Most members of Nigeria’s former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), heaved a sigh of relief last week as the Supreme Court resolved the leadership crisis which had bedevilled the party for nearly two years in favour of former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi. The apex court had been asked to decide the legitimate chairman of the party between Makarfi and former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff.
Every mediation effort by party chieftains had failed, the last being an attempt by the former president, Goodluck Jonathan. There were, indeed, fears that the party could disintegrate, but the Supreme Court unanimous declaration of Makarfi as the authentic chairman of the party has doused much of the tension.
The court held that Sheriff did not fulfill PDP’s requirements to contest for the chairmanship of the party, having failed to attach his membership card and three years tax clearance certificate to the forms he submitted. The court also found that when Sheriff got hint of his disqualification, he sought to cancel the party’s scheduled convention. But the convention held, presided over by the deputy national chairman, as provided for in the party’s constitution. The effect was that the National Caretaker Committee chaired by Senator Makarfi was held to be lawful, having been duly constituted by the national convention of the party held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on May 21, 2016.
The apex court ruling elicited great joy among the party members. Last Friday, the ousted chairman, Sheriff, congratulated Makarfi and called for all hands on deck to chart a new course for the PDP. With these sentiments, Sheriff has demonstrated that he is a good sportsman, which should make the process of party reconciliation easier.
The PDP, after losing power in April 2015, went through the various stages of grief. It moved from disbelief, through recriminations, to guilt, till the party chairman resigned, as he should, for leading his party to defeat. The game of musical chairs began, followed by the litigation which went through eight courts before landing at the Supreme Court.
We welcome the eventual resolution of the PDP crisis, which has given the party a new lease of life. The party, since the 2015 election, had not known peace. It was split down the middle by formidable forces. The party members should, therefore, close ranks and ensure, as advocated by many of their leaders, that there is no victor and no vanquished. This is necessary for a genuine rebuilding effort to commence, as the next general elections are fast approaching.
We think the resolution of the PDP crisis is a victory for democracy that is vital for party politics. A united PDP stands a better chance to provide a viable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). A democratic government without a viable opposition is an indicator of weak governance and a fragile democracy.
There has, however, been little to choose from between the two leading parties since 1999. Indeed, majority of the stalwarts of the APC are PDP turncoats. In terms of ideas and programmes, the parties are practically interchangeable. We note with dismay the absolute lack of internal democracy within the parties. This is the first sign of corruption in the body politic and an indicator that a party is likely going to hit the rocks. It is, indeed, a symptom of political dysfunction in the country.
The PDP should use this new opportunity to do some soul-searching on its objectives and strategies, its moral compass and standards, and its idea of what an efficient government should be. After such reflection, we expect the party to comport itself after the fashion of a serious opposition party. In that way, it will be able to make useful contributions to our democracy and the wellbeing of Nigerians, even now that it is out of power.
