Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has debunked claims he is behind the recent registration of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM)as a political party by INEC, but his political associates.Many people do not believe him, it seems.
The PDM has been in existence for nearly 30 years. Atiku was not its founder; he assumed its leadership when the founder, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, passed away. Why do many people including People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supporters believe that Atiku was the main architect behind the registration of the PDM as a political party? It is believed that, it is part of the calculations to realize his 21 year-old-presidential ambition. But if Atiku is truly behind the registration of the PDM as a political party, what could be his main reasons for doing so?
The merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form the All Progressive Congress (APC) has certainly narrowed political party platforms in Nigeria; PDM registration is an attempt at widening the political space. Atiku is well-known for his plan B tactics in pursuit of political ambitions. Thus, having anticipated that defeating an incumbent Nigerian President in his party primaries is nearly impossible, the PDP not likely to offer a level playing field for its 2015 presidential primaries- recollecting what took place in the PDP 2011 presidential primaries and with the PDM being controlled by his political associates, Atiku would find the PDM as an alternative platform.Besides, with the current crisis in the PDP, the bubble is expected to burst and aggrieved members who can not join the APC would have the PDM readily available for them.
The registration of the PDM may not be far from an attempt to use the science of politics- apply the42nd Laws of Power- ‘strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter’. PDM’s registration as a political party may have been a calculation to send a political message to surprise the ruling PDP. To convey to the PDP, that its battle for the2015 general elections would be from many fronts- apart from the APC, it would also have to face the PDM, including losing some of its important members, who are already a fraternity in the PDM. A situation, the PDP, would wish to avoid.
The registration of the PDM may also be on the premise that Atiku intends to smartly use the PDM as a negotiation weapon to gain some political point, if not the PDP presidential ticket. The recent reported meeting between Atiku and PDP national chairman, Bamanga Tukur might have been the upshot of the emergence of the PDM as political party.
Atiku’s home state politics can also be connected to the registration of the PDM as political party. There is a bitter power struggle within the PDP in Adamawa State. Atiku may not want to take chances, despite the fact that, there are many of his loyalists holding positions in the PDP in Adamawa state.
The implication of the emergence of the PDM as a political party would be felt more by the PDP than the other political parties. The PDM is one of the most organized and consistent groups still in the PDP, it has both its conservative and liberal members occupying some sensitive positions in the PDP at national, state and local councils levels. Furthermore, the PDP knows that Atiku is a strong candidate who is already ahead of many would-be presidential contestants in terms of political structure, thorough understanding of national political terrain as well as the capacity to single-handedly take on President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential elections.
Would the PDM as a political party make any impact in the Nigerian political space?-The strength and future prospect of the PDM as a political party would only emerge in 2014, by then, many political events would have unfolded and things taken shape.Though, many people believe, the PDM wouldn’t make any impact,saying its registration as a political party is blatted, considering the current political scenario. That the PDM would have remained relevant if only it had maintained its previous status- a political movement with united and diverse political minds. A PDM as a political party would for sure face crisis and internal power struggle, similar to that of all the political parties in Nigeria. The registration of the PDM at this particular time will give the party a ‘sole face’- PDM= Atiku’s presidential ambition, which is a bad start for a truly political party.
If Atiku is indeed behind the registration of the PDM as political party- would its platform help the former Vice President realize his presidential ambition? It may or may not. Atiku has immense war chest that easily scares off his opponents, vast political network and connections. The PDM has been in existence for nearly 30 years, it is highly organized with topnotch politicians, but time and Nigerians’ belief that all political parties in the country are same, may be against the PDM.
Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Adamawa State, zaymohd@yahoo.com, 08036070980.
The PDM has been in existence for nearly 30 years. Atiku was not its founder; he assumed its leadership when the founder, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, passed away. Why do many people including People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supporters believe that Atiku was the main architect behind the registration of the PDM as a political party? It is believed that, it is part of the calculations to realize his 21 year-old-presidential ambition. But if Atiku is truly behind the registration of the PDM as a political party, what could be his main reasons for doing so?
The merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form the All Progressive Congress (APC) has certainly narrowed political party platforms in Nigeria; PDM registration is an attempt at widening the political space. Atiku is well-known for his plan B tactics in pursuit of political ambitions. Thus, having anticipated that defeating an incumbent Nigerian President in his party primaries is nearly impossible, the PDP not likely to offer a level playing field for its 2015 presidential primaries- recollecting what took place in the PDP 2011 presidential primaries and with the PDM being controlled by his political associates, Atiku would find the PDM as an alternative platform.Besides, with the current crisis in the PDP, the bubble is expected to burst and aggrieved members who can not join the APC would have the PDM readily available for them.
The registration of the PDM may not be far from an attempt to use the science of politics- apply the42nd Laws of Power- ‘strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter’. PDM’s registration as a political party may have been a calculation to send a political message to surprise the ruling PDP. To convey to the PDP, that its battle for the2015 general elections would be from many fronts- apart from the APC, it would also have to face the PDM, including losing some of its important members, who are already a fraternity in the PDM. A situation, the PDP, would wish to avoid.
The registration of the PDM may also be on the premise that Atiku intends to smartly use the PDM as a negotiation weapon to gain some political point, if not the PDP presidential ticket. The recent reported meeting between Atiku and PDP national chairman, Bamanga Tukur might have been the upshot of the emergence of the PDM as political party.
Atiku’s home state politics can also be connected to the registration of the PDM as political party. There is a bitter power struggle within the PDP in Adamawa State. Atiku may not want to take chances, despite the fact that, there are many of his loyalists holding positions in the PDP in Adamawa state.
The implication of the emergence of the PDM as a political party would be felt more by the PDP than the other political parties. The PDM is one of the most organized and consistent groups still in the PDP, it has both its conservative and liberal members occupying some sensitive positions in the PDP at national, state and local councils levels. Furthermore, the PDP knows that Atiku is a strong candidate who is already ahead of many would-be presidential contestants in terms of political structure, thorough understanding of national political terrain as well as the capacity to single-handedly take on President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential elections.
Would the PDM as a political party make any impact in the Nigerian political space?-The strength and future prospect of the PDM as a political party would only emerge in 2014, by then, many political events would have unfolded and things taken shape.Though, many people believe, the PDM wouldn’t make any impact,saying its registration as a political party is blatted, considering the current political scenario. That the PDM would have remained relevant if only it had maintained its previous status- a political movement with united and diverse political minds. A PDM as a political party would for sure face crisis and internal power struggle, similar to that of all the political parties in Nigeria. The registration of the PDM at this particular time will give the party a ‘sole face’- PDM= Atiku’s presidential ambition, which is a bad start for a truly political party.
If Atiku is indeed behind the registration of the PDM as political party- would its platform help the former Vice President realize his presidential ambition? It may or may not. Atiku has immense war chest that easily scares off his opponents, vast political network and connections. The PDM has been in existence for nearly 30 years, it is highly organized with topnotch politicians, but time and Nigerians’ belief that all political parties in the country are same, may be against the PDM.
Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Adamawa State, zaymohd@yahoo.com, 08036070980.
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