The next election will give Nigerians the chance to look for alternatives outside the major political parties that have historically failed the nation, according to Hamza Al-Mustapha, a former aide to the late Head of State and Action Alliance presidential candidate for 2023.
The presidential candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service that was broadcast on Wednesday, expressed his opinion that Nigerians would vote for individuals during the election rather than the customary political party that has been used.
The embargo on campaigns for the elections in 2023 is currently still in place and won’t be lifted until the 28th of September 2022, he said, adding that the election is already underway and politics are being played in various ways, with some playing it out in the open and others playing it behind closed doors.
He added, “That’s correct but we must know that any political party that’s engaged in a public campaign is simply breaking the sections of the electoral act as regards campaigns. Our party, AA, is a law-abiding party and will continue to be so irrespective of what happened. We don’t violate the law, particularly electoral act, hence we have been quiet regarding election campaign.”
The presidential candidate further explained that they have been having meetings and several consultations with people who matter in their party, stressing that they are also wooing other people who they think can play a great role in their quest to achieve victory in the forthcoming general elections.
The Action Alliance flag bearer confirmed that he paid a visit to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike as the visit was just to have a mutual discussion with him on national issues and other personal issues, saying that not only him but if he sees someone that would be useful to them as a political party, they will not hesitate to visit him or her.
Hamza Al-Mustapha said different political parties were doing things their way; things they think would favour them and increase their chances in the forthcoming general elections, saying that they are doing their strategies and don’t necessarily need to make it public.
He said his party, AA has not been making noise or saying things in the media but claimed it doesn’t stop it from doing something, stressing that whatever is useful and meaningful to one political party may be otherwise for the other political party.
He alleged that many of the acclaimed “big political parties” are banking on the wealth they may have acquired over the years they have been in government, stressing that they would be disappointed this time as the hope and confidence of Nigerians are in the people, they have prayed God to do away with people who have no good intentions for the people of Nigeria.
”Things and times have changed, people might have voted for parties in the past but that won’t be the same this time as Nigerians are not looking the way of political parties simply because they have suffered enough due to poor governance.
”The hardship in Nigeria has hit Nigerians hard that they are looking for solutions instead of relying on political parties, some of which inflicted pain on them.
”The Action Alliance is not as small as people are seeing it but in this coming elections, Nigerians would be shocked by the big political parties who are banking on the wealth they might have “illicitly” acquired over time”.