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THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has not blown the whistle for political campaigns for 2015 elections to start in earnest. But what is playing out is nothing but a prelude to the 2015 general elections immediately the electoral umpire announced the time-table for the much expected polls. According to the INEC, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold first on February 15, 2015, while that of the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place February 24, 2015. Similarly, the electoral body slated June 21, 2014, and August 9, 2014, for governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, respectively.

Expectedly, people have reacted differently to the dates. Some have argued that the dates are structured to favour the incumbent ruling party because there will be a bandwagon effect once it is able to win the first leg of the election. But others have dismissed the argument and  commending the very idea of releasing the time-table on time to allow for elections to be conducted and pending issues arising from there to be settled before the swearing in ceremony.

Nonetheless, one thing that is obvious since the INEC announcement on January 24, is that politicians have been jockeying to outdo one another. Those whose houses were not in order like that of the ruling People Democratic Party, PDP, have been making frantic efforts to douse internal tensions. There have been deft moves and counter-moves from politicians leaving one political party for another. Suffice it to say that there has been realignment of political forces.  All of these activities on the part of politicians are to enable them gain the upper hand and ensure that their interest is served. But in all the political jockeying, the road to 2015 is littered with a lot of bumps which could trip the most adroit politician. Realnews editorial team took a deep look at the political landscape and decided to serve you this week with the likely twists and turns facing the prominent politicians in the country who are likely to contest the coming election. Read the detail in our cover story for this week entitled: The Rough Road to 2015. It was written by Olu Ojewale, our general editor. Enjoy it.

Maureen Chigbo
Editor

Email: mechigbo@yahoo.com  |  mechigbo@realnewsmagazine.net

— Feb. 10, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT