The 2011 Polls in Nigeria and The Opposition’s Lack of Seriousness

The political firmament in Nigeria looks bright, with flurry of political activities as the Nigerian people seem set for the polls once again come April 2011.

It may be recalled that the People’s Democratic Party [PDP] has been in power since the advent of civilian rule in May 29 1999. The nearly 12-year rule by the PDP under various leaderships, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yaradua and Goodluck Jonathan, presents mixed feelings to the multitude of Nigerians depending on where one stands.

However, there seems to be a general consensus among several observers of the Nigerian political scene, and that is the disenchantment with the PDP and its policies. The Political party also seems to be disenchanted with itself as most people fear the party that prides itself as the largest political party in Africa seems set to self implode. The reasons for these may be deduced from the bitter and acrimonious presidential and gubernatorial primaries the party went through recently. Aside from these, other sundry reasons which find roots in the way the party was formed and run since its inception place it in a very precarious situation as it approaches the forthcoming elections.

As for the opposition political parties in Nigeria, two political parties stand out from the pack and they are the only political parties which could give the ruling party a run for its money. They are the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] and the Congress for Progressive Change [CPC]. However, what the reality on the ground posits for these two political parties is that unless they form a strategic alliance, it may be difficult for them to wrestle power from the ruling PDP party. This reason for this assertion is attributed to the sectional spread of these two political parties. Hence real politics suggests that they form a workable coalition to battle the PDP. Unfortunately, however, the leadership of these political parties has been so far unable to solve this political arithmetic of forging a sustainable alliance.

Time is running out as the opposition political parties continue to look clueless while the ruling party has hit the campaign trail. Will the opposition parties be able to pull the carpet from the PDP’s feet? Only the April 2011 can tell.