The aura, steeze and strategies that have characterised the campaigns of the chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming September 21 local government elections have raised a question about the unpreparedness of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). While some observers have linked the unpreparedness to the party’s looming defeat in the polls, others have said the disunity in the party is the main cause.
It was in July that PDP released a malnourished and jejune press statement, noting its readiness for the local government elections. It also boasted about its chairmanship and councilorship candidates — claiming that they were candidates to beat. However, as of the time of writing this piece, there are no indications that the PDP is prepared. From Kwara Central to North and to South, the PDP’s unpreparedness is deafening, though not a surprise.
The observers who linked the PDP’s unpreparedness to looming loss and internal wrangling are absolutely right. The PDP’s self-aggrandisement, embezzlement, and maladministration of yesterday are why it lost the public trust and steadily haemorrhaging today with no help in sight. The outcome of the 2019 and 2023 general elections are indications that Kwarans are done with the leader of PDP, Pastor Omo Oloogbe, and his deluded bootlickers.
Those who know the truth in the party like the former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi have come out to say PDP is a goner in Kwara State. However, despite the insults hurled at him by the uncouth individuals in the party whenever he discusses the state of the PDP on big platforms, Mallam Abdullahi has continued to say it as it is: “I think the party over time lost its steam.”
Compounding the internal crisis in the party are Bukola Saraki’s hubris, highhandedness, deception and fraudulent leadership. These nauseating attributes of the former Senate President haven’t only deepened the internal wrangling in the PDP but have also cost the party some of its bigwigs including Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, Hon. Wahab Issa, Prof. Abubakar Sulyman popularly known as ‘Amana’, Prince Haliru Mahmud Dantsoho and many others who defected to the ruling party.
Therefore, whether the PDP chairmanship and councilorship candidates prepare for the September 21 local government polls or not, Kwarans have already made up their minds on them and it is “PDP? Never again!”. And now that there are no signs that they are preparing, it will even be worse. We can now expect the APC candidates to clear all the polling booths across the state. A landslide victory!
One of my friends is a fan of a loudmouth and arrogant PDP chairmanship candidate in the state. In July, he said he would vote for him on September 21. When I asked him why, he couldn’t give a reasonable reason other than the fact that he just likes him. Last week, he called to tell me how his posters have been scarce and how his archrival, the APC candidate, who is a banker with decent lifestyle has been raking in support. I smiled. I hope he’ll come across this piece and find out why his favourite isn’t the people’s fave and particularly why his posters have scantily dotted the landscape of the local government.
– Mustapha, a public affairs analyst, writes from Ilorin, Kwara State.