Yesterday, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage, the leaders of the Labour, Liberal Democrat and UK Independence Parties (Ukip) resigned after their parties failed in the UK's general elections. Incumbent prime minister David Cameron was returned to 10 Downing Street after his Conservative Party secured a majority in parliament, in what was a bad day for the other parties.
Labour had been expected to win but lost seats, especially in Scotland, where the Scottish National Party won 56 of the 59 seats, while the Liberal Democrats, who had been in coalition with the Conservatives, have been reduced to a rump of just eight members of parliament. Mr Farage for his part resigned as Ukip leader after failing to win his Thanet South constituency.
In Nigeria's recent elections, the PDP was beaten badly by the All Progressives Congress (APC), who not only won the presidency but also took control of the National Assembly. In addition to being in control of the House of Representatives and senate, the APC also now controls 22 of Nigeria's 36 states.
Following this disastrous result, several PDP leaders have asked Alhaji Mu'azu to resign as he must accept responsibility for the defeat. Yesterday, Governor Fayose leant his voice to this calls, saying that the party chairman's position is now untenable and he should follow the example of the UK political leaders.
Governor Fayose said: "It is morally wrong for the national chairman to remain in office after leading the party into its first national electoral loss. Alhaji Mu’azu should be honourable enough to follow the same path as the British Labour Party and Liberal Democrats leaders.
“Mu’azu’s case is even worse than that of the British party leaders, who resigned immediately their party lost because a majority of PDP members no longer have confidence in his leadership and there is no way a willing leader can be forced on an unwilling followers. This is not about personality and I am also not operating here on empty boast because Ekiti State was delivered to the PDP 100."
So far, Alhaji Mu'azu has refused to resign and it appears that he still enjoys President Goodluck Jonathan's confidence. Among the issues PDP members have with Alhaji Mu'azu is that he did not even deliver his home state for the party.
Governor Fayose added: "Imagine the PDP not getting up to 5% of the votes in Bauchi State, the national chairman’s home state and someone is still not being honourable enough to resign. Haven’t we now seen what operates in saner climes with the resignation of the British Labour Party and Liberal Democrat leaders?
“Shouldn’t our party's national chairman also take a cue from this and allow for fresh minds to steer the ship of the party at this difficult time? I think leaders in this country should learn from their counterparts in other climes because like I said earlier, when a war commander leads his troop to an embarrassing defeat, such commander does not need anyone to tell him that he needs to leave the war front for another commander to take over."
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