ISSUES THAT SHAPED NIGERIA’S POLITICS IN 2022, MORE IN THE OFFING —ANALYSTS

REPORTER: ALFRED AJAYI

As appraisal of the year 2022 continues, political affairs analysts in Anambra State say the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) has changed the long-standing political permutations in the country.

The analysts, who were appraising issues that shaped the political landscape of the country in 2022, noted that but for the emergence of the former Governor of Anambra State, Nigeria would have been limited to choosing between the ruling the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

One of them, Comrade Obi Ochije noted that the emergence of Mr. Obi had disrupted the permutations, making the political atmosphere more interesting than it had always been.

“His coming changed the political atmosphere. Nigerians have suffered a lot and they see him as a departure from the old order. You can see the enthusiasm already displayed by Nigerians, especially the youths during the voter registration.

“All I pray for is that Nigerians will vote according to their conscience and not allow their votes to be bought. 2023 will determine a lot in this country. But, I pray that we have a more united Nigeria after the elections,” Ochije remarked.

Another analyst, Chief Kanayochukwu Obidigbo, observed that the five aggrieved governors of the PDP, now popularly referred to as the G-5, constitute another interesting twist in the political space of the country in 2022.

“The governors said they are fighting for fairness and justice and that sounds reasonable. They are becoming glamorous moving from one of their states to another even travelling abroad as a group.

“We are looking forward to their much-talked about pronouncement on who they will support in the presidential election. And from all political calculations, their decision will affect the outcome of the presidential election. Remember, they controlled their states and they will deliver them to their preferred candidates, even if it is only 25 percent,” he commented.

Chief Obidigbo, who also acknowledged the greater interest Nigerians have demonstrated so far, hope to see the zeal sustained and demonstrated during the elections in February and March 2023.

“So far so good. We can only wait to see if indeed Nigerians will be able to overwhelmingly demonstrate that indeed power belongs to the people by collecting their PVCs and coming out enmass to cast their votes,” Chief Obidigbo said.

The analysts are of the view that much more twists are in the offing between now and the election time, urging Nigerians to place national interest above parochial, sectional interests.

“We need to look out for more, especially the endorsement by the G-5. It will further affect the political landscape ahead of the general election,” Ochije concluded.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU