By Williams Adegoke
The sacking of Doyin Okupe by the Labour Party chairman in Ogun State was very strategic, it is the divide-and-rule politics that the established politicians will deploy to undo the Labour Party.
For those who followed Peter Obi’s journey into Labour Party, you will agree that Okupe was the first person who began to drum support for Obi.
This is why they have started with him so that they can weaken Obi’s base and break them apart. But there is one thing that Obi and his supporters must be proud of, and that is the fact that they have gotten some scared enough to want to undo their resolve.
Initially, the two main political parties considered Obi and his supporters a walk in the park but as weeks go past the Labour Party is growing in stature and reach.
The thinking that Obi has no votes in the north is starting to fade away as many people who are not even politicians join the youths to call for the retirement of the old guard – in this case, it is Bola Tinubu of APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
Now that Peter Obi and his supporters have proved themselves to be worthy opponents, the establishment is trying to break the Labour Party from within. Okupe’s expulsion drama is the first in a series of internal attacks on LP. They will do all that they can to ensure that the base of Obi collapses.
This is politics 101 for many of Obi’s supporters. Many people have been planted within the Labour Party and their job is to divide the party. They are sponsored by established politicians who know that if the youths go ahead with their newfound resolve then Obi will pose big problems at the polls.
Obi’s political standing is made even more appealing because the APC failed to produce Vice President Yemi Osinbajo whom many have seen as the solution to Nigeria’s problem. Obi is the biggest beneficiary of Osinbajo’s loss.
Can Nigeria’s Gen Z voters change the story?
The 2022 midterms in the United States were shaped by Gen Z voters. This generation of voters made themselves heard loud and clear. They did not only squash the predictions of a red wave in the US but they even voted one of their own into the House. It is predicted that they maintain their voting momentum, future elections will look different.
In Nigeria, the story is a little different because the establishment have different heinous strategies to prevent people from voting in their opposition stronghold.
In Lagos for example, violence and disruption of voting process should be anticipated in Okota, Ago Palace Way, Mile 2, Agboju, etc because they are Obi’s stronghold. This is why people like Okupe who have played politics at the highest level is needed.
INEC officials will come late, accreditation will be delayed, ballot boxes will be tossed, and many more devious tactics will be deployed to ensure that votes don’t count. Are the Gen Z thinking of this? What tactic do they have in place? How will they tackle the axe-wielding, charm-wearing touts who will threaten voters? This again is politics 101.
INEC’s shortcoming
Across the world, voting are not carried out in open places, instead voting is carried out in a building. The voter queues, walks into the building, cast their votes and walk out. There is no way that a voter can show you who they voted for in most instances but in Nigeria is same ole, same ole.
INEC needs to be proactive in ensuring that voting is not discontinued by touts or that ballot boxes are snatched or stolen.
BVAS is a step in the right direction but there is a lot more to be done. Let’s hope that Obi and his supporters are watching and learning. Social media vibes are good but the real game is on the ground.
Williams Adegoke wrote from Ilesa, Osun State
