Tag: winners

WINNERS:

Buhari and Osinbajo

 

President Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential election despite the falsehood and campaign of calumny by his adversaries in the social and conventional media. They made several attempts to discredit him. They alleged him of infirmity, old age and poor health that cannot cope with the rigour of presidential office.

Surprisingly, Buhari won with over 3.9 million votes. It was an improvement over the 2015 results when he defeated the sitting President, Goodluck Jonathan with 2.5 million votes. Buhari’s victory clearly shows that he’s popular among the generality of the Nigerian people. It was an indication of good performance and trust and confidence reposed in him by Nigerians to move the country to the next level. His re-election is an endorsement of the three cardinal programmes of his administration viz: fight against corruption, fight against terrorists and diversification of economy.

The Buhari administration introduced N-Power programme through which over 500,000 youths have secured jobs; various empowerment programmes for the youth. It has offered non interest loan to farmers, market women and won. His government also introduced free meal in primary schools.

His administration had achieved a lot through the completion of abandoned projects inherited from previous regimes. They include rail projects, construction and rehabilitation of several roads across the country and improvement on power supply, to mention a few. His victory will guarantee uninterrupted development of critical infrastructure in the country

Buhari took his campaign train to all states of the Federation to explain what his government had done in the past four years and unveiled the programmes he would embark upon if re-elected for another term. It is hoped that his re –election would bolster and fast-track the socio-economic development of the country and put it on the path of recovery and prosperity.

 

INEC

 

It was a triumph over false accusation. for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The two dominant parties All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had lost confidence over INEC’s preparation for the general election. When it suit them, the two parties at different occasion accused the electoral umpire of conniving to rig the election in favour of  one them.

Many observers were sceptical about the capability of INEC to conduct a free, fair and credible election against the backdrop that few weeks to the election, some INEC offices were set ablaze with vital documents and card readers. But INEC rose to the occasion and made replacement for the items burnt in the fire outbreak.

The shift in election date announced by the INEC Chairman three hours to the commencement of voting eroded the people’s confidence in the ability of the commission to conduct a credible election, especially when all sensitive materials had been sent out. INEC was able to retrieve them intact.

The election was conducted all over the country. Though, there were minor hitches like late arrival of voting materials and polling officers but overall, it was a smooth exercise. The simultaneous accreditation and voting introduced by INEC was a good innovation. It saved peoples time.  The retention of card reader too eliminated multiple voting. The problem of card reader malfunctioning was less during the presidential and National Assembly elections. All this made local and foreign observers to commend INEC for conducting a free fair and transparent election.

 

Security agencies

 

The security operatives deployed to maintain law and order on the day election did a very good job. The Army, the Police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were pro-active. In few places where there was threat to peace and orderliness, they responded and restored peace. There were few cases of ballot snatching and ballot stuffing. There was no incident of electoral malpractice in which the security operatives were implicated. A group of foreign observers wrote in their report: “From monitoring the elections, it was observed that the electoral process was able to maintain its credibility by  the combined efforts of the security agencies led by the Nigerian Army that ensured that incidences of ballot box snatching and other electoral vices were curtail. They deserved commendation for their professional conduct during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

 

Nigeria

 

Against the background of the tension that the 2019 general election generated, the way the contest ended is victory for the country as a whole. Another four years under President Muhammadu Buhari would help consolidate the gains already recorded under his watch in the last for years and complete ongoing projects in the power sector, the railway revolution and the infrastructure upgrade. Victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, would have meant going back to the drawing board and some of the utterances of the former Vice President do not really suggest that he was a better alternative.

Unlike four years ago, when he did secure appreciable votes in the Southeast and Southsouth geo-political zones of the country, his victory this time will unite the country, because he candidature was endorsed by the electorates not only in his strongholds in the North and the Southwest, but also by an appreciable percentage from the two zones where he performed woefully in the 2015 general elections. In the next four years, President Buhari should be able to improve on some of the areas that are regarded as his Achilles’ heels, such as his slow pace of work, his perceived laidback attitude and his lopsided appointments.

The leader who will take over from him in 2023 will inherit a more balanced country, in terms resource generation and management. Thus, the new incoming leader should be able to build on the Buhari legacies and the country will be better for it.

 

APC

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party is also a beneficiary, in the sense that after eight years of what is expected to be a scintillating performance from a leader that loves the country tremendously, a solid foundation would have been laid which the party can build on, by looking inwards to pick another leader that would take the country to heights that Buhari may not be able to attain within his tenure, given the limitations placed on him by the nature of what he inherited on assumption of office in 2915.

In four years of implementing its ‘Next Level’ policy direction, the APC should be able to stabilize as a party and tweak some of its existing policies, against the background of its experience in governance and project where it wants the country to be in the nearest future.

Thus, by the time President Buhari would be leaving office in 2023, the party would have attained an enviable height and this would make it almost impossible for the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to dream of returning to power.

To rally citizens behind it during President Buhari’s second term, the party must come to terms with its promise to restructure the country.

 

Tinubu

 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu served as a co-chair of the Buhari campaign think-tank, the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Tinubu was the rallying point for President Buhari’s campaign in 2014/2015; a time the President had little prospects of winning.

Tinubu spent his personal money to spearhead the campaign in 2014/2015 and succeeded in turning public opinion in his favour. The former Lagos State governor would be happy with the turn of events, so, he is a winner.

The APC National Leader has been credited with attributes like courage, visionary leadership and the kind of political sagacity that helped the APC to weather the storm in the heady days when it was trying to find its feet as a party that wants to present itself as a viable alternative to the former ruling PDP.

Asiwaju’s selfless leadership and dedication to put the interest of the nation first has been the main staying power behind the formation and the grooming of the party to its current winning ways. No one gave the party much of a chance to survive and win election back to back.

With the successful re-election of the President for a second term, Asiwaju would be fulfilled as a politician, because as “the last man standing” and the sole opposition figure after the 2003 election when the PDP took over five states in the Southwest, no one would have expected Tinubu to be where he is today: as one of those calling the shots at the federal level.

 

The people

 

Buhari’s victory is a victory for the Nigerian people who stood by him through thick and thin. Even against the virulent wind of bitter criticism and opposition to his policies, the Nigerian people stuck to the President, by defending him daily, when the need arose.

In the face of intimidation and victimization in some parts of the country, the people trooped out in different parts of the country to support the President’s bid for a second term. Thus, the return of the President for a second term in office is a dream come true for the masses, who will be the ultimate beneficiary of the policies enunciated in the “Next Level” of the administration.

Now, with Buhari’s re-election and by extension the consolidation of his good governance and stability, Nigerians will be better for it. With the full implementation of the APC’s “Next Level” policy direction, there would be a quantum leap in power supply, the economy will improve, jobs will be created and the country will enjoy prosperity.

 

Oshiomhole

 

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had predicted Buhari’s victory in the presidential election held last Saturday. He hinged his prediction on the rigorous campaign which President Buhari went through. He recalled that shortly before the election, there was a lot of scares as regards his health but he was able to go round the 36 states unlike his opponent Atiku Abubakar who ca,mpaigned in only 19 states.

Oshiomhole said the ruling party was confident of winning the 2019 election because Nigerians are not ready to give the opposition PDP , a second time. He said the PDP boasted that they would be in power for 60 years and they were rejected by the people after 16 years; it is a sign that people  were fed up with them.

He said: “Even though the APC is not perfect, nothing can make Nigerians get so confused  as to think that yesterday there was mismanagement and those who were at the heart of that mismanagement can be entrusted with providing leadership tomorrow. I don’t think that is the question at all PDP is out of this calculation as far as I am concerned. PDP is not just an option particularly when their candidate is not a new face”.

 

APC leaders

Tribute should be paid to credible APC leaders: George Akume, Rotimi Amaechi, Aliyu Wamakko, Godswill Akpabio, APC governors, Ajayi Boroffice, Ibrahim Shekarau, Habu Muazu, Kwara APC leaders, Chris Ngige, Olusola Oke, etc.

 

Losers:

Atiku:

 

Nigerians have spoken. The verdict is instructive. If wishes were horses, beggars will ride. The Waziri Adamawa worked hard, but in vain. He was full of bravado, obviously due to his financial war chest, eternal belief and reliance on the prediction and assurance of some marabouts, and some mistakes and lapses of the ruling party and the Buhari administration, which he sought to capitalise upon. It was his best outing so far. His over 11 million votes is not a joke. But, fate decided otherwise.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was a formidable candidate who lacked the backing of the majority. He has fans nationwide. In particular, his programmes appealed to the elite, especially his friends, who loathed the style of President Buhari and who were enthusiastic about the sale of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other public concerns. The elite, who have immensely contributed to the economic and political adversity of Nigeria, formed a natural alliance with the PDP. It was not without a motive. Many of them were not burning with patriotic anger. It has been alleged that they only wanted a regression to ‘business as usual.’ But, the strength of the elite votes in their highly secluded GRAs were neutralised by the weight of masses’ votes on the streets.

Atiku campaigned on the borrowed platform of restructuring. His views on the contentious national question were not lucid. His explanations on how to foster true federalism were neither deep nor exciting. The language of restructuring was strange to his native North, although it is long overdue. Pro-democracy, civil society groups and other advocates of restructuring doubted his sincerity and could not see him as a rallying point.

Also, Atiku could not penetrate the strongholds of President Buhari in the North. While he made an in-road into the Southwest states of Ondo and Oyo, he was resisted in the traditional strongholds in the North, especially in the tension-soaked Northeastern states of Yobe and Borno and Northwest states of Kano and Katsina.

Since the Third Republic, the PDP candidate has been gazing at the presidency. He has the right as a Nigerian. He stepped down for the late Chief Moshood Abiola, presidential flag bearer of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), at the Jos Convention. But, in 1999, he became the vice president. In a bid to realise his ambition, he has traversed both ruling and opposition parties. Thus, his foes describe him as a desperate politician.

In 2007, he contested on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He lost to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP. In 2011, he struggled for the PDP presidential ticket with former President Goodluck Jonathan. He lost. He left for the APC, contested at the shadow poll and was floored by Gen. Buhari in 2015.

Atiku hurriedly travelled to the United States to demonstrate that he is preferred by world powers. The visit did not produced a profound effect.

Yesterday, the Adamawa-born politician rejected the results. Unlike Jonathan, who congratulated President Buhari in 2015, Atiku fired salvos, saying that the poll was flawed. This means that the struggle will shift from the ballot box to the tribunal and court.

In the future, Atiku can still contest, but from a comparatively weaker position. After eight years of President Buhari, can any Northerner succeed him on the platform of any party? Will the South not harbour a feeling of alienation? Will it augur well for national unity?

 

PDP:

 

The effect of the devastating defeat on the main opposition party is better imagined. The outcome has affirmed its further rejection by Nigerians, four years after it lost federal control. This implies that the past impunities have not been forgiven and forgotten. The party, according to analysts, may face a bleak future.

For 16 years, the acclaimed largest party in Africa loomed large on the beleaguered country. The party has tentacles across the federation. To that extent, it is a formidable structure. But, PDP has not been able to produce good presidents for Nigeria. Although observers contend that the late Yar’Adua could have made a difference, he was assailed by an illness that eventually terminated his life. The late president even owned up that the party was sustained in power by rigging. He therefore, unfolded an agenda for the sanctity of the ballot box.

The greatest mistake of the PDP, in retrospect, was the selection of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo as its flag bearer in 1999. When the General took over as the party leader, he failed to adjust to the lifestyle of a democrat. His performance as president for eight years was not impressive. The infrastructure battle was not fought with vigour. Election became a do-or-do affair. Stakeholders alleged that the PDP governments were corrupt. In 2015, its hold on power was terminated by the APC.

Outside power, PDP chieftains were left in the cold. They could not cope with the limitations of an opposition party. Therefore, they started defecting to the ruling party. The defectors became appointees under the Buhari administration. The platform survived a rancorous national convention and unfolded an agenda to bounce back. The agenda was buoyed by Atiku, who returned to the fold after realising that President Buhari was preparing for a second term.

Under the leadership of Chairman Uche Secondus, PDP mounted an aggressive and effective campaigns. The poll results were a tribute to its determination to stage a comeback. It was able to spring surprise in Oyo, Ondo and Edo. It may repeat the feat in the House of Assembly elections in many states.

However, its defeat at the presidential election has implications. It may further demoralise its chieftains who had lost parliamentary elections since their hope of largesse at the federal level is also foreclosed. Party chieftains may indulge in a blame game that may divide the fold. Reminiscent of 2015, many chieftains will repudiate the PDP and defect to the APC.

 

Obasanjo:

 

Ebora Owu General Olusegun Obasanjo is facing the mirror of history. Discernable from the mirror is the profile of a third term curator, apostle of do-or-die election, subjective letter writer, and inconsistent and ‘double speak’ leader at the twilight of life. The former president may not be perceived as a moral compass, based on his egocentric view of governance and disposition to ‘pull him down syndrome.’

In Obasanjo’s view, there is no good leader in Nigeria, except Obasanjo. Therefore, his word must continue to be the law; all politicians must defer to him and all presidents must succumb to his whims and caprices. President Buhari’s undoing may have been his resistance to his undue influence.

In 2007, Obasanjo said Atiku was unfit for the job. He threw his weight behind Yar’Adua, who never aspired. He even set up an administrative panel that ‘indicted’ him. In 2011, he was President Goodluck Jonathan’s coach at the PDP primary. When reporters sought his view, he said: “I dey laugh o.” Later, he put it in black and white that Atiku is sorrupt, thereby convicting his former deputy, although he is not the court. Obasanjo said God will not forgive him, if he supported Atiku for president. Obasanjo asked somebody to tear his PDP card and announced his retirement from politics.

In 2014, Obasanjo wrote a letter to Dr. Jonathan asking him to jettison his second term bid. He accused the administration of ineptitude and corruption. He said Jonathan associated with drug barons. Jonathan’s ambition started crumbling. Having turned his back against the former president, he embraced Gen. Buhari, since public opinion favoured power shift.

Three years after, the gerontocratic monitor fired a letter to President Buhari, urging him to drop his second term agenda. He observed that although the president has tried to fulfil his promises in the areas of anti-corruption fight and security, he has failed in economic management and job creation. He was full of bile in his letter. President Buhari simply ignored his former boss.

Obasanjo tried to raise a third force. The party could not fly. Then, he urged the youths to take their destiny in their hands. He said the youths should behave like their counterparts in other climes, organise and mobilise for power. Later, he retrace his steps and endorsed a 73 year old Atiku. He wiped up sentiments against the APC government, unmindful of his own fading influence.

Having dented Atiku’s image in his book: ‘My Watch,’ he suddenly turned around to be his brand manager. Obasanjo, a doctor of Theology, said Atiku has repented and he has forgiven him, urging Nigerians to consider his ambition for president. It was a difficult assignment for the former boss, who could not adequately justify his action and correct the damage already done.

Indeed, the Ekerin Egba’s last intervention was not in national interest. On poll day, it was evident that Obasanjo, who had over-rated himself, was not popular at home. In his polling booth, President Buhari had the highest number of votes. In his native Ogun State, despite the division in the ruling APC, the president won. For the first time, a president survived Obasanjo’s vituperation. What will be his reaction to the APC victory?

 

Retired Generals:

 

Many commentators have described them as political principals and principalities. They are richer than professors, civil servants and businessmen, having secured oil blocs and used their foray into governance to maximum advantage. When they were in power, they retarded the growth of democracy. Yet, when military rule was phased out, they regrouped as a formidable bloc in the PDP. Some of them carry the cross of the annulment of the 1993 presidential election won by the late Abiola. But, they may have been caged, as it were, in their shell, making them to endorse Atiku, who, they think, will create more economic opportunities for them, to the detriment of the larger population.

 

Ohanaeze:

 

The pan-Ndigbo socio-cultural group, endorsed Atiku in error. The result was the polarization of the organisation. The group, led by John Nwodo, breached its time-tested rule of being an apolitical regional mouthpiece, regardless of the diverse political leanings of its leading lights and vast members. There will be need for reconciliation in the fold.

 

Afenifere faction:

 

There was division in Afenifere over the presidential poll. A faction, led by Chief Rueben Fasoranti, had endorsed Atiku, ahead of the poll. The moving spirit behind the move was Chief Ayo Adebanjo. But, according to Southwest PDP sources, the success of the party in Oyo and Ondo states was not due to the support of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group. Another faction, led by Chief Ayo Fasanmi, also endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

Obi:

 

Atiku’s running mate Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State, is vocal. The PDP candidate had picked him as running mate, without adequate consultation with Southeast stakeholders, for ethnic and religious balancing. Since he defected from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to the PDP, he has not looked back. During the debate, he was up and doing, although some of his claims were dosputd by experts. Obi added value to the ticket, judging by the bloc votes from his region. The calculation of Southeast PDP leaders was that, after four or eight years of Atiku in Aso Rock, power will shift to the zone. But, his dream of succeeding Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) as vice president hit the rock.

In 2023, Southeast may be in a weak position to agitate for power shift to the region for two reasons; APC has no firm root in the zone and PDP may not zone its presidential slot to the Southeast.

 

Galadima, Fani-Kayode, Chidoka:

 

Since he defected from the APC to the PDP, Buba Galadima, former defunct Congress for Democratic Change (CPC), has been vociferous against President Buhari, who he accused of nepotism and ineptitude. As the spokesman of the PDP Campaign Organisation, he enjoyed media visibility. He predicted failure for the president at the poll, a prediction that turned the other way round.

In his native Yobe State, the President and the APC had the highest vote. His party, the PDP, won no National Assembly seat. Galadima has ho base; he is inconsequential politically.

The contribution of Femi Fani-Kayode, lawyer and former Aviation Minister, to Atiku’s bid was limited to words of mouth. He is an avid critic of the President and APC, which he left in 2014 for the job of spokesman in Jonathan Campaign Organisation. He has allegedly urged Atiku to reject the results.

Osita Chidoka, who returned to the PDP after 2015 polls, opposed the announcement of the results by the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, based on cancellation of some units’ results.

 

Saraki:

 

Senate President Bukola Saraki has been hit by double tragedies. He is the PDP brain box, held in esteem by the PDP congregation. He lost his ambition to return to the Senate, where he has served for eight years. Also, the hope of emerging minister in the Atiku’s government is also shattered.

 

Defectors from APC:

 

These include Former Kano State Governor Musa Kwakwanso, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Sheu Sani, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Kawu Baraje, etc.

A clear winner emerged yesterday in the Osun State governorship election at the close of the second ballot which held in seven units across four local government areas of the State of the Living Spring.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) garnered enough votes to knock off the 353 votes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led with at the close of the first ballot early Sunday morning.

After the collation of eligible ballot by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC candidate Gboyega Isiaka, with 254,345 votes, was trailing PDP’s Isiaka Adeleke, who polled 254, 696.

In line with constitutional provisions, the electoral umpire, declared the first ballot inconclusive and rescheduled a rerun in the seven polling centres where 3948 votes were outstanding.

The hard-earned victory of the APC at the end of yesterday’s rerun triggered a celebration in its camp and, as expected, the opposition party, after giving a fight, but not good enough to unseat the ruling party, cried blue murder, tagging yesterday as “Black Day” for the country. Its members, taking the defeat as a sentence to a four-year “shutout”, were forced to lick their wounds. Below are some of the winners and the losers.

 

Winners:

Osun people

The people of Osun spoke with their ballot for their preference as the next tenant at the Osun State Government House after the expiration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure in November. They had a choice between Oyetola, a master’s degree holder in Insurance, who had understudied governance as Chief of Staff to the Osun State Governor for more than seven years. The other option was Adeleke, a senator, whose educational qualification has been an issue of controversy in recent time.

 

The elite

The elite took advantage of the rerun window to save the state from, according to them, being derided in the public. If the election had been won and lost on the first ballot, Osun would have set a record of becoming the first state to be administered by a governor with the least educational qualification. Before it was carved out of the Old Oyo State, Osun Division used to be the educational backbone.

 

INEC, Rule of law

The electoral umpire has further demonstrated its readiness for uprightness in the conduct of elections by allowing the votes of the 3948 registered voters in seven polling units where the first ballot was cancelled due to disruptions (Orolu); malfunction of Electronic Card Readers (Ife South); over voting (Ife North) and no voting) Osogbo), to count through the supplementary election.

Relying on the electoral guidelines to back the inconclusive declaration, the Returning Officer and Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) Vice Chancellor Prof Joseph Fuwape, said the margin between the two leading contestants must be in excess of the total registered voters where an election was cancelled.

He said the outstanding votes could swing victory in favour of either of the two leading parties.

 

Oyetola

The APC candidate, now governor-elect, traversed every community to canvass for votes. With his programmes and party manifesto well-articulated, the Iragbiji-born technocrat-turned politician is expected to use the next three months in scouting for cerebral Osun indigenes who will join him in the implementation of his vision for the 27-year-old state. The task ahead for him is to bring all aggrieved party members, who left in the aftermath of his emergence as the APC standard bearer. He also has a task of playing the role of a father-to-all, irrespective of party affiliations, after his inauguration on November 27.

 

APC leaders

To the leadership of the APC, from President Muhammadu Buhari, party chair Adams Oshiomhole, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and governors under the auspices of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), the victory of the APC and its candidate is a dream come true.

The governors shuttled between Osogbo and their states to rally support for Aregbesola to consolidate the gains of July 14 in Ekiti State. Beside a desire to have all the six states in the zone in a single political basket, the governors’ plan was to use the isolated Ekiti and Osun elections in sending a strong message to the raging opposition on next year’s general elections.

APC stalwart Asiwaju Tinubu was in-and-out of Osun State to mobilise support for the party. Ahead of the rereun, President Buhari dispatched Ekiti State governor-elect Dr. Kayode Fayemi from United Nations (UN) 73rd General Assembly to join other party leaders in negotiating the APC into victory. The leaders met with critical stakeholders including, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, African Democratic Party (ADP), standard bearer Moshood Adeoti and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun, among others. Their support for the APC during the supplementary election ensured support for the ruling party.

 

Losers

Adeleke

The plan of the senator was to “dance” to the Osun State Government House after winning the election. But, whatever plan the Ede-born politician had, would remain in the realm of a dream, at least for now. In the run-up to the election, the senator had a running battle with the police over alleged examination malpractices. The PDP chieftains were all over the state to rally support for him. The party believed that INEC erred by not declaring Adeleke winner at the close of the first ballot.

 

PDP

Desperate to return to power after a four-year break, the PDP leadership planned to send a signal to the ruling party with the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. But with two defeats in a row, close to the general elections, the opposition party will have to return to the drawing board to draw up a new winning strategy. To it, the non-declaration of its candidate as winner, based on his showing at the first ballot, was robbery. The party described yesterday as a “Black Day” for the country because its candidate lost the election.

 

Saraki, Atiku

Immediately after INEC declared the first ballot inconclusive and rescheduled a rerun for Thursday, Senate President Bukola Saraki was the first to discuss with Senator Omisore. Saraki, who defected from the ruling APC to seek the presidential ticket of the PDP, has been made the “national leader” of the main opposition party. He had left Ile-Ife on Monday before another PDP presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, visited Ile-Ife to persuade Omisore to support PDP’s Adeleke. But the bargaining power of the APC team, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha upturned whatever assurance the duo of Saraki and Atiku got from the strongman of Ile-Ife politics.

 

Defectors

Some defectors, who formed “mushroom” parties to get their pound of flesh from the APC for alleged marginalisation, failed in their bid to dislodge the ruling party. Save for the APC and the PDP, the other 46 parties on the ballot had dismal showings. They may have to worm themselves back into the heart of the party that brought them to political limelight.