The clock is ticking, the sky is gradually thickening and the dye is cast as Kogi State governorship election draws nearer. The most conspicuous contenders in the election will be the incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada of the PDP and the former governor, Prince Abubakar Audu of the APC. Interestingly, other political parties that are trying to pull their weights against these two great political parties are APGA and LP, after scaling the hurdles of their primaries to secure the mandates of their parties. Some political pundits posit that the toughest competition will apparently be between the PDP and APC candidates in the state.
Essentially, politicians in the state, especially those with interest in political appointments have already embarked on the underground electioneering campaigns seeking for votes for their preferred candidates. The major political parties PDP, APC, APGA, LP are busy touring the length and breadth of the state vigorously and with high expectations and then canvass for supporters and consult with stakeholders at the various wards and constituencies to actualise their ambitions of steering the affairs of the state for the next 4 years.
Expectedly, thousands of Kogites will be going to the polling booths to cast their votes for the preferred candidate. However, the many youths in the 21 local government areas of the state have expressed their unalloyed support at various fora at seeing that Prince Audu emerges as the governor elect upon x-raying his past achievements in the state as a pointer to the likelihood of his capacity to turning around the economic fortunes of the people for prosperity, if given the opportunity to serve again.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in their usual manner of making frivolous excuses is already using the recent security threat in the state to justify and anticipate failure instead of making adequate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the election well ahead of time, in order to provide a free, fair and credible elections at all levels in the state. This will serve as a litmus test for the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) boss to showcase her competence on the job, if eventually she is confirmed for a 5-year tenure by the senate. Nevertheless, the credibility of the conduct of the Kogi election will ultimately settle the earlier dust raised by critics on her appointment to such an exalted position in the country.
From the foregoing, the political compass is already beaming it’s searchlight towards change and everyone seems bracing for a better, focused and strategic direction for an achievable goal of true governance. It may no longer be the usual, which has been the case in time past, where PDP always gets it all. Most politicians and stakeholders, who have shifted their attention to the victory of the APC at the national level, may likely swing a change of pattern of voting in the Kogi gubernatorial election. Though the incumbent governor, Captain Wada got a unanimous endorsement of the PDP as the sole candidate in the state, some of its members were critical and divided over the decision, as it did not provide a level playing ground for all the interested aspirants. Interestingly, the new thing that gladdens the hearts of many stakeholders about the coming election is the change mantra currently spreading like a wildfire across the political divide of the state for a more credible candidate that will be able to confront the socio-economic situation of the state that has suffered much neglect and setback in the hands of the PDP in the past 12 years.
Sensing the strong wind of “power must change hands” slogan in the country, some clever and smart PDP stalwarts had planned for a leadership change option of producing a more acceptable candidate that will restore confidence and faith of the people in the PDP to defeat the APC’s governorship race ambition in the state. But, as it is always the case, the plan was vehemently resisted by the power that be. This may affect PDP’s success at the election.
It is necessary to recall that the current state government of the PDP had been enmeshed in the dilemma of indecision in fielding an acceptable candidate, other than the present governor so as to overcome the threatening power shift that may then occur, following the allegation of the monumental mismanagement of the state resources by the PDP led administration, which has relegated the state to being “one of the poorest” for lack of good governance, albeit one of the most naturally endowed states in Nigeria. It is this poor performance of Captain Wada that has given fillip to the clamouring for the paradigm shift in governance from the inept of Captain Wada and the shackles of poverty, underdevelopment and total dependence on federal allocations, to an APC administration in order to make, Kogi state, an economically viable state.
Apparently, the current political atmosphere in the state appears to suggest that the majority of the Kogites are expecting APC to produce the next governor. Having witnessed the overwhelming victory of the APC party at the national level, at the State Senatorial Districts and even at the state Assembly elections, it becomes obvious that APC may likely win the gubernatorial election in November.
Although, there were disagreements in some quarters as to the propriety of Prince Audu’s desire to comeback to power, though constitutionally his right, but he would have earned him more respect if he had championed the crusade of supporting any other aspirants outside of Kogi East Senatorial District for the governorship election in 2015. Such humble initiative and action would have been an acknowledgement of the people’s generous support for candidates from Kogi East in the last 16 years. Meanwhile, the APC leadership in the state has put at bay the speculations of divisions over the choice of a governorship candidate, which may dim the chances of the APC in the forthcoming gubernatorial deal and also because of the allegation of the abuse of office by Prince Audu, which the EFCC is currently investigating.
On the other hand, the PDP is hoping on the power of incumbency to secure a governorship election victory in the state, no matter the popular mood in the state. It has become crystal clear that the era of sloganeering about service to the people doing nothing, hoping to win an election is over. The bottom line in governance now, is about walking the talk with action. My sincere hope is that we take our destinies in our hands and “vote wisely” in this election. The time has come to make a veritable wise choice in a governorship election in Kogi state. Let November 21, 2015 make a true difference.
Nwuchiola, A. Vincent , a Public Analyst, writing from Benin City abbavin2002@yahoo.com 08051802723/07037596180
