Nigeria with a population of 200 million people and the most populated black nation on earth and 84,271,832 registered voters to cast votes in the upcoming 2019 general elections in 120,000 polling units in 8810 Wards in 774 Local Government Areas and 36 States and The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Nigeria Presidential election is scheduled for February 16th, 2019 in what observers dubbed the most expensive, most hotly contested and a cliff hanger in the nations political history!
With 79 political parties out the 91 registered political parties fielding presidential candidates, February 16th, 2019 presidential election will go down in the anal of Nigeria political history as ‘Battle of Normandy’ replica.
A total of 20,000 candidates are contesting on various political parties platforms. 1,800 senatorial candidates vying to represent 109 senatorial districts, 2,600 house of representatives candidates vying for the 360 federal constituencies seats, and 14,000 candidates vying for 991 state constituencies seats.
The fierce battle is between two contenders, the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressive Congress [APC] and former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].
It has been war-of-words between these political gladiators seeking to become the next occupant of Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja comes May 29th, 2019. Nigeria political landscape has been washed with names calling, allegations and counter-accusations, insinuations, mud-slugging and character assassination between the supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The unfolding scenario has ignite Nigeria political landscape in the run-up to the much awaited February 16th, 2019 Nigeria presidential election. The proposed ‘live-debate’ between the top five presidential aspirants scheduled to hold on January 19th, 2019 will help weigh the potentials of the presidential aspirants and this will definitely help re-ignite the already tensed Nigeria political landscape in the build up to the February 16th, 2019 presidential election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria [INEC] has been enmeshed in controversies as regards the appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari appointment as the Head for Collation of Results in the forth coming presidential election.
Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] alleged that Mrs Amina Zakari is a blood relation of President Muhammadu Buhari and therefore she couldn’t be trusted. Meanwhile Mrs Amina Zakari claims to be from Jigawa State while the president hails from Katsina State, but married somebody from the president family.
Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] has also come out strongly to object the use of ‘Incident Form’ that Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] said will be use by election and electoral officers and officials in-case a voter could not find his/her name on the register voters list, but possess a Permanent Voters Card [PVC].
‘There is a dynamism about Nigeria’s 1960 that far exceeds anything the nation now offers, Nigeria was vibrated then with; technical power, cultural power, economic power, intercontinental power and good governance.’
‘But as the nation grows, Nigeria political class and leaders sat at tables appearing to be friendly, but in their hearts were inclined to do what was bad. Speaking lies at tables that could not benefit Nigerians, because they all aim in succeeding in their political ambitions.’
‘One has the money as the principal means of action, the other servitude’. Their paths are diverse; Nevertheless, each seems called by some secret design of providence one day to hold in it’s hands the destinies of Nigeria.’ [This is my reflection of the political climate of Nigeria.]
‘Winning is not an all time thing, but a sometime thing. You don’t do it right all the time, but you do it right some of the time’. Has Nigeria leaders and the political class ever do it right once? And will this year make a difference between the contending presidential candidates?