Politics
Fayemi And The New Sociology Of Politics
Ekiti State, formerly
known as the “Centre of Knowledge,” but now “Land of Honour” took her turn in the gubernatorial test on June 21, 2014 with a verdict of “no victor, no vanquished”. One may be wondering why there was “no victor, no vanquished” in an election in which three major political parties with three heavy weights engaged themselves in a battle of wills and wits to win the hearts and votes of the electorate at all costs.
While Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on the driving seat of Ekiti Government, tried to use the test to cruise into his second tenure, his major challenger and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ayo Fayose was determined to recover the peoples’ mandate which he believed was stolen from him through judiciary gate. Fayose lost to Fayemi in a court of law after a stay of more than three years as landlord of Ekiti State Government House. Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, a member of House of Representatives and candidate of the Labour Party (LP) saw the governorship poll as an opportunity to serve the people as No 1 citizen of the state.
Bearing all calculations by the candidates to win the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which was leaking its wounds from poor outing in previous exercises was, however, prepared to make a difference in the poll in which 732,166 voters registered across 2,195 polling units in the state with 177 wards.
In a ‘hard fought’ election among the three candidates, INEC released the score card and returned Ayo Fayose of PDP as the winner, having won in all the 16 local government areas of the state with 203,090 votes. the incumbent governor polled 120,433 votes to clinch second position while the LP candidate, Bamidele, settled for third position with 18,135 votes.
Even though there were records of unsavory episodes when the candidates toured parts of the state to sell themselves to the people, the verdict of INEC on the Ekiti gubernatorial poll, did not tear the Ekiti people and their peace apart as earlier predicted in some quarters.
But the beauty of the Ekiti election can better be appreciated in the rare show of sportsmanship exhibited by Governor Fayemi despite the fact that he lost in his bid to return to Government House for a second time. Hours after INEC released the result, Ekiti remained peaceful and Governor Fayemi not only accepted defeat, but also congratulated Fayose, the governor-elect for emerging victorious.
In a broadcast in Ado-Ekiti last Sunday, Fayemi said he had no choice but to accept the results of the June 21 election and congratulated the governor-elect “if indeed the outcome of the election is the will of the Ekiti people.”
Displaying an uncommon disposition that is unknown to Africa politics, Fayemi insisted that “if this is the will of the Ekiti people, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice. I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.”
The governor not only participated in the election, he also saw the outcome of the polls as truly reflecting the wishes of the people and therefore accepted in clear terms that “conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal”.
The leadership of APC is worried why and how the party lost to the opponent in the polls even with the power of incumbency, Fayemi believes that there is no need crying over the spilt milk. With no blame for any one for his political summersault, Fayemi, however, thanked the people for support even as he promised to keep faith with them in building Ekiti together.
“Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see a brother rising against his brother. Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together”, Faymei added in his post-election broadcast.
Three uncommon features stand out in Fayemi reaction to the Ekiti election. They are, his conscience and political will to concede defeat in the face of realities, his sportsmanship to congratulate his winner (Fayose) and his concern and willingness to build Ekiti together irrespective of party affiliations.
Governor Fayemi may have fought a good fight and kept the faith in the election that was adjudged credible, free and fair by stakeholders, the voice of the people, INEC concurred, was the voice of God. No wonder, he (Fayemi) threw in the towel; a situation that has evolved what could be regarded as a new sociology in Ekiti politics.
Reactions have trailed Fayemi disposition to the outcome of the election. To some, Fayemi’s gentleman disposition to concede defeat is ‘un Africa’, but the APC flag bearer in the polls believed that there is nothing “un-African of un-Nigerian” about his congratulatory message to Fayose. Fayemi who received the governor-elect in his office in Ado-Ekiti, remarked that, “They said my congratulatory message to governor-elect is un-African or un-Nigerian. I don’t think it was so because that was what I was expected to do as a democrat.”
Respecting the wishes of the people in an election, does not make one a political misfit or coward. Fayemi argues that his action was prompted by the belief that “our democracy is fragile and we have to do whatever we can as leaders to strengthen and deepen it the more”.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, agreed that the governor conceding defeat and congratulating his opponents is exemplary in nature and has added value to the country’s democratic principles. In a statement by his Special Adviser on media, Imam Imam, the speaker said “the governor’s action to congratulate his opponent was a clear proof that our politics is imbibing standard global practice associated with electioneering process”.
To the All Progressives Congress, the action of its candidate in the election was the position of the party. “Of course, the governor couldn’t have made such statement without consulting with the party leadership. What he said is the position of the party leadership,” Lai Mohammed, the APC spokesman said.
The Governor-elect must be grateful to God because the man who wrestled power from him four year ago but lost to him in the June 21 polls is not desperate to remain in office, as it is often the case with most incumbents who usually demonstrate the bad loser syndrome. But more importantly, Fayemi has demonstrated to the world that the interest of Ekiti people is more paramount than his personal ambition and that politics can be played with decorum and restraint.
Meanwhile, Fayose who said his coming back as governor was borne out of the genuine intention to promote love and unity among Ekiti people, did not hide his warm feeling about Fayemi conceding defeat to him when he said “His (Fayemi’s) statesmanship conduct would forever remain in history”.
Today, Ekiti is victorious and in the eyes of history, this is a lesson for all politicians that election must not be seen as do-or-die affairs. Politicians must avoid the bad loser syndrome, build and sustain democracy and not pull it down.
As the 2015 general elections draw nearer, time will tell whether politicians will build on Fayemi’s new sociology of politics-where election is contested and decided without going to court or return to the old and expensive order that increases court cases after every poll as well as promotes tension and acrimony in the land.
APC governorship candidate, Governor Kayode Fayemi and his wife Bisi on queue waiting for their turn to vote during the governorship election in Ekiti State recently.
Samuel Eleonu
Operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Civil Society Network, the group described the ruling delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu as unfair and contrary to the spirit of democracy, urging the judiciary to consider the will of the people in its final determination of the matter.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday, October 30, sacked Gummi for defecting from the PDP, which sponsored his election, to the APC.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu held that it was morally wrong for a politician to transfer votes from one political party to another, stating that “political prostitution must not be rewarded.”
He declared that voters elect candidates based on the manifestos and ideals of their political parties. Therefore, it was both legally and morally unacceptable for an elected official to abandon that platform without relinquishing the mandate.
The court also restrained the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from recognising Hon. Gummi as a member of the House, and ordered him to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, to the date of judgment.
Justice Egwuatu further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, who argued that Hon. Gummi’s defection violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as there was no division within the PDP to justify his action.
But convener of the coalition, Lukman Muhammad, who addressed journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, said Hon. Gummi’s defection was a direct result of the unresolved internal crisis within the PDP, which, according to him, crippled the lawmaker’s ability to effectively represent his constituents.
He said: “We believe the court’s decision was unjust and failed to consider the circumstances surrounding Hon. Gummi’s defection. Gummi’s decision to join the APC was necessitated by the unresolved internal crisis within the PDP, which hindered his ability to effectively represent his constituents.
“We affirm that Hon. Gummi’s right to choose his political affiliation is protected by the Constitution and should be respected. We stand for democracy and the rule of law, while also urging the judiciary to consider the will of the people and the greater good”.
He urged Justice Egwuatu to review the judgment, stressing that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent that undermines the principle of fair representation and the rights of elected officials.
The coalition further noted that the judgment has broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic process, as it raises questions about the extent to which lawmakers can exercise their constitutional freedom of association without fear of losing their mandate.
The parties stated that the APC was on the verge of collapse following the recent wave of defections from opposition parties into its ranks.
In separate interviews with The Tide source, spokespersons for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) —Debo Ologunagba, Oladipo Johnson, and Mark Adebayo – respectively, said an implosion was imminent in the APC.
But the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stated that recent defections to the party were voluntary and inspired by the ruling party’s achievements, not through coercion. He added that the APC was well-structured, capable of managing its internal affairs effectively, and therefore would not experience any internal crisis.
In recent months, the ruling APC has continued to receive several high-profile politicians from opposition parties, particularly the PDP. Among those who have joined the APC are Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Most recently, members of the Enugu State Executive Council defected to the APC, a move followed by Governor Peter Mbah’s official declaration for the ruling party on October 14 in Enugu.
On October 15, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, announced his resignation from the PDP. Although he has yet to join another party, speculation is rife that he is on his way to the APC.
Similarly, Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, confirmed last Wednesday that he would be joining the APC.
Numerous other politicians, including several lawmakers, have also abandoned their parties to align with the ruling APC.
In his reaction, Hon. Ologunagba predicted an imminent crisis within the APC, expressing confidence that those who defected would eventually return to the PDP.
He stated, “This is the major political party (PDP), and it is the only democratic party in the country. It has structures cutting across all the local governments, all the wards, and of course all the states. In every home, there are members of the PDP, and that is why the APC are jittery, and that is why they are coercing our members, using state resources and state agencies to force members of opposition parties to join the ruling party.
“But in all this, we are sure and confident that very soon, the APC will implode because it is a multipurpose political vehicle that is not going to last. It is going to implode.
“Many Nigerians will see through it and know that the party is not a political party that protects the interests of the citizens. So, they are going to leave the party and move to the major political party, which is the PDP. We are optimistic that before 2027, many Nigerians will join us because this is the truly democratic party and the only party that is out there to protect their interests.”
On his part, Mr Johnson of the NNPP lamented that the wave of defections posed a serious threat to the country’s democracy.
Mr Johnson said, “This is bad for democracy. For our type of democracy, it is important to have a proper and effective opposition. Already, we’ve seen a blurring of lines between the legislature and the executive; some would even say the judiciary. I hope not. I think many people are observing the trend and are unhappy. However, we need to be a bit more patient and see what happens soon.
“When the PDP was in power for 16 years, it was the party many people rushed into. Over time, it imploded, and many of those who joined it turned against it. So, I see that happening to the ruling APC. Definitely. This is because of the nature of Nigerian politicians; many are driven by personal interests. I always say that Nigeria can never truly be a one-party state. Even if only one party exists, it will become factionalised, with different interests and power blocs. Those pushing the country toward a one-party system may not have studied Nigeria’s political history carefully.”
In his remarks, CUPP’s Adebayo stated that the pattern of defections among politicians, particularly governors and lawmakers, was a deliberate strategy by the ruling party to transform the country into a one-party state.
Mr Adebayo said, “It is not accidental; it is a deliberate and strategic effort to entrench a one-party dictatorship. Whether these defections are forced or coerced, one thing is clear: it is an intentional action driven by the ruling party, particularly the President.
“This development is unhealthy for our democracy. It is shameful and stands against everything democratic principles represent. It is inimical to the growth and development of Nigeria as a democratic nation and poses a grave threat to our political stability.
“The implosion of the APC will come before or once it loses power. Most Nigerian politicians lack ideological grounding or principles; their loyalty lies only with the party in power. Political affiliation is tied to ideology and conviction, not convenience. However, the ideology of most politicians is simply the ruling party. If tomorrow the ADC, Labour Party, or SDP wins the presidency, many of these same politicians will abandon the APC overnight. They have no shame, no conviction, and no conscience. Their only motivation is proximity to power.”
In response, Mr Ibrahim of the APC maintained the APC would not face any internal crisis, asserting that it has the capacity to effectively manage its affairs, unlike the opposition.
He stated, “The fact that the opposition are not organised and they cannot organise primaries, neither can they manage their parties, does not mean we are on the same boat with them. Our party, the APC, has been conducting primaries successfully and rancor-free.
“So, the fact that they don’t know how to manage their party does not mean that is the way we run our own party. The APC does not coerce anyone to join. Those joining are doing so willingly because of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope achievements. Our party is fully prepared. It’s not going to implode; it’s not going to have any issues similar to the issues they have been having.”
Senator Ndume, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, accused both the executive and legislative arms of complacency, saying their failure to proactively engage the United States government on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria led to the development.
The senator recalled that he had earlier sponsored a motion in the Senate on “Christian genocide” in the country. The motion, he said, led to resolutions mandating the Nigerian government to engage the U.S. with verified facts and figures.
President Trump, last Friday, announced the designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged persecution of Christians.
President Trump made the announcement via a post on his Truth Social platform, which was also shared on the official White House X handle.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” President Trump wrote.
But the Nigerian government swiftly rejected the claims, insisting that President Trump’s assessment did not reflect the true situation in the country.
However, Senator Ndume accused the President Tinubu’s administration and the Senate of treating the allegation raised by US lawmaker, Riley Moore, with complacency, prior to President Trump’s declaration, and urged the federal government to take urgent steps to engage the US government with facts and figures on the activities of terrorists organisations which, he noted, were blind to faith.
“I have alerted the government, I even moved a motion. Nigeria is a sovereign state, it isn’t about what the United States can do to us, but about the misconception and the ripple effects of classifying us as a country of concern.
“We should engage the American government by presenting facts and figures. By engaging the US government, we should demand that they hear the other side of the story from the Nigerian government and the Muslim community. Muslims have been killed too. The genocide isn’t against Christians but Nigerians generally,” he said.
-
Sports2 days agoBayern Continue Bundesliga Dominance
-
Business2 days agoItakpe Train Derailment: No Casualty Recorded — NRC
-
News2 days agoWorld Bank to consider Nigeria’s fresh $1bn loan request
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoFuel Import Duty: PETROAN Fears Monopoly In Oil Market, Urges Regulatory Checks
-
Rivers2 days agoNLNG, NCDMB Launch ICT Hub To Boost Tech Skills In Nigeria
-
Sports2 days agoFA Chairman berates longstanding misuse of FIFA fun
-
Maritime2 days agoAFCFTA: Borno Begins Plastic Materials Export
-
News2 days agoStrike: FG to release N11.995bn arrears to doctors, others in 72 hours