2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: ANALYSTS SAY IT’S A BATTLE BETWEEN APC AND PDP
With four months to the February 16, 2019 Presidential election in the country, candidates have emerged from various political parties for the contest.
Some political watchers in Enugu Metropolis say though there are at least 20 Presidential candidates, the battle will be mainly between two titans, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
President Muhammadu Buhari, the sole aspirant for the APC, was affirmed the standard bearer of the party while the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar was elected the candidate of the PDP last Sunday.
Commenting on the development, a Political Scientist, Professor Sam Ugwu, said that the two major contenders had all it took to win in the election.
According to him, President Buhari has integrity as his asset while Alhaji Abubakkar has the political clout and experience.
Prof. Ugwu stated that the development was healthy for the nation’s democracy as it would promote robust debate.
Prof. Ugwu maintained that “with this, two major political parties have emerged, just like what obtains in developed democracies.
“When only one party is strong it means we are practicing one party system.”
The Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Enugu State, Comrade Chukwuma Igbokwe, said though the Presidential election would be a clash of two big weights, the outcome would be decided by the people’s vote.
Comrade Igbokwe stated that what Nigeria needed was not strong individuals but strong institutions to enable whoever emerged victorious to fix the nation’s problems.
“Jonathan was there he did not perform magic, President Buhari came, the economy was already dying. If another person comes, before he finishes battling with the economy the tenure will be ending.
“What Nigeria needs is a person who can build the system gradually, so we have to be patient, after all, most of us contributed to the state of the nation’s economy; there are people who are draining the nation’s wealth.”
More than 20 political parties have fielded candidates for the Presidential election but most people are only talking about APC and PDP.
Does it mean that candidates of other political parties have no chance in the race?
The Chairman Inter-Party Advisory Council Enugu State Chapter and Chairman Social Democratic Party, (SDP) in the State, Mr. John Nwobodo, believed the electorate would vote for the candidate that could proffer solutions to the nation’s challenges.
He claimed the election would be a 3-man race, among APC, PDP and SDP.
“There are issues of poverty, insecurity and unemployment in the land, these are the issues that would be in the front burner as they campaign. So Nigerians should be on the lookout for a credible leader among the 3 who would proffer lasting solutions to these problems,” he said.
The respondents enjoined the candidates to focus on issues based campaigns and shun name-calling while the electorate should vote for credible leaders and say no to vote-buying.
NNEKA UGWUANYI