Party-delegates-politics-and-the-corruption-that-is-hardly-talked-about
September 7, 2020 | News
PARTY DELEGATES POLITICS AND THE CORRUPTION THAT IS HARDLY TALKED ABOUT
Perhaps, the most mentioned word in recent times is the word 'delegate'… As they are expected to express their choice of who flies the party flag at every point in time thereby becoming the most sought-after brides to be ‘wooed’ by intending political aspirants and indeed everyone that has got interest in the fourth coming elections across the country. In view of this, we can rightly conclude that ‘party delegates’ are very powerful and are pivotal to the sustenance and entrenchment of internal democracy in any democratic setting, this includes the internal democracy within and between the various political parties.
As we all know, political parties usually conduct "ward congresses" to elect these “party delegates. While the Wards, are probably the smallest political units and card carrying members that elect delegates that will represent them at Local, State and National Congresses/Conventions, and while party officials - Presidential and Governorship Candidates are usually elected at State and National Conventions; it therefore means that what happens at these levels of the electioneering process, are what, to a very large extent, that determines the side in which the tune of the election will swing to. But while everyone is busy talking about the process, the events and activities that eventually unfolds during these party delegates electioneering (like we have seen in the last few weeks), very few are talking about and looking at the ‘clandestine practices’ – often laden with all kinds of corrupt practices, that usually go with the electoral process at the party delegates level. Sadly, it is such clandestine practices and corruption that continually costs the nation from having credible and integrity-driven political leaders with good ideas to perform well, in relevant public offices across the country.
Senator Shehu Sani, recently painted a very good picture of this issue via his Twitter handle when he said: “The corruption that both Sinners and Saints in politics don’t want to talk about is the money paid to party delegates to influence their choice. And that is where potential good leaders with great ideas and empty pockets are slaughtered.” There is no better way to explain it than this. The party delegates and their roles, can best be described as the most critical aspect of the ‘foundation’ that forms the nation’s electioneering process. However, it is quite unfortunate that this is where political candidates with good intentions and ideas are ‘exchanged’ with cash and ‘certificated illiterates’ who really do not have genuine ideas of what it means to serve as a public officer. But because these politicians are the ones with the ‘deep pockets and money to throw around’, they end up becoming the ‘chosen ones’ that will contest the real elections. In other words, the party delegates make their money by selling their ‘birthrights’ and conscience during Ward Congresses and Primaries/Conventions, which leave the general masses to end up having political aspirants that are really not worthy to occupy any public office across the country. and that is how ‘bad leaders’ are voted into Government – right from the grassroots level.
In other words, in readiness for the 2019 general elections, as political and electioneering activities have increased in momentum, so also have political aspirants for various positions have ‘upped their game’, including garnering endorsements and adoptions from varied organizations and groups with a view to having the upper hand over their opponents and subsequently, pick the tickets of their various political parties. Some aspirants with deep pockets, who have access to the commonwealth of the people dish it out recklessly for endorsements without caring a hoot or batting an eyelid because the fund dished out brazenly is not their hard-earned money which they can never do if they were not accessible to it.
We are aware that before the primaries, political parties conduct delegate election of their party faithful which is usually supervised by the State Working Committee (SWC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. And that the NWC usually intervenes to supposedly ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants in the election of delegates, because SWCs are said to usually be manipulated by incumbent governors. We are also aware that some political parties have adopted and introduced a new model to the conduct of party primaries which seems a departure from the past; where the NWC through the National Organizing Secretary, is saddled with the responsibility of scrutinizing, vetting and approving the list of delegates before any primary election is conducted. What this means is that, that office goes through the lists of delegates submitted by the 36 States of the federation and the FCT and ensures that statutory and accredited delegates are on the lists before they are returned to the states for the primaries. This implies that all the aspirants would have access to the list of delegates for the primaries in which they are participating and concur with it or raise an objection if necessary.
However, in spite of this new model adopted by some political parties, which is aimed at ending the era of conscripting a passerby, giving him or her tag of party delegate and using him or her to manipulate the primaries; it still has not been able to address the chances of party delegates being bribed by aspirants to have their way. The new method means the aspirants would know the delegates, woo them, campaign before them, and convince them to accept their candidacy. This makes the party delegates the real godfathers and kingmakers, and as such, the most powerful persons in the election process that are susceptible to all kinds of corruption. No wonder the recent Ward Congresses across the country of the ruling party have been subjected to all kinds of outright violence and contentions amongst stakeholders. With such things already happening at the grassroots level of the nation’s electioneering process towards 2019, we can imagine what will happen at the National level and the elections proper. But until we address this issue with party delegates being influenced and induced to pick political aspirants that are not necessarily the best for the people, we will continue to have ‘bad leaders’ enthroned in the country’s political space.
With this party delegates politics of fraud, we all would agree that it will render the nation’s elections meaningless, even with the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). In other words, whether with PVCs, as long as the situation with party delegates politicking remains, we cannot really have credible elections because the actual electioneering process from the onset is already marred with a lot of irregularity. So, when people talk of the importance of the PVCs as the best way and tool to get credible leaders, they forget to also talk about and consider the roles of party delegates, who end up picking aspirants to be voted for, that are persons without an idea of what it means to serve in public office. The PVC on its own, will not be able to get Nigerian credible political aspirants as we clearly need. Nigerian politics and election at the party delegates level is all about ‘money politicking’ – not really about getting the right candidate that will truly represent the interest of the people, since most of these party delegates practically sell their votes to the highest bidder from the onset.
With the above scenario of what we find in our political and electioneering process, where on earth do we expect young and credible men with relevant modern ideas on good governance, get the sort of money required to distribute so that they can find favours in the eyes of party delegates and the public? And again, it is evident that for a political party to win election in Nigeria, it must have structures/offices in all the Local Government Areas of the 36 States plus the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. This means, without money, it is practically impossible for a man of integrity to have/hire such offices in every constituency, not to talk of winning an election. The Nigerian Presidential system of Government encourages ‘money bags’. It was stated that US President Donald Trump, who did not have sponsors and did not belong to any club or organization, is very rich, hence he was able to go around the States in US during his election campaigns. But with the situation in Nigeria, can we really have credible elections in the country with this system of democracy that we practice, considering the financial muscle it requires?
Zik Gbemre, JP.
Perhaps, the most mentioned word in recent times is the word 'delegate'… As they are expected to express their choice of who flies the party flag at every point in time thereby becoming the most sought-after brides to be ‘wooed’ by intending political aspirants and indeed everyone that has got interest in the fourth coming elections across the country. In view of this, we can rightly conclude that ‘party delegates’ are very powerful and are pivotal to the sustenance and entrenchment of internal democracy in any democratic setting, this includes the internal democracy within and between the various political parties.
As we all know, political parties usually conduct "ward congresses" to elect these “party delegates. While the Wards, are probably the smallest political units and card carrying members that elect delegates that will represent them at Local, State and National Congresses/Conventions, and while party officials - Presidential and Governorship Candidates are usually elected at State and National Conventions; it therefore means that what happens at these levels of the electioneering process, are what, to a very large extent, that determines the side in which the tune of the election will swing to. But while everyone is busy talking about the process, the events and activities that eventually unfolds during these party delegates electioneering (like we have seen in the last few weeks), very few are talking about and looking at the ‘clandestine practices’ – often laden with all kinds of corrupt practices, that usually go with the electoral process at the party delegates level. Sadly, it is such clandestine practices and corruption that continually costs the nation from having credible and integrity-driven political leaders with good ideas to perform well, in relevant public offices across the country.
Senator Shehu Sani, recently painted a very good picture of this issue via his Twitter handle when he said: “The corruption that both Sinners and Saints in politics don’t want to talk about is the money paid to party delegates to influence their choice. And that is where potential good leaders with great ideas and empty pockets are slaughtered.” There is no better way to explain it than this. The party delegates and their roles, can best be described as the most critical aspect of the ‘foundation’ that forms the nation’s electioneering process. However, it is quite unfortunate that this is where political candidates with good intentions and ideas are ‘exchanged’ with cash and ‘certificated illiterates’ who really do not have genuine ideas of what it means to serve as a public officer. But because these politicians are the ones with the ‘deep pockets and money to throw around’, they end up becoming the ‘chosen ones’ that will contest the real elections. In other words, the party delegates make their money by selling their ‘birthrights’ and conscience during Ward Congresses and Primaries/Conventions, which leave the general masses to end up having political aspirants that are really not worthy to occupy any public office across the country. and that is how ‘bad leaders’ are voted into Government – right from the grassroots level.
In other words, in readiness for the 2019 general elections, as political and electioneering activities have increased in momentum, so also have political aspirants for various positions have ‘upped their game’, including garnering endorsements and adoptions from varied organizations and groups with a view to having the upper hand over their opponents and subsequently, pick the tickets of their various political parties. Some aspirants with deep pockets, who have access to the commonwealth of the people dish it out recklessly for endorsements without caring a hoot or batting an eyelid because the fund dished out brazenly is not their hard-earned money which they can never do if they were not accessible to it.
We are aware that before the primaries, political parties conduct delegate election of their party faithful which is usually supervised by the State Working Committee (SWC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. And that the NWC usually intervenes to supposedly ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants in the election of delegates, because SWCs are said to usually be manipulated by incumbent governors. We are also aware that some political parties have adopted and introduced a new model to the conduct of party primaries which seems a departure from the past; where the NWC through the National Organizing Secretary, is saddled with the responsibility of scrutinizing, vetting and approving the list of delegates before any primary election is conducted. What this means is that, that office goes through the lists of delegates submitted by the 36 States of the federation and the FCT and ensures that statutory and accredited delegates are on the lists before they are returned to the states for the primaries. This implies that all the aspirants would have access to the list of delegates for the primaries in which they are participating and concur with it or raise an objection if necessary.
However, in spite of this new model adopted by some political parties, which is aimed at ending the era of conscripting a passerby, giving him or her tag of party delegate and using him or her to manipulate the primaries; it still has not been able to address the chances of party delegates being bribed by aspirants to have their way. The new method means the aspirants would know the delegates, woo them, campaign before them, and convince them to accept their candidacy. This makes the party delegates the real godfathers and kingmakers, and as such, the most powerful persons in the election process that are susceptible to all kinds of corruption. No wonder the recent Ward Congresses across the country of the ruling party have been subjected to all kinds of outright violence and contentions amongst stakeholders. With such things already happening at the grassroots level of the nation’s electioneering process towards 2019, we can imagine what will happen at the National level and the elections proper. But until we address this issue with party delegates being influenced and induced to pick political aspirants that are not necessarily the best for the people, we will continue to have ‘bad leaders’ enthroned in the country’s political space.
With this party delegates politics of fraud, we all would agree that it will render the nation’s elections meaningless, even with the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). In other words, whether with PVCs, as long as the situation with party delegates politicking remains, we cannot really have credible elections because the actual electioneering process from the onset is already marred with a lot of irregularity. So, when people talk of the importance of the PVCs as the best way and tool to get credible leaders, they forget to also talk about and consider the roles of party delegates, who end up picking aspirants to be voted for, that are persons without an idea of what it means to serve in public office. The PVC on its own, will not be able to get Nigerian credible political aspirants as we clearly need. Nigerian politics and election at the party delegates level is all about ‘money politicking’ – not really about getting the right candidate that will truly represent the interest of the people, since most of these party delegates practically sell their votes to the highest bidder from the onset.
With the above scenario of what we find in our political and electioneering process, where on earth do we expect young and credible men with relevant modern ideas on good governance, get the sort of money required to distribute so that they can find favours in the eyes of party delegates and the public? And again, it is evident that for a political party to win election in Nigeria, it must have structures/offices in all the Local Government Areas of the 36 States plus the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. This means, without money, it is practically impossible for a man of integrity to have/hire such offices in every constituency, not to talk of winning an election. The Nigerian Presidential system of Government encourages ‘money bags’. It was stated that US President Donald Trump, who did not have sponsors and did not belong to any club or organization, is very rich, hence he was able to go around the States in US during his election campaigns. But with the situation in Nigeria, can we really have credible elections in the country with this system of democracy that we practice, considering the financial muscle it requires?
Zik Gbemre, JP.