The political space in Nigeria is typically characterized by drama, surprises, and controversy. Like every other year, 2022 had its fair share.

From the Wike-Atiku crisis to the overthrow of Oyetola in Osun, here are some of the major political events of 2022.

WIKE vs. ATIKU AND THE G5 ALLIANCE

Cracks in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) widened shortly after its presidential primary concluded and Atiku Abubakar was elected the party’s standard-bearer.

Abubakar thereafter chose Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of the Delta, as his running mate. — a move that contributed to the current crisis in the party, especially as some members of the PDP’s National Work Committee (NWC) endorsed Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers, as the vice-presidential candidate.

Following the development, Wike and his allies have called for the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s national chairman, arguing that Ayu cannot come from the same region (north) as the presidential candidate.

Several attempts have been made to resolve the crisis, but the party is still at an impasse, and Wike, backed by five other PDP governors, it has yet to declare its support for the PDP presidential candidate.

A spin-off from the crisis gave rise to what is now known as the G5 or the ‘Integrity Group’, which includes PDP governors such as Wike, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom of Benue and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. from Enugu. — and other PDP stakeholders.

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi and a member of the opposition APC, has also Announced who wants to join the integrity group.

THE POLITICAL KO OF LAWAN

Senate President Ahmad Lawan took a leap of faith in June when he challenged APC’s presidential bid.

He, however, lost.

By this time, the windows for the primaries had closed. However, it appeared that Lawan, who has been representing the Yobe North Senatorial district since 2007, was interested in running in the 2023 senatorial election despite the fact that Bashir Machina had won the APC primary for the district.

But the road to the INEC list was paved with controversy, including drama surrounding reported moves to get Machina to resign, another staged primary to get Lawan the ticket, and APC submitting the Senate president’s name to the Election Commission. Independent National (INEC). as their candidate for senatorial for north Yobe.

However, the INEC refused to include any senatorial candidate for the district, but later confirmed Machina as an APC candidate.

The development also turned into court cases, leading to the appeal court affirming Machina’s candidacy, after which Lawan appeared accept your fate.

OBI’S DESERTION

In May, Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra, resign his affiliation to the PPD, days before the presidential primaries, which he was also contesting. Hours after downloading the PDP, Obi joined the Labor Party (LP).

Speaking about his decision to join LP, he said that the party aligns with the interest of Nigerians in different sectors. Obi later secured the party’s presidential bid and now enjoys massive popularity on social media and a massive fan base known as the ‘Obidients’.

ADELEKE EXCLUDES OYETOLA

Not many would have staked their political faith on Ademola Adeleke winning Osun’s gubernatorial bid, considering she was running against Gboyega Oyetola, the incumbent governor at the time, who was also a member of the ruling APC.

Oyetola, however, lost Osun’s July 16 gubernatorial election to PDP’s Adeleke, who got 403,371 votes against to the APC’s 375,027 votes.

You can read our analysis of some of the factors that cost Oyetola his re-election here.

TINUBU AND THE MANTRA ‘EMI LO KAN’

In June, Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos, won APC presidential primaries after defeating 13 other applicants.

But it was not a victory without drama and political fireworks.

Speaking to Ogun state delegates days before the primaries, Tinubu said that without him, Buhari would not have won the 2015 presidential election., adding that it was his turn —“emi lo kan”— to become president.

Tinubu’s “emi lo kan” comment drew mixed reactions and is now a mantra for references to situations that require the words “it’s my turn”. Even Lionel Messi, renowned soccer player, got her title from ‘Emi Lo Kan’ in December after leading his team to victory at the FIFA World Cup.

MUSLIM-MUSLIM ENTRY

After winning the APC presidential ticket, tinubu chose Kashim Shettima, former Governor of Borno, as his running mate. Tinubu from the southwest and Shettima from the northeast are both Muslims.

Amid backlash, Tinubu said that he chose Shettima based on character and background, not religion.

‘MISSING’ CANDIDATES IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CITY COUNCIL SERIES

In the midst of the campaigns for the 2023 elections, Arise TV organized a series of public events for the presidential candidates. For the first phase, the PDP had Okowa to represent Abubakar, while there were no representation for the APC.

Then the invitation for the second phase was sent.

What started as a passing drama after the APC’s excuse for Tinubu’s absence turned into a big back-and-forth when Arise TV insisted that it is constitutional for candidates to attend such public meetings. But Tinubu’s camp stood by its position that his candidate would not speak to Nigerians through the TV station’s town hall platform.

The drama further evolved into claims from the APC camp that Arise TV intends to “sham” Tinubu, but Nduka Obaigbena, founder of the media organization, told the APC campaign to present their candidate for discussion instead of resorting to bullying.

Reporting by Jemilat Nasiru and Ahmad Sahabi