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Nigeria: Ruling Party Divided Over Political Reforms

By on May 11, 2010
As a president from southern Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan is expected to name a northern vice president to preserve regional balance. But the ruling People’s Democratic Party is divided over changing the way it nominates candidates.

So President Jonathan’s choice for a deputy will also be seen, in part, as a reflection of whether he backs reformers, who want to make the nomination process more transparent, or whether he is supporting party leaders who want to preserve the political power of state governors.
Former Minister of State for Justice Musa Elayo Abdullahi says party leaders have too much influence over the selection of candidates.     “The delegates that are being made to elect the governors and the president are heavily tilted towards the people who are occupying the office of governors currently,” he said. “Therefore, if you are standing for election as a member of the house of assembly of a state or the house of representatives or the senate, the governor decides whether you can win that primary or not.”
But, President Jonathan believes the party will come together in time for next year’s vote. “The PDP is the undisputed king of Nigerian politics with three-quarters of state governorships and majorities in both houses of parliament.
Local government, legislative, and presidential elections are due by next April but could come sooner depending on electoral reforms currently being debated by parliament.

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