– No Critical Stakeholder, No Victory: Reality Shaking One NUJ Group Ahead of Dec. 9
In every political contest—whether in a trade union, a corporate boardroom, or a national election—the success of a candidate is shaped not only by personal popularity or campaign funds, but by the unseen forces behind the scenes: the Stakeholders.
Stakeholders determine credibility, build influence, negotiate alliances, and neutralize threats. Their presence—or absence—can elevate a candidate or completely destroy his chances.
In campaign management and political psychology, stakeholders exist in three major categories:
- Power Brokers (Godfathers/Godmothers)
- Stakeholders (Critical Stakeholders and Positive Stakeholders)
- Liabilities (Selfish, Greedy, and Manipulative Stakeholders)
Understanding these categories is crucial to predicting the outcome of any election.
1. POWER BROKERS (Godfathers/Godmothers):
The Kingmakers Who Create Candidates but Attempt to Control Them
A godfather/godmother is the political force who:
- Uses his or her influence to secure a candidate’s ticket during primaries
- Offers the candidate a campaign structure, financial backing, and public goodwill
- Leverages networks, contacts, and institutional power
But they come with a heavy cost.
The Godfather Trap
Political theorists describe this as “the patronage syndrome”—a relationship where:
- The candidate is expected to obey every instruction
- The godfather dictates appointments, expenditures and decisions
- Failure to obey leads to sabotage, blackmail, or mobilization for removal
This category produces candidates who “win today but lose themselves tomorrow.”
They are assets during election season but burdens after victory.
2. THE STAKEHOLDERS
A. CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS
(The Strategic Pillars, Moral Backbones, and Electoral Powerhouses)
A Critical Stakeholder is the highest and most valuable class of support. Political science refers to them as “Strategic Enablers.”
They are defined by:
- Outstanding personal integrity
- Independent financial strength
- Unquestionable credibility that attracts votes
- Deep moral, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional investment
- Selflessness — no hidden agenda, no return-on-investment expectations
- Courage to confront a candidate when he goes wrong
- Boldness to defend the candidate publicly with clean facts
- High-level networks across institutions and influential personalities
- Ability to mobilize real votes, not noise
- Total availability throughout the campaign circle
- Post-election oversight to ensure promises are fulfilled
A Critical Stakeholder is not a beggar.
Not a political liability.
Not someone seeking appointment or gratification.
They are the “political backbone” behind truly successful administrations.
Political theorists call this category “the candidate’s conscience.”
Without them, victory becomes accidental—and governance becomes impossible.
B. POSITIVE STAKEHOLDERS
(The Loyal Foot Soldiers and Grassroots Mobilizers)
This second category is extremely important because they form the operational engine of the campaign.
They are:
- Always present at rallies, engagements, chapel visits and meetings
- Tireless mobilizers who gather support across various blocs
- Courageous risk-takers who protect the campaign’s reputation
- Honest and transparent in handling logistics and funds
- Loyal supporters who believe in the candidate’s vision
- People who expect only fair treatment or recognition—not entitlement
They may not contribute heavy funds, but they contribute manpower, passion, and massive grassroots visibility.
They are the workforce of victory.
Their presence strengthens, not undermines, the ticket.
3. LIABILITIES (The Parasites, Opportunists and Political Burdens)
This is the most dangerous category—and unfortunately, the most common.
Political analysts describe them as:
- Professional campaign liabilities
- Vote-draining opportunists
- Internal saboteurs disguised as supporters
Their characteristics include:
- Surviving on lies, gossip, and blackmail
- Creating division within the team to maintain their relevance
- Constantly demanding money, even for personal responsibilities
- Zero credibility or influence
- Manipulating information to extort the candidate
- Pretending to be loyal but leaking internal secrets
- Delivering false intelligence to confuse the campaign
- Becoming a major burden after the election
- Expecting the candidate to be an ATM machine for their entire family
- Forming toxic clusters that destabilize the administration
They do not want the candidate to succeed—they want him permanently dependent.
They are political cancers, and when they dominate a campaign, that campaign collapses from inside.
THE CRISIS IN ONE OF THE GROUPS:
NO CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER, ONLY LIABILITIES
It is shocking—yet revealing—that one of the groups contesting for the December 9 Oyo NUJ election openly admitted that:
“Our group does not have any Critical Stakeholder.”
This is a public confession of:
- Structural weakness
- Poor credibility
- Leadership vacuum
- Internal sabotage
- Lack of political maturity
Such a team becomes a playground for:
- Selfish manipulators
- Greedy extortionists
- Vote-scavengers
- Unguided noise-makers
- Disorganized campaign runners
Without a Critical Stakeholder, the liabilities take over—and the team collapses under their greed.
It is already too late for them to search for one.
Their fate is sealed.
THE DIVINE MANDATE TEAM:
A RARE ASSEMBLY OF CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS
The Divine Mandate Team stands out because:
- They possess multiple Critical Stakeholders
- They have strong, positive, productive mobilizers
- They have zero liabilities
- No extortionists, saboteurs or political beggars exist in their structure
This is why the team continues to intimidate rivals, dominate chapels, and enjoy widespread goodwill.
Critical Stakeholders serve as:
- The team’s energy
- The team’s public confidence
- The team’s moral insurance
- The team’s vote-winning force
- The team’s protective shield against sabotage
And this explains why Divine Mandate remains the most feared, most organized, and most credible structure in the race.
