By Adekola Afolabi,
Jimoh Ahmed,
Saheed Ibrahim,
Babatunde Ayedoju, & Samuel Edu

The unprecedented large number of presidential aspirants across the nation’s major political parties, if not well managed, may spell doom for the parties, the 2023 general elections and the nation.

Despite the humongous fees charged for Expression of Interest and Nomination forms by the parties, no fewer than 40 Presidential aspirants obtained forms from the two major political parties in the country.

The stakeholders, who disclosed this in separate interviews with The Hope, said this development may eventually lead to break away of the parties .

While describing the number of presidential aspirants as worrisome and a mockery of democracy, they said majority of the aspirants only desired to stay in power and remain relevant politically.

Those that spoke with The Hope are: Prof Akinsola Agagu, Dr Bayo Fasunwon, Dr. Afe Adedayo, elder statesmen, Chief Femi Aluko and Chief Korede Duyile.

A Professor of Political Science at Ekiti State University, EKSU, Prof. Akinsola Agagu questioned the political parties’ internal mechanisms for succession, saying many of the contestants lacked the capacity to lead the country.

“Parties should have two or three people they look forward to for succession. But as it is, various Ministers, Governors want to become President, even someone who has been a Governor for eight years without impact, what magic wand does he want to use to lead the country?

“A minister that cannot solve problems in his ministry in the past eight years is coming out to become the president. These are issues that show they may not be sincere enough.”

Prof. Agagu further said that the huge nomination form fees charged by the parties might be a way of raising funds for the election, since vote buying had been the new trend in Nigeria’s electoral processes.

The political scientist stressed that the biggest challenge lies with the electorate to use their electoral power to decide elections and how the country would be run and by whom.

He said the large turnout of presidential contestants may have no impact on the polity and the party’s unity, since they have internal cohesive mechanisms for crisis resolution.

Also, another political scientist at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Dr Bayo Fasuwon said the large number of presidential aspirants may eventually lead to breakaway by party members, as those who believed they had the capability to win the election would want to fulfill their dreams ‘ elsewhere.

“The parties will not break-up but break away. Supposing Tinubu loses in APC primaries, let us just take it that way, given that he wants to become the president, he will surely break away to another party to actualize his dream there. Before the issue of forms came up, there is this issue of the third force. The third force is just about creating a platform for those who may break away from parties.

“There is bound to be internal crisis, but the parties have put in place mechanisms to manage this. The APC, for example, has Form 18 where people will have to sign that they will not go to court. Every party has internal mechanism of getting out internal crisis.

“It is a game, it is a war but what a good political party would do is to create an avenue of getting out of it,” he said.

Fasunwon warned parties to allow those who want to leave, adding that forcing them to stay would give room for those who wanted to leave to build strong base that would eventually wreck the party.

He said not all the aspirants were serious about becoming the president, but desirous of staying relevant politically, with their eyes on political appointments after the election.

While saying the development may strengthen democracy, he decried the huge fee for nomination form as impediment for those who may have good intentions for the nation, but with limited funds.

Contributing, a Senior lecturer at the Department of History and International Relations, the AAUA, Dr Adedayo Afe said bulk of Nigeria’s wealth and heritage were controlled by the privileged few, while majority of candidates, who had picked interest in 2023 presidential election were either working directly with the government or were once there.

Dr Afe said that in advanced countries, people make money in their private careers before joining politics but in developing countries, people steal from the government before going into private businesses.

The don said a large number of presidential hopefuls may step down before primary election, adding that parties may not be able to manage the large number because some politicians are desperate.

Chief Aluko, a former Commissioner for Information in the state expressed disappointment that the leaders are taking the people for a ride with impunity.

“I have never seen it anywhere in the world where over hundred people are vying for the office of the President of a country. With all my experience in politics, this is the first time I will see such. We are making mockery of ourselves, not only our democracy.

“Can the political parties manage themsevelves not to talk of the large number of aspirants? Most of the aspirants will not step down  and that is why I said there is a hidden agenda somewhere.

“With what we are seeing now, with all the confusions, I don’t think the elections will hold. Let us just wait and watch the scenario,” Aluko stressed.

He berated the aspirants for hiding under faceless groups to obtain nomination forms.

In his contribution, a former Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo state, Chief Duyile, who condemned the proliferation of aspirants, also said the actions of politicians in the country could break-up Nigeria.

He said, “I want you to get it clearly that it is not all those who obtained forms who are serious. Some are being used, some are using themselves for other purposes, and so, only few are really serious.

“Some of those who are showing interest are being asked to do so by some powers behind them. And this money is not really their money but it is coming from somewhere,” Duyile added.