@SuanusBlog

When the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was formed in 1998 and considering all that transpired before 2015, little would the founders or any of its ardent members believe that the nicknamed “biggest party in Africa” would be dislodged shamefully from power by a man known as a “serial presidential election loser”. But today the rest is history which I wouldn’t want to bring up as at least the recent is still fresh in the memories of many politically conscious Nigerians.
The reality is that PDP didn’t only lose the presidency to the All Progressives Congress, APC but also lost majority of its controlled states and legislative seats. Three quick things that favoured the APC was its merger arrangement, the huge northern followership that Buhari commands and the abysmal corruption and failures of the PDP years.
While many people are of the opinion that the PDP has so far failed Nigerians in constantly keeping the APC Government in check as an opposition party through constructive criticisms, others see it as impossible for the PDP to return so soon to power. They are of the strong opinion that the PDP still needs at least same 16 years to fully learn their lessons before having a chance to win back the presidency.
However, the disappointment of Nigerians who tagged the Buhari Government as a messianic administration and the similar failures of the current APC Government may just accelerate the return of the PDP to the centre, either to prove that they have “changed” or for vengeance and further looting.
Whichever is the case, Suanu’s Blog hereby considers nine (9) things that the PDP can do to increase their chances of returning to the presidency as the 2019 General Elections approach.

1. Zoning: This is a peculiar practice in Nigeria’s political lexicon. Although some democracy advocates consider the act as undemocratic as it denies some other constitutionally qualified aspirants from seeking political office at a particular time, zoning still remains a sure way of ensuring justice, fairness and equity in distribution or rotation of political offices in Nigeria especially between the south and north or among the major ethnic groups as the case may be.
Imagine a situation where zoning is expunged from our political sphere, it means the number of groups and people who complain about political marginalization will skyrocket as the north will always have their way since politics is a game of numbers.
Flashing back to the 2015 General Election, you would agree with me that a key factor that handed over Nigeria’s presidency to the then General Muhammadu Buhari was his strategic northern region with their Chinese Population. So if zoning for any democratic consideration is expunged, it means with any little support from any other region in the country, the north will continue to rule us.
Back to the PDP, zoning isn’t new to the party; however, the desperation of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan derailed that principle which contributed to the failure of the party. The right way the PDP must go if they want to pose a serious threat to the ruling APC is to zone its presidential ticket to the northern part of the country which she has done.
Not just zoning it to the north, but the party must ensure that the candidate emerges from core north. Not just core north the party must also ensure that the candidate is a muslim. Not just a muslim, the party must also ensure that the candidate is a “first class” muslim. Other considerations include that the candidate must be wealthy, less scandalous, command great followership in the north and should be some one that will stand a greater chance of been accepted by Nigerians in other parts of the country.
Another important thing the party must do is to zone its vice presidential ticket to a populated part of the south that is sympathetic to the return course of the party. This will increase their victory chances.

2. Stop Imposition of Candidates: If there is one act that has so far characterized the existence of PDP then its imposition of candidates or direct fraud orchestrated by party leaders to favour particular candidates against others. Anointing of candidates is undemocratic and is a practice that the party must do away with. Just recently, the governorship primary election of the party that held in Anambra State was also faced with same challenge as the likes of Dr.Ifeanyi Ubah and Sen.Stella Oduah have consistently blamed former governor Peter Obi for imposing Obaze on the party as well as doctoring the delegates list. This grievance which the party national leadership has also condoned has made many of its aggrieved aspirants to sleep off the ongoing campaign and may affect the chances of the party in the November poll.
If PDP wants to be taken seriously in the 2019 polls, then the party must take bold steps in enshrining internal democracy in its process and practices. The influence of godfathers must be curtailed and the party must ensure transparent, free, fair and credible processes in its dealings with her members.

3. Embark On Full Reconciliation: The over fourteen months crises that bedeviled the party have caused more damages to the party that could have been imagined. Unfortunately, even after the Supreme Court saved the party from death, the headaches of the party have refused to abate as its members nationwide have continued to defect to other political parties and some state chapters of the party still embroiled in unending crises and legal tussles. The Makarfi-led national caretaker committee has not done enough to ensure lasting peace in the party after its side was victorious from the Supreme Court. A particular case of concern is the fact that he made no conscious efforts to reach out to the party members who were loyal to sheriff. Before his defection to the APC, Sheriff’s deputy, Ojougbo had lamented over the treatment melted on them by the Makrafi-led party.
To avoid more defections of pending aggrieved members across the states, the party must intensify its reconciliation efforts and make it as genuine and encompassing as possible. A fully reconciled PDP will make it more united for the 2019 political battle.

4. Merging With Other Opposition Parties: A key decision that catapulted the current ruling party to the presidency was its merger arrangement. Even while the PDP took the merger announcement as a joke boasting that it won’t still work, the rest is now history. If the party must succeed at the 2019 or subsequent elections, then the party must begin to seek either a formidable alliance with other opposition parties or go for a strategic merger arrangement. As many as ten vibrant opposition parties with nationwide structures should be considered and brought to the table. And this must be done before the 2019 general elections. If the PDP thinks she can win the 2019 presidential election as it is currently, then that’s an obesed lie.

5. Wooing Its Aggrieved Members Who Defected: The PDP must make serious efforts to reach out to its aggrieved members who defected ahead of the 2015 general elections and even those who might have defected recently. Their grievances must be heard and genuine efforts made towards addressing those issues or concerns raised. With the health issues of President Buhari appearing over, there is a possibility that his party will still want him to fly the party’s flag again. This will certainly put some former PDP members with a presidential ambition at a disadvantaged position. A few of those likely to be affected include former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Senator Bukola Saraki. Getting some of its key members back to its fold with all their supporters will surely increase the party’s chances at the 2019 polls.

6. Capitalizing On the Current Mistakes Of The APC Government: President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC rode on huge promises and expectations of the public to the Aso Villa. However, on getting there, Buhari once confessed that He was overwhelmed by what he called the “rot” he saw in the system. He had continued with unending excuses for His failures and has left no opportunity at blaming his predecessor especially the era of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The party itself has taken to series of denials even of promises out rightly stated in its manifesto which is a public document.
Although the PDP has so far not performed up to expectation in its opposition role to constructively engage and criticize the APC administration, if she wants to be taken serious in 2019, then the party should start digging deep into the failures of the current government, expose them nakedly to Nigerians and give Nigerians hope of better days ahead if the party is given a return opportunity.

7. Enhancing Party Rewarding System For Members: The past sixteen years reign of the party have been characterized by complaints by some of its members, many of who complain of being neglected after making contributions at different levels to the successes of the party. After each election, a select few have always been at the receiving end while the rest are abandoned perhaps till the next electioneering time begins. If the party wants to be given a chance again, it must put in place an equitable rewarding system in which all members benefit from the party. An assurance in this regard will spur members of the party to work diligently to ensure the party reclaims its lost territories in the 2019 polls.

8. Changing Its Name: Although some people believe there is more to a name someone or something is given as it can affect its actual characteristics, it is not always the case in all circumstances as some people or things are given good names but act in the negation. An average Nigerian feels there is something fundamentally wrong with the name PDP. Mere mention of the name provokes thoughts of misgovernance, corruption, underdevelopment, impunity and other anti-state tendencies. Although in reality, it is the people in a party that make up the party, the case of PDP ordinary seems a double calamity. Suanu’s Blog is of the opinion that the party should also consider changing its name as part of its internal restructuring efforts. If it buys into point #4 of ensuring a merger, then its current name must not be retained, it MUST be done away with and a new name that may bring new fortunes and improved public image adopted which must not reflect any of the former ills the party was known for.

9. Apologizing To Nigerians, Learning From Its Past Mistakes: To say PDP and its leaders raped Nigeria to rupture is simply to say the least. Critically reviewing the 16 years reign of the party, and comparing that with how much accrued to the country and the practical things achieved, one can never say the PDP performed with a conscience at all. While it won’t be in national interest to raise a decaying carcass, the party and its entire current leadership must be courageous enough to face Nigerians and apologise with all sincerity over the missed opportunities and how the nation’s resources were massively mismanaged under its rule. The apology must be backed up by voluntary return of stolen funds by its members to the national treasury. It is on this genuine apologetic note that some Nigerians may consider supporting the party again.

After this, the party must review its previous acts, accept and learn from its mistakes and ensure they don’t return Nigeria to its dark era again if given another opportunity again.

Share this until it gets to the National Leadership of the PDP.

Source: http://www.suanusblog.com/2017/11/nine-things-pdp-can-do-to-defeat-apc-in.html

Agreed with all you except no 1,5and 7

(1) Why should they zone the ticket to north ?
We already have enough of aboki ruling this country.

(5) Let every thieves remains in respective party,
afterall it's not as if they have our interest on their Mind in the first place

(7) This is the mistake that has been happening in the past and you want it to keep repeating itself,
Expect different result ? This is the problem we are facing in this country, why would they
Compensate you with duty post of what you have no idea what is happening in their ministry ?