The year 2022, which presided Nigeria’s general elections year, was full of events that left the political atmosphere charged. In this report, ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU writes on the major activities that shaped the year.
After the needed break, the year started to take shape as Nigerians in all sectors were optimistic about how the year would unfold I terms of politics. However, a lot of these events did not go as anticipated.
Legal ground for 2023 polls
The Assembly (NASS) in January 2022 passed the harmonised 2010 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to make provisions for direct and indirect primaries for political parties. This was in preparation for a legal ground for the 2023 general elections.
NASS had in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, passed on November 18, 2021, provided only for direct primaries for political parties, a provision President Muhammadu Buhari cited for refusing to assent to the bill.
Consequently, the harmonised version, passed by the lawmakers in January 2022 was the final agreed version between the Senate and House of Representatives, on the amendment to Clause 84 of the bill.
It includes the direct, indirect, and consensus primary modes of nominating candidates by political parties for elections.
The amended Act provides in clause 84 (2) that, “The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct, indirect primaries or consensus.”
It added in 84(3) that “a political party shall not impose nomination qualification or disqualification criteria, measures, or conditions on any aspirant or candidate for any election in its constitution, guidelines, or rules for nomination of candidates for elections, except as prescribed under Sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 177 and 187 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
On direct primaries, in 84 (4), the amended version provides that, “A political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party and shall adopt the procedure outlined below:
“(a) In the case of presidential primaries, all registered members of the party shall vote for aspirants of their choice at a designated centre at each ward of the federation.
“(b) The procedure in paragraph (a) above of this subsection shall be adopted for direct primaries in respect of gubernatorial, senatorial, federal, and state constituencies.
“(c) Special conventions or congresses shall be held to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at designated centres at the National, State, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies, as the case may be.”
On indirect primaries, the bill provides under 84(5) that, “A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall adopt the procedure outlined below:
“(a) In the case of nominations to the position of a presidential candidate, the political party shall:
“(i) hold a Special Presidential Convention at a designated centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) or any other place within the Federation that is agreed to by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party where delegates shall vote for aspirants of their choice.
“(ii) the aspirant with the highest number of votes cast at the end of voting shall be declared the winner of the presidential primaries of the political party and that aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party.”
Analysts belief the amendment and new provisions in the electoral act have helped to address age-long electoral issues, they also conclude that the provision for electronic transmission of results we help ensure a free, fair, credible, and more acceptable 2023 election.
Obi dumps PDP
A Former Anambra state, Peter Obi who to everybody’s surprise and amusement declared for Presidency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) later dumped the party, few weeks to the National Convention in May.
Few weeks after he dumped PDP, he became the candidate of the Labour Party (LP). His change of party and platform brought a drastic turnaround to the race to the presidential villa. Obi ultimately became the candidate to watch in the 2023 Presidential election.
Analysts has expressed doubt that there may not a be a clear winner of the 2023 presidential election at first ballot because of Obi’s seeming popularity amongst many Nigeria Youths.
APC wins Ekiti, PDP reclaims Osun
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, won the Ekiti state governorship election in June 2022.
The chief returning officer of the election, Kayode Adebowale said Oyebanji secured 187,057 votes to defeat his closest challengers, Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who polled 82,211, and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party who scored 67, 457 votes.
However, in a tense contest, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, Ademola Adeleke defeated an incumbent governor, a candidate of the APC, Gboyega Oyetola, in July 2022 to emerge governor of Osun state.
Again, Atiku emerges PDP presidential candidate
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged Presidential candidate of the PDP for the sixth time since the return of democratic governance in 1999.
In a contest, that many analysts described as too close to call, with about 18 Presidential candidates, Atiku survived the storm after a dramatic withdrawal of Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, at the election venue, a development which sparked criticisms from some quarters.
Atiku won with a total vote of 371 votes. The former Vice President polled 371 out of the 767 accredited votes to defeat his closest rival, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who polled 237 votes.
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, came a distant third with 70 votes. Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed 20 votes and Udom Emmanuel 38 votes.
Considering his age, popularity, region, and financial war chest, Atiku’s emergence as the major opposition presidential candidate shook the nation.
Nigerians who want a Southerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari became more concerned about who would become the presidential candidate of the ruling APC after the PDP presidential primary election.
Tinubu wins APC ticket against all odds
The former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, survived the gang-up, propaganda, and all odds to emerge as the APC presidential candidate in June 2022.
Unexpectedly seven aspirants, comprising the former Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Godswill Akpabio; former Governor of Ogun state, Ibikunle Amosun; Governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi; his Jigawa state counterpart, Abubakar Badaru; former Speaker House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Senator Ajayi Boroffice; and the only female aspirant, Uju Ken Ohanenye; stepped down for him.
Asiwaju polled a total number of 1271 delegates votes to defeat the first and second runners-up, Rotimi Amaechi and vice president Yemi Osinbajo polled a total number of 800 and 600 votes respectively.
While Amaechi scored a total number of 316 votes, the vice president got 235 delegate votes to relegate the President of the Senate to the fourth position, after polling 152 votes.
Other aspirants that made appreciable impacts are the governors of Kogi, Yahaya Bello with 47 votes, and his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi who scored 38 votes, and the governor of Cross-River State, Ben Ayade with 37 votes.
Pundits believe Tinubu’s emergence changed the political calculation and made it more intensively competitive.
Though some Nigerians have continued to criticise his candidature over his age and health status, as a master tactician and political strategist, Tinubu with his financial war chest, popularity, and political structure has continued to make inroads in most parts of the country. Many believe he stands a chance in the February 2023 presidential election.
…And things fell part
Another political event that shaped 2022 in Nigeria is the London parley. The August 2022 meetings with former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and three presidential candidates with the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, in London generated a lot of mixed reactions in Nigeria.
First to visit was Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC, then Atiku Abubakar of PDP and Peter Obi of LP.
The three candidates separately lobbied the Wike G5 group, which includes Seyi Makinde of Oyo state; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state; Samuel Ortom of Benue state; and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state.
Aside from these governors, the group also comprises PDP stakeholders who have insisted that PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has to step down because the chairman and presidential candidate cannot be from the same region.
Political analysts and other concerned Nigerians have accused the candidates of being insensitive to the plight of people in the country with the week-long London meetings.
While the candidates and the Wike group insisted the meetings were held in the overall interest of Nigeria.
PDP, G5 and Atiku campaigns
Rising from their stormy meeting in Port Harcourt in September 2022, members of the Wike team vowed not to partake in Atiku’s campaign activities pending Ayu’s resignation.
Since Atiku’s emergence has continued to make moves and even statements that portrayed the former vice president and the PDP in a negative light all because they want Ayu to go.
Despite all appeals, Wike, Makinde, and others have continued to stay away from Atiku’s presidential campaign.
Analysts believe this may affect Atiku’s chances in the 2023 election. The former vice president has continued his campaign and has already visited 15 states with his campaign train since the commencement of the campaign on September 28.
Notably, one of the remarkable campaign remarks made by the former vice president was when he said those from the North don’t need candidates from the South during the 2023 elections.
Atiku while responding to a question from the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, during an interactive session With Arewa Joint Committee in Kaduna state, said “What the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the North and also understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country.
“This is what the northerner need, it doesn’t need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate, I stand before you as a Pan-Nigerian of northern origin.”
Aside from the Wike’s group, this statement generated a lot of mixed feelings among Nigerians and many queried the motive of Atiku’s ambition.
Muslim-Muslim ticket, Ameachi, Osinbajo, others silence
Another political event that shaped 2022 was Tinubu’s surprise move to pick a Muslim, former Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima, as hisrunning mate in July 2022.
Aside from the likes of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, former Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and other northern Christian politicians who spoke against it and even dumped the APC, many Nigerians especially Christians from the North are still not comfortable with the single faith presidential ticket.
Though Tinubu said his choice was based on merit, many Nigerians believe this would further divide the country.
As a result of his emergence and perhaps his choice for Muslim-Muslim ticket the likes of former Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Ameachi; Osinbanjo; and other Christian bigwigs in the APC have continued to stay away from Tinubu presidential campaigns.
Pundits are of the view that Tinubu’s choice will continue to hunt him and may affect his chances in the 2023 election.
