With the expiration of the time line for party primaries, political parties are putting their acts together in readiness for the 2019 general elections. At the close of the exercise, in line with the electoral guideline, a number of presidential candidates emerged. But curiously, only about 21 out of the 91 registered political parties participated in the exercise.
Out of the lot, the two big parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), will be the main rivals slugging it out, not only at the presidential election but also in other major elections, including governorship and National Assembly polls.
When INEC registered more political parties, observers felt it was for effective participation in the political space and also to encourage robust opposition. But that has not happened. Many of the newly registered parties did not even conduct primaries.
Barely three months to the February 2019 general elections, and about a month to the commencement…
Read More…..Leadership Newspaper
