APC politicians that can cost the party its power

President Muhammadu Buhari’s government would soon be one year old. Since it’s inauguration on May 29, 2015, the administration has witnessed different political scheming that may limit the chances of the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC), come 2019 when the administration is expected to seek re-election.

Although often downplayed as party or family affairs, APC has gone through different trials from within and outside the party in the short period of ascending from an opposition party to the ruling party.

What will the party’s fate be in 2019? Who are the politicians within the APC that might scuttle the party’s chances of retaining power come 2019?

Legit.ng lists Top 5 APC politicians that may make or mar the party’s chances in 2019.

Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs no introduction when it comes to politics in Nigeria. The former governor of Lagos state and national leader of the APC is often applauded for his role in piloting the affairs of the first Nigerian opposition party to win a ruling party PDP during the last presidential election.

Being a highly respected political figure, Tinubu and other party leaders felt slighted when Bukola Saraki played his cards well aligning with PDP senators to become the Senate president against the party’s wish. Since then there has been a sudden crave for political positions by members of the ruling class which according to reports often clash with Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that there is an “unconscious or not so evident battle” going on within the party and Tinubu is in the middle of it all.  Will this turn out in Tinubu’s favour? What will happen if the party’s structure is hijacked from him?  The coming months will determine if APC is counting down to extinction come 2019.

 Atiku Abubakar

The former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar is not new to fighting political battles. He is notable for scuttling the “third term” agenda of his superior, former president Olusegun Obasanjo when they were in power. At the end, President Obasanjo anointed another candidate to run for the presidency. Atiku was later barred from contesting the presidential election after he was indicted by the Ignatius Ayya administration panel of inquiry. He then defected, won the presidential ticket and contested on the platform of the Action Congress. He however lost the election to former president Umar Musa Yar’adua.

Atiku, together with other prominent members of a faction of the PDP called new PDP merged with the Action Congress of Nigeria and other political parties to form the present APC. It is the merger that has polarised the party along the merging entities especially when it comes to sharing the loot of political power. Although, the former vice-president has not been politically active like before, he is still considered as an important political figure with ample political capital at his disposal. There are reports that Atiku is eyeing the chairmanship of the ruling party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), the same post said to be coveted by Tinubu.

Although, the party chairman, Mr Oyegun recently dismissed insinuations that the delay in the constitution of the BOT is tied down to who will be the chairman, Nigerians and indeed party adherents are waiting to see what will become of what can be termed as the fight between two elephants. Expectedly, the grass that will suffer in this case is the party.

Bukola Saraki

The Senate president, Bukola Saraki became the president of the red chamber in controversial circumstances. He is perceived to be the major “black sheep” in the national assembly. Saraki is currently facing a trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over asset falsification. The trial is believed in some quarters to be orchestrated by some powers that be in the party because of his disobedience to party’s directives. He has also affirmed that he is currently being politically persecuted and not prosecuted. He is currently struggling for survival and has so far remained rigid despite calls for his resignation due to corruption trial.

One thing that can’t be taken away from Saraki is his ability to play his cards well. It would not take many people by surprise if the senate president cross-carpets to the PDP when pushed to the wall. If that eventually happens, what then will be the fate of APC in the senate with the likelihood of Senator Ike Ekweremadu emerging as his replacement?

Rabiu Musa Kwakwansho

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is also a force to reckon with in the APC. He was the governor of Kano state from 1999 to 2003 and then from 2011 to 2015. After jetting out of the PDP, Kwankwaso joined and contested the APC presidential election but lost in the primary election to Muhammad Buhari.

Counting on his popularity in Kano state he contested and won the senatorial election to represent Kano state central senatorial district in the 8th Assembly.

At the moment there are reasons to suggest that all is not well with APC in Kano state. Less than a year after Kwankwaso handed over power to the current governor, Mr Ganduje, the struggle for the control of the party’s structure, cabinet appointments amongst other things broke out with the camp of the former governor turned senator, Rabiu Kwankwaso accusing Ganduje of shutting out his men.

Putting the voting strength of Kano state into consideration, the face-off between the two political bigwigs in the state if not quickly resolved could affect the votes garnered by APC in 2019.

 Aisha Buhari

Yes, Aisha Buhari. You may wonder how the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari might scuttle her husband’s (or party) chances of retaining power in 2019 but then as with previous administrations the office of the wife of the president of the federation is an important one. It is that important that it can also determine the fate and political fortunes of any party in power.

Many believe that one of the contributory factors that led to the defeat of the PDP and President Jonathan at the polls can be traced to the utterances made by his wife, Mrs Patience before and during the campaigns. In the build-up to the elections, Patience Jonathan was accused of making divisive statements. Aisha Buhari has shown that glimpse of character said to be unsympathetic to the plights of the masses. Many have criticized her for launching her book on beauty and therapy a day after the commemoration of the 2 year abduction of Chibok girls. The book launch, people say has shown that the first family in Nigeria are far away from the people.

Although, Mrs Buhari on Monday, April 18, launched her pet project in Cross River state, it is expected that more eyes would be on her as she goes about her activities.

Source: Legit.ng