Udengs Eradiri
The governorship election that is coming up in November 2023 in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, is undoubtedly, a crucial one and it presents another opportunity for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to redeem its damaged reputation, revamp its credibility and to rebuild the lost confidence and voter apathy that have encapsulated the citizens of the country.
The governorship election in Bayelsa is a tough call by any consideration, because, two of the contestants are heavy weights in Bayelsa State politics.
The APC candidate, Timipre Silver was a former governor of the State from 27 May 2008 to 27 January 2012 and the immediate past Minister of Petroleum in the Buhari administration.
Whereas Douye Diri who is the incumbent governor of the State, is seeking a second term in office as the PDP candidate, came into office in November 16, 2019 through a court ruling that set aside David Lyon’s victory after INEC had declared him the winner of the gubernatorial election of that year and pronounced Douye Diri as the substantive winner. Both of these candidates control enormous resources and political power.
Ostensibly less influential, the Labour Party candidate Udengs Eradiri, is of no match to his opponents in the PDP and the APC in terms of resources and political power.
In his own right, he is a formidable opponent in the governorship race, with a strong support base amongst the active youths population in the State. Being a former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) senior executive, a two-time commissioner in the Seriake Dickson’s administration and past president of the Ijaw Youths Council (lYC), Udengs has to his advantage, the exuberance of youthfulness and the energy of the Obidients.
Udengs is a strong-willed, energetic and courageous character that has the determination and ability to withstand his opponents, brawl for brawl if the Labour Party at the national is willing to make resources available to him and give him the necessary support.
This election will be a keen contest and by any measure, it is going to be a difficult exercise for INEC and all the contestants, especially, for the Labour Party candidate for obvious reasons.
Firstly, the incumbent governor has a strong hold of the traditional rulers of communities across the State, who are under his payroll.
They wield tremendous power within their domains and they have the capacity to influence the voting pattern in their communities.
The governor equally has the loyalty of a large number of political appointees in his administration who are influential indigenes in most of these communities that are willing to work for him. Governor Diri has enormous political influence and control in the State to enable him win the forthcoming election.
On the side of the APC candidate, Timipre Silver, he has the advantage of the support of the government in power, the federal security apparatus and possibly INEC in his disposal.
He also have access to financial resources as an individual and from his APC that can enable him execute the election to his favour.
In the presence of these two contending forces from the PDP and the APC in the race, the LP is definitely the underdog, but they cannot be written off as it has capability to pull off surprises at the polls.
The APC government never gave the Labour Party any chance, but they turned out doing so well in the last presidential election, and proved everyone wrong. We all know how the matter ended up in the court.
The momentum of the Obidients is still transient and strong in the State, but regardless, their are pockets of dis-loyal Obidients who have crossed to either the APC or PDP.
Nonetheless, the organic support by the Obidients in the State have tremendous advantage to the Labour Party if only they will effectively engage the support groups and adequately mobilize them, so as to activate the Obidient energy that they are known for.
The LP must make efforts to send the supporters out to the Streets to carry out pre-campaign rallies as a way of galvanizing public awareness and to send a strong message to the other parties that the LP support base is still as boisterous as ever.
Undoubtedly, the Labour Party maintains a weak financial position and that is quite understandable, but we must also not discount the power of organic support that was exhibited by the Obidients across the country during the recently concluded presidential election.
Despite not getting ‘shi-shi’ yet the Obidients came all out then.
They can replicate that fit in the Bayelsa guber race in November if there is effective engagement between the Labour Party and the support groups in the State as well as their counterparts in the national.
That may indeed down play the monetary considerations as secondary, thereby, placing the priority more on winning the election.
It is also important to recognize the strength of the incumbent governor and the capacity of the other APC contender.
However, on the same vein, the LP must take advantage of the prevalent increase in youth apathy in the state in particular and the country in general: Especially, against the current APC led government for the bitting hardship and hunger in the land.
Therefore, the harsh reality in the country presents the LP an opportunity to mobilize youths support through the Obidient Movement to enable them direct their energies towards securing more votes at the guber polls.
The key to a successful electioneering campaign in the State is the cooperation and synergy of purpose by the LP and the support groups.
The Labour Party has to braze up to the challenge before it and be prepared to render all the necessary support, monetary and otherwise to the party’s candidate in the Bayelsa guber race, because, there is a big chance that the Labour Party might capture the State during the polls if the necessary resources are made available to Udengs in good time.
Interestingly, Bayelsa State is just like Rivers State, both are strong PDP States, but also have a large number of vibrant Obidient supporters.
That presents to the Labour Party a great chance of pulling a surprise and defeating its opponents at the polls just as it happened in the last presidential election in the State, but for rigging.
Bayelsa is one of the core Niger Delta States, an important stakeholder in the region’s political landscape and a strategic oil producing State in the country. Therefore, winning the State in the forthcoming gubernatorial election is of immense significance to the LP, as it will give it a strong footing in the Niger Delta Region.
As the governorship rlections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States in November 2023 approaches, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be prepared to capitalize and seize the opportunity that is presented to retrace its steps and be willing to demonstrate to the citizens of this country that, it is commitment and have resolved to show uttermost readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible election in these three States.
On the part of the government, it must endeavour to desist from unnecessary meddling and willful interference in the electoral process, especially, the abatement of electoral officers and the wrongful deployment of security personnel, who instead of keeping public peace, are there mainly to quell any resistance by the opponents against acts of rigging by the ruling party during elections.
This overbearing government presence in the electoral process have been identified as the main reason for the vote of no confidence on the government by the citizenry and the inhibition of progression and development in the nation’s political endeavour.
The prevalent delicate economic and socio-political climate and the resultant tension that have beclouded the nation calls for urgent retraction and immediate proactive measures to salvage this precarious situation.
Hence, the need for the government to make conscientious efforts to disassociate itself from any activity that can potentially precipitate aggrieved Nigerians into justifiable protests and agitations, which may be immensely detrimental to the overall peace and unity of the country.
