NIGERIA: ACTION CONGRESS (AC) POLITICAL PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000819 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ACTION CONGRESS (AC) POLITICAL PARTY INSIGHTS REF: A. LAGOS 213 ¶B. ABUJA 529 Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: On April 29, Poloffs visited Dr. Usman Bugaje, National Secretary of the Action Congress (AC) political party, to discuss the future of the AC and his views about the fledgling opposition "mega party." Bugaje confirmed that former Vice President and 2007 AC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar's attempts at political maneuvering have most likely closed the doors for his return to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) (reftel). Bugaje then avoided discussing potential AC party leaders for the upcoming 2011 election, claiming that it was too early to do so and that the party needed to solidify its position on other matters first (Note: this included not discussing Atiku's future role in the party). He then discussed the AC's stance on the embryonic "mega-party" and outlined three possible scenarios for AC involvement in this new opposition group. The goal, he said, is to provide the best and most formidable opposition to the corrupt and "anti-democratic" PDP. He concluded by advocating that Nigerians must take ownership of their nation's current problems and that "now is the time for courage" for Nigeria if it is to grow as a democratic and sovereign nation (as exemplified by the highly publicized, if short-lived, stance Ekiti State Resident Election Commissioner Ayoka Adebayo recently took; see ref A). End Summary. -------------- ATIKU AND THE FUTURE OF THE AC -------------- ¶2. (C) On April 29, Poloffs visited Usman Bugaje, National Sec of the Action Congress (AC),to discuss current events within the party as well as efforts to organize a new opposition "mega party." Bugaje confirmed that former Vice President and 2007 AC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar's attempts at political maneuvering have most likely closed the doors for his return to the PDP (Ref. B). He explained that Atiku did not have consensus among his senior advisors in support of his return to the PDP, and that most would not have defected with him. Therefore, Bugaje concluded, returning to the PDP at this time would be a big mistake for Atiku. But no matter what Atiku decides, Bugaje said the AC would still be around, since the people of Nigeria are "yearning for a formidable opposition" to the "anti-democratic" PDP. (Comment: Bugaje never mentioned the possibility of Atiku being the AC's presidential candidate again in 2011, but he never closed that door either. We believe the fact that he was careful to avoid discussion of Atiku's future within the party is noteworthy in itself, and may portend problems for Atiku within the AC, a party he seemed poised only months ago to leave behind. End Comment.) -------------- AC AND THE MEGA PARTY -------------- ¶3. (C) According to Bugaje, the current situation involving the rerun of Ekiti State gubernatorial election and the willingness of officials to take public stands (even if only fleeting) against vote rigging are evidence of support for change among Nigerians. Though he stated the AC policy toward the nascent opposition "mega-party" is not finalized, Bugaje outlined three possible scenarios for the AC in the run-up to the 2011 elections: 1) the AC remains independent and grows, inviting other opposition factions to join the AC and making it the biggest party opposing the PDP; 2) the AC takes a "wait and see" attitude toward the mega party and leaves its options for joining open; 3) the AC and other parties build an "electoral alliance" against the PDP with other opposition parties. (Note: Poloffs were unable to pursue Bugaje's definition of an "electoral alliance" and whether this somehow includes the mega party. We will continue to investigate. End Note.) As the AC's ABUJA 00000819 002 OF 002 representative to the mega-party steering committee he said that he opposes some of the delegates' desires to rush the party formation process, fearing that this might produce a party lacking content and identity -- which in the end, he opined, would be similar to the PDP. Rather he said that he is advocating a "thorough process" that keeps the people involved, and leads to a party with an identity and based on principles, one which could play a formidable role on the Nigerian political stage. A slow process that involves the Nigerian people, according to Bugaje, will gain support by using "transparent" democratic principles built upon content and a party identity. Bugaje sidestepped any discussion of other potential opposition presidential candidates for 2011 by stating that it was too early, and that the AC needed to solidify its positions on other matters first. Bugaje is hopeful that individuals with personal ambitions to run for office will temporarily push their personal agendas aside for the sake of building a more united opposition. -------------- NIGERIAN ACCOUNTABILITY AND OWNERSHIP -------------- ¶4. (C) Bugaje mentioned that the international donors and the USG have done the "best they can in these circumstances" but he hopes the Nigerians will "wake up" and do what is right to rid the nation of bad practices, such as corruption, before something very bad happens. (Note: He used the words "civil war," although he stressed that this would only be in an extreme case. End note.) In Bugaje's estimation, the message is getting out to the people and although he characterized the situation as "very grim," he thinks the nation will rise up against the "incomprehensible acts of the current leaders" and return Nigeria to being a model nation in Africa. Bugaje said that ownership of the democratic process is important for the success of Nigeria and that all people must have the moral authority to make it happen. He added that "now is the time for courage" (as exemplified by the highly publicized, if short-lived, stance Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo took as the Ekiti State Resident Election Commissioner, Ref. A). ¶5. (C) Bugaje bemoaned the PDP's undemocratic ways, which he said included the funding of political thugs. He maintained that the AC believes it has won the Ekiti election and is pressuring the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to do "the right thing" as it prepares to release the results. (Note: INEC has since released the results certifying the PDP as the winners. See septel.) He concluded by lamenting the current state of affairs in Nigeria. He said that back in the 1970s he would have never thought Nigeria would be where it is today and that it is "incomprehensible what the leaders are doing" to this wealthy country. ¶6. (C) Comment: Based on Bugaje's refusal to discuss possible AC candidates for 2011, Atiku may face considerable difficulty winning the endorsement of a party which, not long ago, he was said to "own." Bugaje stressed that the party is focused on building party identity, as well as using lessons to be learned in Ekiti to build a formidable opposition to the PDP. In 2007, the opposition parties failed to create an alliance that could unify around one candidate. The question now becomes whether they can do it the next time around. End Comment. ¶7. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. SANDERS