The defection of Governor Umo Eno and the continued presence of his images at the PDP secretariat in Akwa Ibom speak louder than simply partisan politics; it is a caution of how the personality factor tends to eclipse the institution factor in the Nigerian political culture.
The fact that his portraits are still being exhibited so long after he has crossed the floor to another party would seem to indicate a certain form of symbolic perplexity among the PDP itself, a party that is not exactly certain whether to proceed or still hang on the legacy of a man who has influenced its internal setup to an extent. This is a message about a larger issue for many Nigerians:the excessive concentration of power and party loyalty towards individuals and not party ideology or institutional integrity.
To the average citizen and observer, this is a reflection of the burnout amongst the Nigerian people of politics that appears to be about personal supremacy rather than service delivery. The division within the Akwa Ibom PDP, where two factions are vying for power, is a common occurrence in the Nigerian political arena, where internal democracy is usually compromised in an attempt to expedite the process.
They perceive in this crisis not only a state-level conflict but also a microcosm of the national political chaos that gives people cynicism and apathy in the voting realm. When political parties are not capable of carrying out their own affairs in a transparent manner, how are they supposed to be entrusted with the running of a state or a nation?
The PDP and other parties need to begin to rebuild their legitimacy based on institutions, rather than individuals, in order to recover the lost faith and stability. The PDP should clear up its leadership crisis internally and determine whether it is following its constitution or convenience.
In the case of the Akwa Ibom chapter, this is an opportunity to start afresh so that it can reestablish trust, reinforce its grassroots bases, and regain the moral high ground that it had been enjoying as a disciplined political entity.
The Nigerians, in their turn, should start expecting the political parties to be accountable the same way the governments are held accountable since democracy is as strong as the institutions that protect it rather than those who control it.
