Battle For 2027: How Atiku Plans To Reap South East Votes In Symbolic Collaboration With Peter Obi. 

Battle For 2027: How Atiku Plans To Reap South East Votes In Symbolic Collaboration With Peter Obi.

Politics is fundamentally a numbers game, where a simple majority reigns supreme in determining the ultimate outcome. However, it’s worth noting that the advent of new media, particularly the rise of social media and the connectivity provided by platforms like WhatsApp, has added a captivating dimension to this age-old competition.

This digital revolution has the power to transform an unknown candidate into a celebrated hero, with its unparalleled reach gradually reshaping the very core of our nation’s political landscape.

Before delving into today’s discussion, let’s cast our gaze back at the results of the most recent presidential election. Out of the staggering 93.47 million registered voters, only a mere 24.9 million individuals cast their votes in the presidential and National Assembly elections. This dismal turnout represents a meager 26.72 percent, marking the lowest voter participation since the dawn of Nigeria’s democracy in 1999.

Notably, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu received only 36% of the legal votes cast in this election, leaving the remaining 63% of voters to chose alternate candidates.

In essence, if we were to consider a hypothetical scenario where Peter Obi had not made his move on the eve of the PDP’s presidential election and if Kwankwaso had remained within the PDP, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu might have faced a different fate, possibly becoming a footnote in political history.

Taking this further, the recent election marked a significant departure from the norm in Nigeria’s democratic history.

In the past, Nigerian politics was mostly controlled by two big political parties, and sometimes they would team up with smaller parties to gain more support. Even though some people said that the APC and Tinubu’s group cheated in the election, there’s more to the story.

The main candidates who were running for president know the real reasons why they didn’t win. It’s essential to acknowledge that this time around, the electoral contest featured a three-party race.

Peter Obi’s remarkable journey can be attributed to the phenomenon of the New Media revolution. It inspired the youth, stoking their resentment towards the pervasive culture of corruption and decades of wasteful leadership that have afflicted our country.

Atiku, who was initially overconfident in his political abilities and financial resources, was given a brutal reality check by the new media. This revolutionary medium catapulted Peter Obi from obscurity to fame, costing Atiku his previous backing.

The most effective strategy for any contender in 2027 to challenge Tinubu is to prioritize sustained opposition to Tinubu’s leadership while actively seeking to expand their supporter base, all while bearing in mind that the last election saw participation from less than 29% of registered Nigerian voters.

For the very first time, Atiku and the PDP faced a complete loss of support from the South East region. In practical terms, this loss of votes proved to be a decisive factor that tipped the scales against the PDP, as these votes were overwhelmingly in favor of Peter Obi and contributed significantly to their electoral defeat.

Essentially, a crucial strategy for readiness against Asiwaju is to establish a unified front well in advance, as any challenger without a well-defined approach to confront Tinubu is likely to encounter failure long before the actual election. Politically, four years can pass in the blink of an eye, akin to counting your fingers.

Hence, one of the primary strategies Atiku appears to be adopting is a concerted effort to discredit Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on a large scale. This involves maintaining a well-orchestrated campaign against his administration, creating substantial distractions, and redirecting the focus of the administration’s achievements towards stoking public discontent.

The recent CSU controversy is merely the initial step, with the much-HYPED FBI files set to follow suit. As events unfold, it seems they plan to persist in their tactics of manipulation and deception over the course of the year.

The Obidient movement has given rise to a new generation of Nigerians who, driven by their frustration with the high cost of living, have become emotionally disconnected from reality. They are resolute in their pursuit of justice for the nation but often overlook practical considerations.

The purpose of this distraction is to divert citizens’ attention away from Tinubu’s administration’s policies and create the perception of an illegitimate government. This is a strategy that Atiku has embraced wholeheartedly.

It brings to mind the legal maxim “Ex turpi causa non oritur actio,” which means that an action cannot arise from an dishonorable or unethical cause, implying that relying on the law to support a claim or action rooted in illegal or unethical behavior is untenable.

With a continuous onslaught on Tinubu’s integrity, Atiku would have gotten a good head start in the race for 2027, but things do not always work just because a smart man has added two and two and believes the solution is definite.

Atiku’s strategy revolves around forging a partnership with Peter Obi, a move that appears promising given the voting patterns observed in the last election. Such a collaboration could have yielded positive results for the PDP.

Furthermore, Atiku aims to harness the anger associated with the Obidient Movement, a group known for their sympathy towards anything opposing Tinubu, and unite them against him.

This assault on Tinubu’s character is clearly only the beginning, and it is expected to come from a variety of sources, all with the purpose of destroying the president’s credibility.

In local slang, “STONE WEY PERSON DEY SEE DEY COME NO FIT BLIND AM”Tinubu is well aware of the difficulties he faces.

To stay on track and be effective despite potential distractions and efforts to undermine his administration, Tinubu needs to follow a specific set of principles. These include having a clear plan for what he wants to achieve, being open and honest in communication, being accountable for his actions, working with politicians from different parties, avoiding personal attacks, and remaining committed to effective governance. These strategies will help him stay focused, retain the trust of the public, and navigate through difficult times.

Politics indeed hinges on numbers and strategies, but it also demands a scrutiny of intentions and a consideration of the nation’s welfare above all else. Atiku’s tactics, while politically astute, carry inherent risks of polarization, misdirection of public focus, erosion of trust in democratic institutions, and a relentless assault on his opponent’s integrity.

It is imperative to continue to be watchful and discerning in the face of these political complexities. We should approach Atiku’s plans to win over South East voters through alliances and calculated actions with caution.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the Chairman and CEO of Bush Radio Academy.

Source iReporteronline.