Panelists at the “Party Politics 101” organised by a civil society, Enough is Enough (EiE), on Saturday, July 8, 2017, said Nigerian politics would be better when there is more active participation.

Attending as panelists were Ayisha Osori (2015 Federal House of Representatives aspirant, Abuja PDP), Akinyinka Akinnola (2016 Governorship aspirant, Ondo APC), Bobo Omotayo (2011 House of Assembly aspirant, Ogun PDP), and Feyi Fawehinmi as the moderator.

Speaking on how money is spent during political campaigns, Akinnola said “Forget what you hear. Politics is not all about money. Only a percentage of monies spent have an impact.”

In support, Osori said, “You can have all the money and still not win an election,” while Omotayo reiterated, saying money is decisive in politics.

On participation of women in politics, Omotayo said women are a wonderful resource, adding that women put in their energy and time to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Osori, negating the opinion said, “most of the women we see in Nigerian politics are rented crowds. They’re there to represent the men,” adding that the patriarchal structure of the Nigerian society and the issue “indigeneship” keeps women out of politics.

On how to run a successful campaign, Akinnola said three people are needed, the money handler, who would be a trusted person; the politician and, the ‘mad man’ who would ward off disturbance from people around.

Answering questions from the audience, Osori, said the “reason godfathers are so powerful is because they fund the parties, we can stop them by funding the parties.”

The trio at the end of the program insisted that there needs to be more active participation of Nigerians in politics, and that change can only be effected from within.