Kebbi PDP on slippery slope

The merger of some major political parties to form a strong opposition to challenge the ruling the PDP in the forthcoming elections brought about a lot of uncertainties. This is particularly true especially after the decamping of about five ruling party governors to the newly formed APC. But Kebbi state governor, Alhaji Saidu Nasamu Dakin Gari refused to join the bandwagon.

As the clock ticks to the elections, the PDP may be heading towards defeat in the state.

In spite of the fact that the opposition APC has almost total control in terms of support in the North-West geopolitical zone, which includes Kebbi, and in spite of the pressure mounted on the governor by his colleague governors of the sister states (Sokoto and Zamfara states) who’s governments are controlled by the APC, Dakin Gari, has refused to decamp and the people of the state have stood by him

But by virtue of very recent developments that followed the PDP primaries in the state seem to have reversed this

First, the senator representing Kebbi central senatorial zone, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, decamped to the APC after consultations with Alhaji Lawali Dakin Gari, the governor’s son who has been in politics long before his father took office and enjoys grassroots support. In fact the bulk of the politicians in Kebbi state rally around Alhaji Lawali, making him a friend of many aspiring politicians.

The senator’s consultations with Alhaji Lawali always centre on the former trying to convince the latter to ponder the happening around the geopolitical zone and consider joining the train of those dumping the ruling party and joining the opposition.

Secondly, the apparent warning signal from what occurred during the House of Representatives’ primary elections, where despite the support enjoyed by the governor, he narrowly escaped the wrath of irate youthful supporters of the ruling party who accused him of supporting the retired secretary to the state government against a more popular and more youthful aspirant.

Thirdly, in the scheming that followed the conduct of the governorship primary of the state, some influential so-called big shots from Abuja tried to impose a particular candidate alleged to be favoured by the presidency on the people, an action that was akin to spelling doom to the party. If this is allowed to happen, it would confirm the accusation that PDP never showed fairness to its loyal members, but rather who gets what is determined by the powers that be, not by the level of support a candidate enjoys.

The only saving grace for PDP in Kebbi state would be to allow the conduct of free and fair primary elections; failure to adhere to this would spell doom for the party in the state, with mass exodus of high calibre members to the opposition party, meaning that Lawali Dakin Gari could embrace the Adamu Aleiro option.

Ahmad Indandan, Abuja