CPC: A political tsunami that faded too soon, by Okoi Obono-Obla

In a developing country like Nigeria, the popularity of a political party does not necessarily translate into electoral success. The now-defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) was registered in December 2010 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It emerged as an offshoot of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), founded by associates of former President Muhammadu Buhari. These associates feared that the ANPP would not grant Buhari its presidential ticket for the 2011 election, despite his previous candidacies in 2003 and 2007.

The CPC swiftly gained momentum in Northern Nigeria, riding on the wave of Buhari’s immense cult-like following. The party’s emergence sent shockwaves through the political landscape, leading many pundits to predict a clean sweep of the North in the 2011 general elections. The CPC’s growing influence even led to speculation that INEC was pressured by the powers that be to postpone the presidential election due to concerns over the party’s potential dominance.

Despite these projections, the party faced significant challenges in execution. In the 2011 presidential election, Buhari garnered an impressive 13 million votes but still fell short of victory. Similarly, while many expected the CPC to secure all 19 gubernatorial seats in the North, the party managed to win only one. This outcome was largely attributed to its poor organizational structure and the selection of unpopular candidates, which led to severe electoral backlash.

Ultimately, the CPC’s inability to translate its popularity into electoral success highlighted the critical role of strategy, candidate selection, and political structure in winning elections. Though the party later merged into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, its brief existence serves as a compelling case study of political movements that fail to consolidate their influence effectively.

@Okoi Obono-Obla