Indications have emerged that Senate President Bukola Saraki might be facing a political litmus test in Kwara State during the 2019 general elections.
Though the Kwara politician is now the Peoples Democratic Party's National Leader, his weight in politics is ready to be challenged by some of his kinsmen in the coming general elections, especially as the ruling party, APC, appears to be waxing stronger in Kwara after his defection to the opposition PDP.
Citizens of Kwara state are now wiser. We cannot continue as slaves to one person who does not care for us. That is why some of us didn't move with them to PDP. We believe that we have all it takes to win this state for Buhari. We will also shock them in this state
For instance, the recently-concluded by-election in the state, which was won by All Progressives Congress is believed a signal to test the fate of the Senate President ahead of the general election.
In the Kwara House of Representatives by-election that was keenly contested by APC, PDP and others, APC candidate, Raheem Olawuyi Ajulo Opin, won the vacant seat for Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin federal constituency. The Independent National Electoral Commission declared him the winner with 21,236 votes.
Following this, political pundits are quick to state that the election was nothing but a pointer to the stand of Kwara citizens in the coming general elections.
Recall that Kwara State politics took a new turn when the Senate President defected from the ruling party APC to the opposition PDP. The development also led to the exhibition of the chameleonic nature of politics in the state as people moved en masse from APC to PDP and vice versa.
Political observers have since been pondering on what may be the fate of Saraki, who now considers himself as the smartest Nigerian politician.
Pundits however believe that Saraki might need to do more than he thought in order to tidy some loose ends in his political game if he is keen to remain relevant in the polity after 2019.
Already in Kwara State, his sister, Gbemi Saraki, is one of his major threats which he must conquer to move forward. It was gathered that Gbemi has launched a series of organisations to ensure that APC wins in the state and at the federal level.
A member of the state APC, Fatai Ademola, said, "Citizens of Kwara state are now wiser. We cannot continue as slave to one person who does not care for us. That is why some of us didn't move with them to PDP. We believe that we have all it takes to win this state for Buhari. We will also shock them in this state. Plans are ongoing and you know that we still have many bigwigs in our party, among who is Senator Gbemi Saraki. They should be ready for defeat of their life in 2019."
A chieftain of APC, who was a two-time governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP in Kwara State, Engr. Sunday Babalola, said APC stands every chance to win elections in Kwara State.
Bbalola, who recently joined APC from PDP, said Kwara State needs urgent liberation from the past years of under development.
"I believe that government plays a significant role in advancing the well-being of citizens, through the provision of infrastructure and amenities, human capital development and by engendering an environment that is conducive for business growth and expansion," he said.
He disclosed that he moved out of the PDP to the APC because of the new PDP members , whom, he said, he cannot work with.
"With the defection of Saraki and many of his loyalists from APC to the PDP, it is very clear that I have to move with all my supporters to a political party that is more focused on people and development of the state. I find it very difficult to be in the same political party with the major actor or principal, who many people, including I, believe should be blamed for the low level of development in the state", he said.
Babalola said that the APC government is capable of churning out appropriate policies and programmes with an execution of development project when it comes to power in the state.
The chairman of Kwara State APC, Chief Bashir Bolarinwa, while speaking with our correspondent, said the election was an indication of Saraki's waning popularity in the state.
He also affirmed his assurance that APC has all it takes to win the state in the coming general elections.
"The victory in the by-election is definitely a pointer and signal that we are winning the state in 2019. There is no negotiation about that. We are aware of their various tactics and we will not relent to ensure that we build on this success so that in 2109 we will record massive victory in this state," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, the Senate President has said that the APC's victory in the recently-concluded by-election in Kwara state was undemocratic.
He alleged that security apparatus was used by the ruling party to intimidate PDP supporters who would have voted for their candidate en masse.
Saraki also alleged that it was the first time that elections in Kwara State will be held under such charged, tensed and militarised conditions, adding that they were signs of things to come in 2019.
"We had INEC officials complaining about their own safety -and PDP supporters were brazenly intimidated, which resulted in low turn out of voters," he tweeted on his verified Twitter page.
According to Saraki, "The public should note that the election was simply between PDP and security agents plus APC. This was due to the heavy deployment of police, soldiers and other security agents who gathered to support APC and harass PDP leaders and supporters.
"It is important to reiterate that ahead of the 2019 elections, such open displays of intimidation are sending wrong signals. Our democracy is being undermined with this misuse of our nation's security apparatus."
The national Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, said the Kwara election was an indication of how undemocratic the APC government in Nigeria is.
"The election showed that APC is undemocratic. How will security men be used against the people who wish to vote their candidate?" he stated.
He, however, said the election will have no effect on the output of the party in the coming general election.
"That will not in any way determine our result at any level in the coming general elections. They should just wait and expect defeat of their lives at all level. Victory is certain in 2019," he assured.
