Will the youth break the two-party culture in Nigeria?

 

     

The significance of political parties as an effective instrument of democratic development cannot be overemphasized. In Nigeria, two main political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have dominated the political scene for a very long time. However, it looks like things are about to take a different turn in this year’s general elections. A "third force" seems to be emerging following the declaration of Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

Young people in Nigeria, unlike in the past, have made this year's presidential election, which takes place on Saturday, February 25, the most competitive since the end of military rule in 1999. The majority of the youth in Nigeria are rooting for a new political party in an effort to unseat the country’s two main political parties and bring about change in Nigeria, a country that has endured many years of stagnation, corruption, and insecurity.

The Independent National Electoral Commission reports that 93,469,008 Nigerians are eligible to vote, of whom 37,060,399, or 39.65% of voters, are between the ages of 18 and 34. This is a record-breaking number. Many believe that the millions of young people who have registered as first-timers are spurred on by the 2020 EndSars anti-police brutality protests that morphed into calls for good governance.

"If Nigeria continues on this downhill, it will be disastrous, so yes, it's a defining moment, and we the youth are committed to be part of the change we want to see" said Rinu Oduala, a 24-year-old woman who was among the protesters who camped outside the governor's office in Lagos for weeks, two years ago.

Although 18 presidential candidates are campaigning for the highest office, the presidency, the majority of the youth are rooting for 61-year-old Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Despite the fact that he is not that young or entirely new to the political history of Nigerian politics, as he has previously been the vice-presidential candidate for the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), many believe he is different because of his accessibility, simplicity, and his record of prudence with public funds when he was Anambra state governor.

However, it won’t be a smooth sail for Peter Obi.  While some back the idea it is the turn of the Labour Party to be in power, Mr. Obi, an Igbo man will face stiff competition from Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress who enjoy the backing in their home areas - the southwest and northern part of Nigeria respectively.

This year's election, in the words of the head of the Independent National Election Commission, will be "an election of young people." What this means is that if the youth come out to vote in their numbers on election day, the long-held history of two political parties dominating the political landscape may have to be rewritten.

Whoever wins the 2023 election will have an uphill task at hand - to turn the fear of economic collapse into good fortunes for the country. So far, candidates have been framing their campaign messages around issues of reducing insecurity, the economy, anti-corruption as well as the high level of unemployment in the country.

AEP

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