Nigeria: Nigeria's Major Opposition Parties Are in Crisis. Can They Mount Formidable Challenge?
The primaries season has exposed deep fractures inside Nigeria's major opposition parties, and the cracks are not easy to paper over. From disputed results to drawn-out court battles, the parties are wrestling with internal problems that are eating into the time and energy needed to build a genuine challenge to the ruling party.
The Action Democratic Congress is carrying the heaviest load right now. Lingering court disputes have stalled the party's momentum, making it difficult to present a united front to voters who might otherwise be looking for an alternative.
Beyond the legal fights, a common thread across the opposition is the failure to conduct credible primaries in many states. When the process of choosing candidates is itself contested, it signals to supporters that the house is not in order, and it hands rivals an easy talking point.
The bigger question sitting over all of this is whether any of these parties can sort out their internal affairs quickly enough to mount a real challenge when it counts. The clock is not waiting for anyone.
Originally published by AllAfrica.