The gubernatorial election in Jigawa State would be between five parties; the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and the National Conscience Party, NCP.
Three political parties out of the five including the ruling APC and major opposition PDP and SDP have already shown their strength and have canvassed for support of Jigawa citizens to give them their mandates in the Saturday’s governorship election.
There are five factors that would influence the outcome of the governorship election scheduled to take place on the 9th of March, 2019.
The popularity of President Muhammadu Buhari that was clearly seen in the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections, Incumbency, gale of defection, the performance of present administration, the performance of past administration in the state as well as the candidate’s personality profile.
Buhari factor
Buhari factor is one of the major factors that may influence the coming governorship election in Jigawa state as his acceptability by the citizens will be of greater factor that may influence the outcome of the governorship election in favour of Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.
The impacts of federal government policies and program in the state, such as roads, Hadejia irrigation project, N-power, school feeding, monthly allowances for destitute, agricultural policies among others will be in favour of governor Badaru.
Buhari’s popularity in the state resulted in the overwhelming victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Jigawa State in the just concluded elections where it won all the three senatorial seats for Jigawa North East, North West, North Central and all the eleven House of Representatives.
While on the other hand, the popularity of the former Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido in the state and his acceptability by the populace as he is seen as a grassroots politician who has a vast number of supporters across the state, will also influence the people to vote the PDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim Ringim.
Also, the high cost of living under the APC administration will make the voting pattern to favour the PDP in the state, as highlighted in PDP campaign slogans “end poverty and hunger which was intentionally created by the APC administration”.
Incumbency
Incumbency is another additional advantage for the APC that is currently in control of about 100% per cent of all the elective seats in the state. This will be of advantage to the ruling APC.
However, analysts are on the view that incumbency may not influence the voting pattern in the coming election because of what president Muhammad Buhari said; ” vote whoever you think will work for you in any party.” Based on this, some electorate will vote not on a party basis.
Gale of Defection
Historically, Jigawa State politics is always characterized by defection, alignments and realignment whenever election time approaches and the party that receives more decampees gets additional chances winning elections in the State.
Before the presidential election, four out of the five gubernatorial aspirants of PDP and one other from SDP, seven commissioners who served under PDP and many other supporters of various political parties formally decamped to the APC, while at the same time APC serving senator dumped the party to the major opposition party, PDP, and many aggrieved APC members dumped the party for PDP and SDP.
Governor Muhammad Badaru who is eyeing a second term is business-oriented who has a vast of experiences in national and international business and some people are on the opinion that his experience will help the state in getting more investors and reduced the state over dependency on federal allocation.
The PDP candidates, Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim is a grassroots politician who served under three different administration including that of former governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Sa’adu ,Ibrahim Samini Turaki and Sule Lamido some people are of the opinion that his vast experience in politics and government will help him in developing the State.
While the SDP candidate, Hon Bashir Adamu who was four term member representing Yankwashi, Roni, Kazaure and Gwuiwa federal constituency is using his personal profile and what he terms as failure of PDP and APC to change Jigawa misfortune may influence electorates to vote for SDP candidate especially those who were disappointed by the ruling APC and PDP in the state.
State Assembly
As for the State Assembly election, there is the possibility that the major opposition parties PDP and SDP will win some of the seats especially in the areas where they are very powerful.
But only time can tell.
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