2023: WHY THE PDP MAY NOT WIN KADUNA STATE IN THE FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS. By: Ibrahim Mustapha Pambeguwa

"Despite the fact that the ruling APC has committed many ill-witted policies, particularly through their promotion and execution of anti-people policies, it may still retain power given the attitude of certain so called shot callers in Kaduna politics." Ibrahim Mustapha

As the 2023 General  Elections draw closer, Kaduna state chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) seems unprepared to capture power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Until 2015 when the APC defeated the PDP, Kaduna state was a stronghold of the latter. The party spent sixteen years of uninterrupted sway in the state.

Despite the fact that the ruling APC has committed many ill-witted policies, particularly through their promotion and execution of anti-people policies, it may still retain power given the attitude of certain so called shot callers in Kaduna politics. 

There was a glimmer of hope for the opposition PDP to return to power if not for the activities of those I mentioned above. The reasons for these permutations are not far fetched.

If you take the case of the Kaduna State Working Committee for example, you would notice how busy they are scheming and dealing out cards negatively affecting loyal Party members of the PDP who contributed, and still contribute immensely to the success of the PDP in the last two decades. 

Take the case of former Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo GCON, his associates and loyalists have been relegated to the background on the orders of a certain state leader of the party whose political influence is fast diminishing as they is clearly evident. There is no gainsaying the facts, the so called current leadership is being pocketed by him.

Sadly, this self made leader hardly delivers his Polling Unit, let alone his Senatorial Zone. He hails from Zone 1 and is shamelessly attempting to thrust himself upon the general public as a demi-god of sorts; a lord of Kaduna politics. However, this lame duck self crowned political leader is always losing elections conducted in his Ward, Local Council and at the State level at large, a fact a lot of people believe to be deliberately done as he sold the seats to the ruling Party. 

When the PDP lost the General Elections in 2015, a lot of its members deserted the party and pitched their tents with the ruling APC. However, the entry of Ahaji Lawal Adamu Usman (Mr. LA), into the PDP in 2018, brought life back into the PDP as he spent his time and enormous resources in resuscitating the party which could not even hoist a flag or paint a party office due to the strength of the APC then. The PDP was gasping for breath before the sudden entry of  Mr. LA into the PDP. 

Alhaji Lawal Adamu Usman as we all know, did not only bring his popularity and numerous supporters to the dying PDP. but he used his resources to fund and sustain it till people gathered the confidence to openly hoist PDP flags, paint Ward offices and even wear Party shirts around. These were things that would have attracted violence from the supporters of the other party before Mr. LA joined the PDP. It stopped almost immediately he became a member. 

Mr. LA surprised skeptics and even supporters alike when he participated in the PDP Primary Elections for the 2019 Senatorial Seat. He won the Primaries with an outstanding victory where he alone took more than half of the 800 plus, delegates that partook in the exercise. He easily clinched the Party's Senate Ticket for Kaduna Central Senatorial District. 

However, the rest is history as we are all aware of what ensued from the day of the elections to date. Mr. LA never left the PDP, he remains in it to this day,  providing the needed financial support for the day-to-day runnings and activities of the party. During Ramadan and festive seasons, Lawal Adamu Usman, is always at the forefront in giving out millions of Naira and donating food items worth the same amount and more to Party chieftains, members and officials. 

It is quite unfortunate, some members of the State Working Committee (SWC) are not comfortable with his soaring popularity and acceptability with the general public. These people are self-centered and ready to sell the party's ticket to the highest bidder as they have done time and again.

Recently, a sham rerun was held because a corrupt judge gave a judgement against Mr. LA who again won the Primaries conducted on the 23rd of May 2023 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. A certain paid hand was on ground to protest, even with the presence of all, this miscreant claimed there was over voting against the hundreds of witnesses present, only he seemed to notice that. There still are video evidences, INEC, Party Officials and Aspirant Delegates present at the exercise. Yet this man held his ground. Little did we know he was a pawn for the carrying out of a grand scheme. 

Incidentally, the second runner-up who has been seen countless times with elite from the ruling APC, having decamped to the PDP 5 months or so ago, was pushed to challenge the victory of Lawal Adamu Usman (Mr. LA) in the Federal High Court 1, Kaduna Division, for the alleged accusation of over voting. 

Justice M.G. Umar nullified the process and ordered for re-run within 14 days of the 2nd of November, the day he ruled against the winner of the 23rd May Primaries. 

Lawal Adamu Usman filed an Appeal against the miscarriage of Justice by the Justice Muhammad Umar ruling of the 2nd of November which ordered for a fresh rerun within 14 days! Sadly, the State Working Committee hurriedly organized the sham which they called a rerun on the 7th of November, thereby breaking every single rule of engagement as stipulated by INEC, the Electoral Act 2022 and ultimately the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

I do not have to waste your time with details as you are already aware of what transpired on the day was utterly against the law and was an act of sabotage to the honour and dignity of the PDP, the rule of law and respect for the choices of the general public. 

All these don’t matter to people like the overlords of the Kaduna PDP. Those who sell seats to opposition Parties for money. The same people who refused to support Atiku Abubakar not for political principle but the sheer weight of the US Dollar! 

This injustice has led to a massive exodus of PDP members in various local governments within Kaduna State as they feel what they witnessed in this Primary Election is exactly what will happen during the General Elections. Over 15,000 members have dumped the PDP whereas some have vowed never to ever vote in a political exercise again. 

The recent vacation from the Party and its loss in popularity signify some dark days ahead for the Peoples’ Democratic Party. It is an inarguable fact to say, that those who contribute to the success of the Party are being humiliated, shortchanged and corruptly stolen from by the same selfish individuals who cannot win their constituencies.

Should the National Headquarters of the PDP lose its grip on one of its most important States in the entire northern region, it should look no further than the activities of the criminal elements within the State Working Committee and those who claim to be lords over all.

Ibrahim Mustapha, writes from Panbeguwa, Kaduna State.