Nigeria: PDP on Trial Today

Daily Independent (Lagos)

25 April 2011

Nigeria: PDP on Trial Today

analysis

Lagos — As the governorship poll holds in some states today, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is faced with the challenge of confirming its performance in the April 16 presidential poll in which its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, made an impressive showing amidst protests from closest rival, Muhammadu Buhari, of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Despite commendations from many quatres, a section of the opposition, notably the CPC, has insisted that some governors rigged the poll in favour of the president to create chances for themselves in today's poll. Meanwhile, reports in some papers have suggested that the PDP is in danger of losing out in not less than nine states, going by common permutations. Nonetheless, critics have observed that today's poll may also be affected by the post-election incidents of the last few days, and the prayer of many is that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would maintain its rating from the last poll if politicians demonstrate less desperation.