Power brokers can almost be found in every political party in Nigeria. These bigwigs are better known as cabals, saddled with the duty of financing the party and also calling the shots—a case of “he who pays the piper dictates the tune.”
In most cases, these cabals operate in caucuses, with everyone doing what it takes to hijack the structure of the party in a bid to have full influence on its operations.
APC POWER BROKERS
Below are the bigwigs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria:
Muhammadu Buhari
The current Nigerian President is a huge political figure with a cult following in the northern region of the country. The retired Nigerian Army Major General served as the military head of state in Nigeria between December 31, 1983, and August 27, 1985. He was the founding father of the CPC, which later metamorphosed into the APC via the famous merger.
Recall that in March 2022, Buhari unilaterally selected Senator Abdullahi Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State, to become the national chairman of the APC. Yes! He has such a huge influence!
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Widely regarded as the “Jagaban” of Nigerian politics, Tinubu is an influential figure in the APC, with political tentacles spread across the southwest as well as other regions of the country. With a huge financial chest, the former governor of Lagos State, who has also served as a senator of the Federal Republic, representing Lagos South West in 1992, holds the ace in his party, the APC.
This is not unconnected to his benevolence in assisting political players such as Olusegun Mimiko, Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Akeredolu, Ibikunle Amosun, and Kayode Fayemi, amongst others, from other states to attain their political pursuits.
Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai
El-Rufai is an influential Nigerian politician and the current governor of Kaduna State. He is believed to have the ears of President Buhari. More so, he is well respected among his counterparts from the Northern region and holds sway in the APC. The vocal governor is noted for his fierce approach to national issues.
PDP POWER BROKERS
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also has several powerful figures who have shaped the party’s direction since its inception.
Atiku Abubakar
Atiku is an influential Nigerian politician and businessman. He served as vice president from 1999–2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Atiku unsuccessfully ran five times for the office of President of Nigeria in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019. He is widely respected in the PDP.
Nyesom Wike
The current Rivers State governor is the self-acclaimed financial backbone of the PDP. Wike masterminded the installation of Ali-Modu Sheriff and Uche Secondus as chairmen of the party in 2016 and 2017, respectively. His financial benevolence has attracted many to him, thereby making him a rallying point for the party.
OTHER MAJOR POWER BROKERS
Widely regarded as “elder statesmen,” two men continue to influence Nigerian politics from their abode. This is not unconnected to their roles in building major and current political actors today. They are:
General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB)
Who doesn’t know Babangida? He has been out of active politics for a while, but his influence has not waned. The former military head of state has played host to several presidential hopefuls in recent times to seek his support and blessings.
President Olusegun Obasanjo
Since his emergence as President in 1999, Obasanjo has remained an important figure in Nigerian politics. He is best known for his role in securing Goodluck Jonathan’s nomination as running mate to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He also played an influential role in Jonathan’s emergence as acting president when Yar’Adua became terminally ill.
To date, Obasanjo has continued to play host to several presidential hopefuls in his presidential hilltop home in Abeokuta.
As Nigeria’s biggest political players continue to flex their muscles in political showmanship, it’s worrisome that national issues that should receive urgent attention are being weaponized for cheap political gains.
