Opposition victory in DRC’S presidential poll reaffirms citizens’ resolve to change unfavourable regimes – Analysts

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The victory of the opposition in the just-announced presidential election result in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reaffirmed the determination of citizens to turn the tide against any government they dim unfavourable to economic progress.

Analysts say the outcome of the poll may well be a pointer to what awaits Nigeria in next month’s election.

DRC named opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi as the winner of the December 30 contentious presidential election, after he scored about 39 percent of the vote, defeating the candidate of the ruling party, Emmanuel Shadary, who came third, and another opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu, who finished second.

“The Congolese presidential election holds strong lessons for the Nigerian economy as it shows to a large extent that the power of an election still resides on the people, hence an incumbent can always be removed from power just like we saw in 2015,” Gbolahan Ologunro, an equity research analyst at Lagos-based CSL Stockbrokers, said on phone.

“However, the undertones of issues that come with elections in developing countries which undermine their democratic process are still very much prevalent,” he added.

In a swift reaction to the announcement, the People’s Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) said the victory of the opposition party in the DRC signposts the fate that would befall the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria.

“The PPCO says the defeat of ruling party’s candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, is another pointer to the impending defeat of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 presidential election, as African nation consolidates on entrenching of purposeful leadership in the continent,” PPCO said, Thursday, in a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, its media and publicity director.

“The victory of opposition candidate and particularly the relegation of the ruling party to third position in the election despite the daunting challenges is a confidence booster for Nigerians on Atiku Abubakar’s victory despite the shenanigans and rigging schemes of the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Nigerians should not also forget that in March 2018, opposition can- didate in Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, defeated the ruling party’s candidate. In December 2017, opposition George Weah defeated the sitting Vice President Joseph Boakai of Liberia, while in December 2016, opposition party candidate, Nana Akufo-addo defeated the incumbent President of Ghana, John Mahama.

“Those relying on rigging to shortchange Nigerians on February 16 should therefore be reminded that as demonstrated in the DRC, the power of the people remains greater than the power of this nepotistic few,” it said.

Nigerians will on February16 march to the poll to decide a president that will pilot the activities of Africa’s biggest oil producer in the next four years.

While about 91 political parties might have got their names stamped by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to contest in the 2019 general elections, Nigerians have, however, staked their bet that the presidential elections will a twohorse race between the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP.

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s incumbent president and candidate of the ruling party, is seeking a second term bid after clinching an unopposed ticket from his party, as he struggles to mend a massive defection of members that hit his party.

The 76-year-old president has vowed to maintain the fight against corruption and take the country to the “next level” after the country entered into a recession in his first term in office.

On the other hand, a former Nigerian vice president and presidential candidate of the main opposition party, Atiku Abubakar, is campaigning on job creation by boasting a GDP of $900 billion by 2030 to help get the country working again.