Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contesting National Assembly seats in the 3 senatorial districts and 14 federal constituencies in Oyo State are presently at the crossroads. Reason for this is not far-fetched.
A few days into the polls scheduled for 25th Febuary, 2023, their leader, Governor Seyi Makinde is yet to give a clear picture of his preferred presidential candidate.
This, of course, is unconnected to the unresolved crisis between G5 governors and the leadership of the party.
G5 have been at loggerhead with the leadership of PDP over Senator Iyorchia Ayu retaining his seat as Chairman of the party after the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as the standard-bearer of the party for the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
The situation, if not well managed, according to some political watchers in the state, will not only take its toll on the chances of the national assembly candidates but may also affect Makinde's second term bid.
Makinde, who is also seeking reelection under PDP, has neither mentioned nor campaigned for the presidential candidate of his party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
All he has been telling the electorates is to vote all PDP candidates in the coming general elections. He has never being specific on the matter.
Of course, Governor Makinde may not have made an official statement on the situation and he may not make any, as one of the principal actors in G5. But his body language clearly shows that he is not on the same page with Atiku.
This was further confirmed when the latter was in Ibadan for the mega rally the other time. Although the necessary logistics were said to have been provided by Makinde and state functionaries, as well as his loyalists were on ground but the governor was conspicuously absent at the rally.
Makinde, it was gathered, may have tactically supported the rally due to the peace brokered by a former governor of the state, Senator Rasheed Ladoja.
This also explains why Makinde's core loyalists who are contesting Senatorial and House of Representatives seats in the state have not been putting Atiku's face in their campaign posters. In fact, many posters displayed at the rally were printed overnight.
PDP chieftains who campaigned for the former vice president at the Ibadan rally, under the auspices of National Mandate Group, Oyo state chapter include Elder Wole Oyelese, a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development; former Minister of State for FCT, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide; former Oyo Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi and Director Special Duty, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Engr. Femi Babalola (Jogor), among others.
The major fear now among PDP's candidates contesting Senatorial and House of Representatives seats in Oyo State is the rippling effects the whole crisis may have on the outcome of the elections.
In fact, the issue has created a kind of uncertainty and confusion as far as the election is concerned.
According to some political watchers in the state, Governor Makinde's body language as per his preferred presidential candidate may have negative effects on the outcome of National Assembly elections. As it may be difficult to explain to a layman in an election to vote for one political party for presidential and another for National Assembly.
This they say may work in favour of candidates of the opposition party (APC) since they have a more popular presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. Just like the Buhari Tsunami of 2015 election helped many candidates.
While the Oyo State chapter of PDP has insisted that the party will work for all its candidates including Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Makinde's body language seems to be on the contrary.
Speaking with All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his entourage last week Thursday, Makinde disclosed that the state will vote for a presidential candidate whose election will promote equity, justice and unity of Nigeria. Tinubu paid him a courtesy call ahead of their campaign rally in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State.
He said his administration believes in putting people first, stating that "political players will come and go, but the country will remain."
On the position of the G5, the group of governors within PDP as per the party's candidate, Makinde said "if they have to choose between their individual aspiration and the unity of the country, they will choose Nigeria's unity."
Saying that the group monitored the APC presidential primaries that produced Asíwájú Tinubu as candidate, and commended the principled position taken by the Northern Governors. Noting that the Northern Governors reckoned that because power must return to the South in 2023, they would support a Southern candidate.
The big question now is, how best can the situation at hand be managed by all parties involved in other to achieve good results for the party? Time will definitely tell.
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