07 December 2017   |   2:03 am
Pursuant to Section 135(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, President Muhammadu Buhari would alongside some state governors complete their four-year term on May 29, 2019....

President Muhammadu Buhari during campaign. AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

Sir: Pursuant to Section 135(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, President Muhammadu Buhari would alongside some state governors complete their four-year term on May 29, 2019, paving way for inauguration of new administrations as would be determined and returned by the electorate and returning officers respectively in the forthcoming general election. By the resolve of the umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve as observed at the just-concluded Anambra governorship election, with no sign of interference from powers-that-be as before; convincingly, votes of the electorate would seriously count in determining who mounts the podium as next president and other leadership positions.

As a result, politicking is gathering momentum in diverse dimensions and quarters with many defections, scheming and political calculations by ambitious politicians. For some, in their defence, especially for habitual defectors, it was lack of internal democracy in their political parties, for some others, monumental failure of their party to meet aspirations of the masses.

By the development, the battle for control of the federal power will be relentlessly contested between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and erstwhile ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) except a new merger surfaces which is unlikely at this juncture. Presently, APC has an upper hand and undeniably with viable structures.

Be that as it may, salient factors that may play major roles in the 2019 presidential election include rotation of the presidency which is of utmost national interest despite no provision for it in the constitution.The most salient factor is the position of economy under APC leadership in comparison with PDP’s previous performance.

Arising from the above and in the overall interest of the nation, concerted actions should sensitively be geared towards consolidating the developing policies in place alongside deploying additional capable hands by the Federal Government in its workforce.
Carl Umegboro, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.

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