The 2015 Historic Presidential Election in Nigeria: A Contribution to African Revolutionary Framework

Contents

Dedication---------------------iii

Foreword---------------------vii

Acknowledgements------------------ix

Preface---------------------xiii

Introduction---------------------1

Conceptual and Theoretical Perspectives---------4

Background to Party Politics in Nigeria--------- 23

The 2015 Revolutionary Presidential Election XE "Presidential Election"  in 

Nigeria---------------------32

Towards Consolidating Nigerias 2015 Democratic 

Revolution XE "Revolution"  in Africa ---------------43

Transforming and Transporting Democracy XE "Democracy"  in 

Africa: A Century Charge to Nigeria Arising 

from the Outcomes of the 2015 Historic 

Presidential Election XE "Presidential Election" ---------------57

Conclusion---------------------66

Appendices

Appendix I ---------------------69

Appendix II ------------------77

Appendix III ------------------92

Appendix IV ------------------105

Index---------------------116

 Foreword

 Against the backdrop of the chequered history of the opposition in African politics, it has always been argued that ruling political parties could hardly be defeated in elections. Thus, for a fairly long time, as one rival ruling elite after another use the apparatus of the state to oppress the masses of the people in the name of democracy, the continent of Africa got entangled in the web of political instability and underdevelopment. The late Professor Claude Ake underscored this problematic when he concludes, after a deep introspection, that, Africa is democratizing, but the democratization taking place in Africa is not emancipatory. Rather, it has served to compound the problems associated with the disempowerment of the masses of the people whose predicament is no longer an issue deserving serious attention. This was the reality that confronted the disempowered and marginalized masses of African people in the twilight of the 20th century.   The 21st century however came with a lot of hope. Characterized by the restiveness of  a  class of people determined to take their collective destiny in their own hands, the mass of the people led by a few progressive elements, civil society  organizations and a particularly politically active youth; Africa is alas, rising. Indeed, the century is witnessing some major shifts in the locus of power. From the Arab Spring to the post-election civil disobedience in Côte d' Voire; and from the historic  Ghanaian presidential election which saw the emergence of Professor John Atta Mills to the epic defeat of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party XE "Peoples Democratic Party"  by the opposition All Progressives Congress XE "All Progressives Congress"  Party in Nigeria. Africa, is demonstrating concrete evidence and the will power to get things right by moving forward and redefining its politics. 

It is against this backdrop that this book by Godwin Odeh XE "Odeh"  on the 2015 Presidential Election XE "Presidential Election"  comes into sharp focus. In articulating the central arguments of the volume, the author foregrounds his narrative within the framework of social change, particularly as espoused by leading African revolutionaries like Frantz Fanon XE "Fanon"  and Amilcar Cabral XE "Amilcar Cabral" . The volume chronicles how and why the ruling PDP failed in the 2015 presidential elections and maps out the way forward for the victorious APC. The author also interrogates what lessons there are to be learnt by other African countries as they navigate their convoluted democratic Journeys towards political stability and sustainable socio-economic transformation. The book is a useful guide to all those interested in understanding the dynamics of the political history of contemporary Nigeria and the processes that culminated in the historic victory of the APC over the ruling PDP. I recommend it to students in our institutions of higher learning and policy makers.

Okpeh O  "Okpeh O" . Okpeh, Jr., FHSN,Professor of African History, Federal University Lafia, Nasarawa State  and Council Member, Historical Society of Nigeria.