The battle for the governorship seat in 28 states across the country heightened during the week ahead of today’s elections with parties and their candidates re-strategising in their bid to win the votes. In eight states with off-cycle gubernatorial elections, the contest is limited to just House of Assembly positions.
In some states, the struggle for the guber seats saw some candidates and party leaders abandoning the race and supporting the flagbearers of other political parties. In others, there is considerable tension as incumbent governors struggle with opposition parties in their bid to ensure that they have majority members in the House of Assembly after today’s elections.
Realignment of political forces following the outcome of the February 25th presidential election has also heightened tension – making the outcome of today’s polls very unpredictable. Analysts say local dynamics would mainly be in consideration as voters cast their ballots.
Although the governorship election will not take place in Edo, Anambra, Osun and Imo this weekend, Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Charles Soludo (Anambra), and Ademola Adeleke (Osun) have an uphill task to deliver their states for their respective parties. Obaseki’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Soludo’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Adeleke’s All Progressives Congress (APC) performed poorly in the states in the presidential/National Assembly elections.
Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports. Additional reports were filed by Emmanuel Uja (Benue), Abdulgafar Alabelewe (Kaduna), Toba Adedeji (Osun), Bisi Oladele (Oyo), Bisi Olaniyi (Edo), Damian Duruihuoma (Enugu), Fanen Ihyongo (Kano), Kolade Adeyemi (Plateau), Gil Nsa (Cross River), Mike Odiegwu (Rivers), Aiwere Okungbowa (Delta), Nwanosike Onu (Anambra).
LP, PDP battle
APC in Lagos
Ahead of today’s gubernatorial election, nine governorship candidates and the leadership of their political parties in Lagos State stepped down and declared support for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the candidate of the ruling APC. Under the auspices of Alliance of Registered Political Parties, they declared their support for the re-election bid of the governor and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, in view of his achievements in the last four years.
The Young Progressive Party, (YPP), the All Peoples Party (APP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), National Rescue Movement (NRM) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) promised to work for his victory at an event held in Lagos.
Similarly, an APC chieftain in Lagos State, Chief Remi Adiukwu, on Thursday appealed to Igbos in the state and other non-indigenes to re-elect Sanwo-Olu. Adiukwu, a former commissioner and gubernatorial candidate, made the plea at the grand finale of her group’s Crystal Alliance Market Storm/Campaign and House-to-House Canvassing for APC candidates.
According to her, as an indigene of Lagos who is married to an Igbo man, no one is more Igbo than she is. She said residents of the state from Igbo extraction must support Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for a second term in office in Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.
The PDP nominated Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, a former APC member, as its gubernatorial flagbearer. Labour Party (LP) chose Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who withdrew from the PDP primary last May, in protest against the aspiration of Adediran, as its candidate.
Also in the race for today’s election are Hakeem Dickson (Accord), Tope Abdurrazaq Balogun (Action Alliance), Ishola Bamidele (Action Democratic Party), Abiola Roseline Adeyemi (Action Peoples Party), Akeem Olayiwola (African Action Congress), Funso Doherty (African Democratic Congress) and Funmilayo Kupoliyi (Allied Peoples Movement).
Others and their parties are Wasiu Olawale Oluwo (Boot Party), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (Labour Party), Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal (New Nigeria Peoples Party), Akinwunmi Ishola Braithwaite (National Rescue Movement), Taofeek Olakunle Uthman (Social Democratic Party), Adebayo Ajayi (Young Progressives Party) and Adekunle Adenipebi (Zenith Labour Party).
But the race is obviously between APC, PDP and LP for obvious reasons. Lagos is the base of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the President-elect and standard bearer of the ruling APC. He was governor of the state between 1999 and 2007. He joined other like-minded opposition politicians in 2014 to form the APC. According to the Director-General of Lagos State APC Campaign Committee, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, the APC in Lagos is reinvigorated to win today’s election, not minding the outcome of the presidential election.
Solomon, who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday, said more voters are expected to troop out during the poll than what happened during the presidential election because efforts were on course to reach out to those who didn’t vote before to come out and do so.
However, the PDP is also visible in Lagos. In the last 23 years, the party, as the leading opposition party in the state has battled the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now APC for control to no avail as it lost the 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 gubernatorial elections.
LP, which former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, used as a platform to contest the presidential election, had no footing in Lagos before now, but became popular, especially among the Igbo-speaking population and some youths, on account of their support for Obi’s aspiration.
Without dispute, APC is the largest and most formidable party in Lagos State. It has its tentacles in the nooks and crannies of the state; across the five traditional divisions of Lagos, Ikeja, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu; the three senatorial districts of Lagos Central, Lagos East and Lagos West; the pre-existing 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). It is is rated as the most vibrant chapter in the country. The party has been in power in the state for 24 years. Today, all the members of the State Executive Council, led by Sanwo-Olu, belong to the ruling party.
The commissioners, special advisers and assistants, heads of boards and parastatals, reflect the representativeness and inclusive governance in the state. Similarly, all the 40 members of the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, are APC members. Twenty two of the 24 House of Representatives members belong to APC. Also, all the 57 council chairmen, vice chairmen, councillors, supervisors and other aides are APC members. These grassroots structures have linkages with the various community development associations, which also serve as channels for political mobilisation.
Old political warhorses of Awolowo era across the state who are members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), are also providing support for the party. The perception of the governor as a performer is expected to shape the poll’s outcome. But the result of the February 25 presidential election in the state is raising concerns over the chances of APC candidates in the gubernatorial and state legislative elections. To many, should LP repeat its giant-killing exploits Saturday, Sanwo-olu and APC may be in serious trouble.
However, Tinubu’s victory at the presidential election is a major factor expected to work in favour of the governor and party. According to some analysts, many undecided voters will opt to vote for the party that is going to form the government at the centre. “It is called the bandwagon effect. With APC winning the presidential election, we should expect the party to do well in most of the states they slightly lost to the opposition during the presidential election. More people will prefer to see their state enjoy benefits from the federal government.
“So, they will vote for the party that is going to form the government at the centre. Lagos is one of such states. In addition, Tinubu is the leader of APC here and is a former governor of the state. The expectation will be that he will do more for the state if a friendly administration is installed. So, Lagos APC is the greatest beneficiary of Tinubu’s victory and it will greatly influence how the people will vote on Saturday,” Akindiji Akinsuyi of the Democratic Forum (DF) said on Thursday.
Already, the leadership of the party in the state, stunned by the loss of the presidential election to the LP last Saturday, is making frantic effort to ensure that the situation is reversed during the governorship election. “The governorship election will be different. The leadership of the party has identified the grey areas and they are being addressed. Some factors beyond our control too were responsible for what happened on Saturday but as a peace loving party, we do not intend to brood over those rather, we are working on how to redress the situation,” a chieftain of the party said.
If performance is enough to win re-election, Sanwoolu should reap votes from the voters in Lagos on Saturday. Observers of the politics of the state feel he has worked very hard to justify the mandate he got in 2019. Many believe he has implemented his THEMES agenda with utmost fidelity. There is nowhere supporters had gathered for a rally and Sanwo-Olu is unable to point to developmental projects embarked by his government within the neighbourhood. Lagos has become a huge construction site under the governor, who is daily building on the feats of his three predecessors.
He has built new primary and secondary schools in some areas, upgraded the polytechnic and colleges into universities, slashed tuition fees, upgraded education infrastructure and facilities at the General Hospitals, constructed many roads, intensified work on Opebi/Ojota interchange, developed the water transport, reduced housing deficits, and commenced preliminary works on the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge.
Also, there is unity in government; between governor and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, between executive and legislature, and between government and the party leadership. In terms of grassroots support, popularity, visibility, numerical strength, clout of candidates and public sympathy, goodwill and solidarity, Lagos APC will have an edge on today. It is also believed that with Obi not on the ballot, many of those who voted for LP during the presidential election for ethnic and religious reasons will not do the same.
As usual, PDP lost the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. But despite its past electoral misfortunes the party says it is only down but not out. Speaking on a television programme last Wednesday, Adediran said he was out to win the governorship on Saturday. He said what happened at the center will not affect his party at the March 18 governorship election.
Since 1999, crisis-ridden PDP chapter that is retarded by weak structures has been challenging the ruling party in the state unsuccessfully.
Prominent progressive politicians who defected to the opposition party have retraced their steps to APC. They complained about lack of virile leadership, cohesion and focus. The party is factionalised and many of its leading chieftains rejected Adediran’s candidature, insisting he was an interloper who came into the party from the APC and cornered the gubernatorial ticket. Previous candidates of the party, – Dapo Sarunmi (1999), Funso Williams (2003), Obanikoro (2007), Ade Dosunmu (2011), Jimi Agbaje ( 2015 and 2019), although popular in the state, all lost to the ruling party.
Pundits say the PDP is at disadvantage ahead of the election. Never has it been so divided. The party is going into the election without any form of cohesion and this has affected everything from its preparations to its readiness for the governorship poll.
“Our candidate, Adediran, has been deserted by party elders, who complained that he reneged on the promise to pick their anointed candidate Rhodes-Vivour, as running mate. Many prominent PDP chieftains shunned the governorship campaigns and have refused to direct their supporters to vote for PDP,” Chief Seeni Banire, a chieftain of the party in Surulere, said.
A great damage has been done to the PDP’s prospect by the balkanisation of its support base in Lagos by LP, which as part of its plan to win the state during the 2023 general elections, targeted PDP strongholds in Oshodi-Isolo, Ajeromi Ifelodun, Ojo, Amuwo-Odofin, and parts of Surulere, parts of Eti-Osa, where Southeast indigenes are many. With the outcome of the presidential elections in these areas, it may be right to say the non-indigene population of the state appears to be turning its back on PDP.
With the LP winning in almost all the strongholds of PDP in the state on February 25, there are fears among members supporters of the party that the gubernatorial election may turn out to be an unimpressive outing for the PDP.
But Jandor’s supporters say he is banking on the huge youth population of the state to win the election with his deputy governorship candidate, Funke Akindele, a popular actress. “The election will be different from what obtained three weeks ago. Out traditional supporters will return to vote PDP with Obi no longer on the ballot,” Banire said.
The preparedness of the party’s assembly candidates is another factor that is not helping it. Less than a week to the poll, many of them are not visible. Unlike APC candidates in various constituencies across the state, PDP’s flagbearers basically restricted their appearances to rallies driven by the governorship candidate. And in places where they managed to put up campaigns, prominent party leaders in the constituencies, who are co-founding fathers of the party, shunned the events in protest over unresolved crisis in the party.
Before now, LP in Lagos State was not in reckoning. But all that changed when the party stunned the people of the state by winning the presidential election for its candidate Obi. The party was first noticed last year when Moshood Salvador, a former state chairman of PDP, defected to it from APC. He tried to pick the gubernatorial ticket but failed. Not much has been heard about him since then. Lagos LP does not have any council chairman, state and federal lawmaker. The presence of the party in most wards and local governments is nil.
Also, the party lacked candidates for many federal legislative positions because of the absence of structure. And it is not fielding candidates for some of the state assembly positions too. However, the party is visible due to the activities of its fanatical supporters called Obidients.
Ahead of today’s governorship election, they are encouraged by their victory at the presidential election in the state. Many leaders and members have been speaking about how they plan to win today to show that their earlier victory was not a flash in the pan.
The party is again targeting votes for Rhodes-Vivour in former PDP strongholds of Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo, Ajeromi Ifelodun, and some parts of Oshodi-Isolo, and Eti-Osa LGAs, where they won convincingly during the presidential election. As it is pundits say their candidate Rhodes-Vivour has become the main challenger to Sanwoolu.
The journey of the 40-year-old architect and businessman into politics started in 2007 when he contested for the Ikeja Local Government chairmanship position under the umbrella of KOWA party. Although he didn’t win the post, his unexpected performance at the poll made him a household name in the area and other parts of the state. In 2019, he contested for and again lost the Lagos West senatorial seat under the PDP to Senator Adeola Olamilekan (Yayi) of the ruling party. He then emerged as Labour Party’s governorship candidate in August 2022.
He has been commended for campaigning for Labour Party, hammering on the manifesto of “consumption to production,” and free education at the primary and secondary levels, including subsidising it at the tertiary level for Lagos State.
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu received more boost with the defection of a former PDP governorship candidate in the state, Ade Dosunmu to the ruling party. The Chairman, Elders Committee of the Labour Party, Chief Sunbo Onitiri, also joined APC.
All said and done, the ruling party which many agreed had been complacent in the run-up to February 25, has clearly been jolted by the results three weeks ago. In the intervening period since then, the party has been engaged in an aggressive all-out effort to get its base out for today’s polls. Those efforts are expected to be enough to help it retain its grip on power as it unlikely that APC would casually let the jewel in its political crown slip away so easily.
VERDICT: APC TO WIN
PDP, APC battle
for Benue
All hopes by the PDP and its supporters in Benue State that APC will not field a candidate in today’s election were lost few weeks ago when the Supreme Court upheld the nomination of Hyacinth Alia. With the court’s decision, the coast is clear for Reverend Father Alia, a Roman Catholic priest, to participate in the governorship poll. An aspirant for the APC governorship ticket, Professor Terhemba Shija, had sued Alia, alleging electoral malpractices during the party’s primary election last May.
The ruling party is entering today’s race weaker than it was before the February 15 elections. It had gone into the contest with three senators, nine out of eleven House of Representatives seats. All that changed dramatically, against all expectations. It came out of the presidential and National Assembly elections with only one senatorial seat and one House of Representatives seat out of 11. The opposition APC overran it and won 11 House of Representatives and two senatorial seats (Zones A and B).
In the presidential elections, the opposition party polled 310,468 to defeat PDP and LP with 130,081 and 308,372 respectively. The massive votes polled by Labour were attributed to the influence of Governor Samuel Ortom, who worked strenuously for Obi. But from the results of the presidential election so far, the move was counterproductive because PDP which is the ruling party, suffered a heavy defeat. Going by those results APC and its governorship candidate Alia, are already one leg in Government House in Makurdi.
The party looks good to give PDP a run for its money. Alia is the rave of the moment and is enjoying massive followership .With the enthusiastic backing for him in urban and rural areas, pundits have concluded that PDP is gone and APC is coming in the state. Many claim he will win big because the incumbent administration owes teachers, pensioners and civil servants salaries and entitlements. Since Ortom is serving out his two terms, the electorate will be free to choose a candidate and a party to liberate the state from the harsh economic situation.
The result of the presidential election may have a great impact on the governorship race with APC likely to get a haul of votes. The Minister for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, has remained the stabilizing force behind the sustenance and victory of the party in Benue from 2011 to date. The governorship race will not be different as the party will still depend on his magic wand to send PDP out of Government House, Makurdi. Gen Lawrence Onoja, Austine Agada, Nelson Alapa, and Chief John Ochoga will hold tight in Zone C. APC is good to go on March 18.
For the ruling PDP to make any meaningful impact in the governorship race is like a biblical camel passing through the eyes of the needle. It came out of the presidential race more divided with blame games. The last man standing in the party is the Deputy Governorship candidate Chief John Ngbede, who despite the APC tsunami, held tight to his Apa/ Agatu federal constituency. Benue PDP got 130,081 votes why Labour Party polled 308,649 votes, bringing the total votes cast 618,840.
It is hard for PDP to bounce back because with the election of Tinubu, Benue people would like to be associated with the party at the center.
VERDICT: APC
Troubled APC
in Nasarawa
The ruling APC and its candidates suffered bloodied noses in Nasarawa State during the presidential election. Consequently, the re-election project of Governor Abdullahi Sule has become an uphill task. The presence of his party’s national chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, in the state did not rub off on APC as it lost the presidential race and all the three senatorial seats to the PDP and SDP.
The two senatorial seats won by SDP in Nasarawa West and North went to candidates who left APC due to internal wrangling over tickets. SDP is fielding a candidate in today’s race and the party has joined PDP in threatening Sule’s chances. The governor and his godfathers failed in the February 15 elections. But Sule and his men are back in the field, knocking on doors and making amends. It remains to be seen if the last-minute return to the drawing board, will help the ruling party now. Today’s contest is a three-horse race among APC, SDP and Labour.
Sule is being challenged by the candidates of PDP, David Umbugadu, that of NNPP Abdullahi Yakubu Maidoya, Mustapha Muhammed Alfa (SDP) and Joseph Ewuga of Labour Party. In 2019, Umbugadu, who was candidate of PDP, garnered 184,281 votes to come second to Sule with 327,227 votes. Labaran Maku of APGA came third with 132,784 votes. The defection of Maku from APGA to PDP ahead of the 2023 governorship election and his emergence as the director general of the PDP campaign organization, will bring the 132,784 votes he got in 2019 to add up to Umbugadu’s 184,281 votes to defeat Sule in today’s poll.
Besides that, all the governorship aspirants who contested against Umbugadu in the primaries are all supporting his bid. Other stakeholders of the party backing him include ex-PDP BOT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, Senators Philip Gyunka and Suleiman Adokwe among others. Despite its poor performance in the presidential and National Assembly elections where it secured only one senatorial seat and came third in the state with 147,093 votes, PDP in Nasarawa believes that Sule has not done enough to warrant a second term.
The candidate of NNPP, Abdullahi Yakubu Maidoya, who hails from Lafia where the chunk of the state’s votes come from is the only one contesting the governorship from the southern zone of the state which comprises Awe, Obi, Lafia, Doma and Keana Local Government Areas (LGAs). He is hoping to get home support. He has equally campaigned across the 13 LGAs in the state with a message to make NECO, WAEC and JAMB free for Nasarawa citizens. He also pledged to grant autonomy to LGAs if elected. Though with no structure, the party was able to garner 12,715 votes during the February 25th presidential election. It did not win a single seat.
Maidoya might end up dividing Lafia votes to the advantage of Umbugadu of PDP. The candidate of SDP, Muhammed Alfa Mustapha hails from Akwanga Local Government Area with Sule. His party won two senatorial seats and two House of Representatives seats. It is safe to say that he will give Sule a run for his money. Unfortunately, many citizens of the state do not know who the SDP candidate is. He has not been campaigning and those who won National Assembly tickets under SDP have abandoned him. They are also not ready to work for him. But he may benefit from bandwagon effect.
Another candidate who is likely to cause upset if the result of the February 25th presidential election in the state is anything to go by, is the governorship candidate of Labour Party, Joseph Ewuga. His presidential candidate Obi won Nasarawa State with 191,361 votes. Though, the party did not field candidates for all elective positions, his fate in the forthcoming governorship election is in the hands of anxious Igbo traders and Christian community who trooped out in large number to cast their votes for Obi. If such a commitment is sustained on March 18th, Ewuga will be a candidate to beat. SDP won two senatorial districts and two House of Representatives seats. APC won three House of Representatives seats and PDP won only one senatorial district.
The results of the National Assembly elections pose huge threats to the chances of the incumbent governor retaining his seat for second term. APC secured 172,922 votes to lose the presidential election to the Labour Party with 191,361 votes.
The genesis of the February election results in Nasarawa State stems from the APC primaries conducted by the Adamu-led national secretariat where popular candidates were denied tickets. The aggrieved left for SDP and won. There is a saving grace lurking for Sule. Our correspondent gathered that all the SDP candidates who won the National Assembly elections in the state have vowed to work very hard to ensure that the governor is re-elected.
Speaking to our correspondent, a chieftain of the APC in the state, who spoke in confidence, said: “If you look at the National Assembly elections, you will understand that something was wrong. We don’t have SDP in Nasarawa State, it is we APC members that voted for SDP candidates in those National Sssembly elections. We wanted to prove to APC leadership. Next time, the party will not look down upon people. All of us including SDP candidates, who won the elections, are going to return Sule for second term because he has performed very well. I can assure you that the Senator-elect for Nasarawa West under SDP is already mobilizing support for Sule.
“Sule will win landslide in eight LGAs out of 13 LGAs, he will win in Toto, Nasarawa, Kokona, Keffi, Wamba, Awe, Obi, Keana LGAs. He will run neck and neck with his opponents in Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, Lafia and Doma LGAs. So, for us in Nasarawa, the results of last election are not going to affect Governor Sule’s election.”
He said former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura lost the Nasarawa South Senatorial District due to sentiments. He said the Alagos, who dominate the zone, went for their son against Al-Makura, a Gwamdara minority in the zone.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
Makinde, Folarin in tight race amidst defections in Oyo
In Oyo, incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde of PDP and his challenger from APC, Senator Teslim Folarin, have benefited from a series of endorsements from other political parties ahead of today’s elections. Yet the two leading candidates face an unusually tough race this time due to developments after the presidential election. Candidate of APC, Asiwaju Tinubu, won the presidential election with a wide margin in the state, thereby shoring up the chances of his party’s governorship candidate Sen. Teslim Folarin. Conversely, the development put the PDP candidate and the incumbent governor Seyi Makinde under pressure as Election Day drew nearer.
Tinubu polled 449, 884 to beat his closest rival Atiku Abubakar of the PDP who polled 182, 977. Labour Party came distance third with 99, 110 votes, Accord had 39,514 votes while the NNPP scored 4,095 votes. The APC also won the three senatorial elections and garnered a good number in the 14 House of Representatives seats in the state. The following factors will shape the governorship election in the state.
Aside APC and PDP which also gained support yesterday for the upcoming elections, LP, SDP, NNPP and Accord (A) among others, are in the race to the Agodi Government House in Ibadan. But, the SDP candidate, Micheal Lana, has dumped his ambition to back Folarin. A faction of LP has also declared support for Makinde, dumping their party’s candidate, Tawfiq Akinwale, who openly condemned the action.
The situation is not different with Accord, whose factional leaders also threw their weight behind Makinde. Not only shocked by the decision and action, the Accord governorship candidate, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu, also expressed disdain at the leaders’ action. Those involved were immediately sacked by the national leadership, which appointed caretaker executives. The party confirmed Adelabu as its candidate for the guber election.
Ahead of today’s poll, former Oyo State governor, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, endorsed APC’s Folarin. Speaking at his old Bodija, Ibadan residence, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, who is a rallying point for many stakeholders in the state, said: “After Makinde picked the PDP House of Representatives and senatorial candidates to represent the state at the National Assembly, he didn’t offer any form of support to them. He didn’t spend money to support them or give out a word to the citizens for any one of them.
“Even, God detests actions that are unfair and unjust. So when Saturday, March 18 comes, please, leave all you are doing and go out to cast your votes for Teslim Folarin, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state. One of our major mobilizers in the PDP called ‘Olopo Eyan’ recently defected to the camp of APC. Also, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) chapters of Oyo state have adopted Teslim Folarin as their preferred governorship candidate. Some political parties are also considering adopting Folarin already. However, I believe all will be sorted out in the coming days. Please, I am appealing to my loyalists to cast their votes for Folarin in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. In addition, I want everyone to forgive him of whatsoever he might have done in time past.”
Ladoja’s action, Tinubu’s victory and some other developments are not in the best interest of Makinde as Oyo votes today. But his supporters say his performance in the last four years will partly determine how much vote he gets. His achievements in the areas of workers welfare, infrastructure, education and personal humility will earn him plenty of votes. Of specific importance are communities such as Iseyin, Ogbomoso and parts of Ibadan which benefitted immensely from such projects and policies. Though opposition parties are relentless in faulting the projects and policies, a lot of residents still regard them and acknowledge their contributions to the development of the state.
As expected, the governor’s shortcomings may count against him in the election. For instance, he is supporting individuals under the cover of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who were perpetrating violence until their leader Mukaila Lamidi (aka Auxilliary) was arraigned late last year. His support for them has earned him more dislikes among members of the public, particularly in Ibadan. The obvious paralysis of the local government system under Makinde is also a source of concern for his critics.
Some politicians in the state have formed coalitions against the incumbent following the presidential election. The result of the poll was interpreted by opposition politicians as a damn verdict on Makinde’s performance, believing it was a rejection of the PDP in the state. Buoyed by the result, they have started building alliances that will boost their chances of defeating the governor.
Makinde won the 2019 election through a coalition of five parties against the then APC candidate Bayo Adelabu. For instance, while APC’s Folarin is wooing some major politicians from other opposition parties, some minor parties are already finalizing arrangements to adopt the Accord candidate in the election. Most aggrieved PDP chieftains are also said to be embracing APC to form a formidable alliance against the incumbent.
Yet, Makinde is enjoying the support of some APC chieftains who are opposed to Folarin’s emergence as the new leader. Besides, the governor is reconciling with available aggrieved chieftains, candidates and community leaders. He is cementing many relationships to ensure that no crack is left for the opposition to explore. Reacting to possible coalition of opposition parties against him, however, Makinde declared that he was not bothered, stressing that he was in coalition with the people of the state who are the beneficiaries of his good policies and projects.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
Two-horse
race in Kano
In Kano State, analysts say the contest is a two-horse race between the candidates of APC and NNPP. However, some observers are saying the candidate of PDP should not be written off just yet. The victory of the presidential flag bearer of APC at the polls has broadened the chances of the ruling party in its campaign to retain power in Kano on March 18. The Deputy Governor, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, had the endorsement of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to become the party’s candidate. A former Commissioner of Local Government, Murtala Sule Garo, who strongly contested the ticket against Gawuna, became the deputy governorship candidate.
The LP governorship candidate, Bashir Ishaq Bashir, recently resigned from the party and declared support for APC. Through his platform known as the game changer for Asiwaju/Shettima 2023, with the slogan, ‘Sabon Lale’ (Swinging the Votes), the former Labour candidate will help galvanize the ruling party’s gubernatorial campaign and ensure APC wins at the polls.
Outgoing governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who is not seeking any election, is poised to deploy all apparatus of government with financial resources to ensure his deputy (Gawuna) succeeds him. Though APC didn’t win the presidential election in the state, pundits are saying the party stands a good chance to win the governorship election and the assembly polls today. But it will have to stave off the rampaging NNPP to retain its hold on power.
NNPP is one of the strongest and fastest rising political parties in the state. It has become a threat to the ruling APC. But pundits say in spite of its victory at the presidential election, it has no formidable structures like APC and PDP. Everything about it revolves around the founder, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. It is still seen as the Kwankwasiyya Movement. Analysts say Kwankwaso’s loss will make many of the party’s supporters shift tent to APC during the governorship election in order to ensure it retains power.
The chances of PDP winning the governorship in Kano are becoming slimmer by the day, because of its disappointing performance at the presidential election as well as its intra-party conflicts and litigations following factional primary elections. The party had held two primaries with one nominating Mohammed Abacha – son of late military dictator Sani Abacha, while the other produced Sadiq Wali as the flagbearer.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) first declared Abacha as the candidate but later published the name of Wali as the legitimate flagbearer. The confusion made Abacha seek legal redress. The court then declared him (Mohammed Sani Abacha) as the duly elected governorship candidate. Wali appealed the judgment and last month the Appeal Court sacked Abacha and declared him as the party’s candidate. Abacha has gone to the Supreme Court for a final decision on the dispute.
The crisis has made the party’s followers to become stranded, some of which are now migrating to APC. It was gathered that presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar had asked Kano PDP and NNPP chapters to work in a pact. During the meeting, he reportedly pleaded with Kwankwaso to do a silent merger with PDP in order to deliver him in Kano. Then Kwankwaso and his party chieftains, sources said, told the ex-VP and PDP stakeholders in the state to also deliver his NNPP gubernatorial candidate Abba Kabir at the poll. Kwankwaso’s demand was rejected.
Those rejecting the candidacy of Kabir point to the fact that he is a son-in-law to the former governor. The two political parties could not reach a consensus on who should be supported for the governorship and presidency when they went to the presidential and National Assembly polls. Atiku’s third position in the state confirmed how weak PDP has become in Kano.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
It’s a toss up
race in Kaduna
Today’s poll is a contest between two wounded lions, the ruling APC and the opposition PDP. PDP won the presidential election in Kaduna State with 554,360 votes to defeat APC, which trailed with 399,293 votes. LP came third in the number of votes scored. Although it won more local government areas than the ruling party, it only secured 294,494 votes.
PDP won in 14 local government areas of Zaria, Sabon Gari, Kagarko, Ikara, Makarfi, Kaduna South, Giwa, Kauru, Kudan, Kaduna North, Lere, Soba, Kubau and Igabi, while the ruling party won only in Sanga and Birnin Gwari local government areas. Despite the victory at the state level, where it also cleared all the three senatorial seats, PDP is obviously coming to the governorship race with aggression after losing the presidential race at the national level.
APC, on the other hand, is bitter about losing all the senate seats to PDP, especially, Kaduna Central and Kaduna North districts, which are currently occupied by the ruling party. They appear to have gone back to the drawing board and are planning how best to retain the governorship seat. Most chieftains believe their party was set to win all the elections in Kaduna before the naira redesign. They argue that the policy incited the public against APC, hence the poor performance witnessed during the first election.
The State APC Campaign Council in its reaction to the recent poll, said it suffered reversals in the presidential and National Assembly elections in Kaduna because of the “strange decisions designed to stir massive anger against it” but the reversals will be corrected.
“We applaud the people for performing the civic responsibility of casting their votes, under the most severe circumstances. The votes of the people of Kaduna state have contributed to the obvious triumph of APC in the presidential election. APC has won a great national victory, despite the obstacles placed on its path by strange decisions that were designed to stir mass anger. The Kaduna state APC Council is pressing forward with its engagement with the people for governorship and the state House of Assembly elections on March 11th.
“In these challenging times, we have had reversals that will be democratically corrected on 18 March 2023. As democrats, we are not bellyaching over the setbacks our party and its candidates experienced in several constituencies in our state, and we expect every political party to emulate this and respect the choice of the people, not only when it favours their partisan interest. This is anchored on a record of competent governance, promotion of public welfare and the concrete achievements the APC has recorded in Kaduna state since 2015.
“The real battle for the future of Kaduna State will be on Saturday when Senator Uba Sani whose record of service is unparalleled and our 34 state assembly candidates will be on the ballot. We are counting on the people of Kaduna state to come out en-masse and vote peacefully, as well as overwhelmingly for the candidates of continuity,” Director, Strategic Communication of the Council, Ibraheem Musa, stated.
PDP chairman, Hassan Hyat, urged the people not to relent in their determination and vote massively for the party at the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections. He said: “For the first time in history, PDP clinched the three senatorial seats, and 10 out the 16 federal constituencies in the state. More to that, in 2019 general elections, PDP produced the highest number of votes for our presidential candidate, and same was repeated in the just-concluded elections.” Hyet further explained that PDP in the state is working very hard to maintain the lead and win at the coming elections.
However, beyond the calculations of both APC and PDP, the Kaduna electorates are currently divided into four groups: the group that voted for PDP and APC respectively in the just- concluded elections and ready to repeat same in the March 18th poll; the group that voted for other political parties and are discouraged that their preferred candidates didn’t win and won’t bother to come out for governorship elections; the group that didn’t come out at all during the presidential poll and those who are only interested in who becomes president, but don’t care about governance at the state level.
If the election is to be decided by the first group, the PDP will surely carry the day in the gubernatorial and state assembly elections. What will, however, determine the winner in today’s polls is ability of each of the two major contenders in the race to win the three other groups to their side. By now, it is clear to both the Obi-led LP and Kwankwaso-led NNPP that, they lack the numerical strength to win the governorship slot in Kaduna. Their strength will make a big difference if they agree to align with any of the major parties.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
APC plots comeback in Gombe
During the presidential election on February 25, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, lost his polling unit at Yahaya Umaru polling Unit 010 Jekadafari, Gombe, to the opposition PDP. The loss was no doubt a shocking one to the ruling APC. Since then, tension has been mounting in the state especially over whether the governor can win today’s election and retain his position beyond May 29, 2023. Analysts who have been examining the results of the presidential election say it doesn’t offer Yahaya much hope today.
At present, the opposition PDP seems to have an upper hand with two senators-elect – former Governor Hassan Dankwambo, (Gombe North) and Honourable Tony Siyaku Yaro (Gombe South) in its kitty. Similarly, out of six members of the House of Representatives in the state, the APC won only one by Hon. Bello Kumo of Akko Federal Constituency. The remaining five constituencies were again earned by the opposition PDP. However, the ruling APC has a hope in only one man who has proved himself to be a political enigma in the state, Senator Muhammed Danjuma Goje who won his Gombe Central senatorial ticket for the fourth term.
Unfortunately, for the party and the state government, it is not certain if Goje is on the same page with the governor. He has not been visible or active in the local politics of Gombe in recent times. He is an unseen hand pulling some strings which may undermine APC. He was not even at the presidential campaign of Asiwaju and the APC in Gombe. Political observers believe that the silence of Goje is a signal of danger not only for the party in the state but also the second term ambition of Yahaya. When Tinubu visited Gombe late last year to canvass for the votes of Gombe delegates in APC primary, he specifically expressed concern about the fragile relationship between the governor and Goje. He added that if Goje was in town, he was ready to take the governor to him and straighten things out.
Nevertheless, all hope is not lost for the ruling party and its governor because the opposition PDP is also battling with an internal crisis over its choice of candidate, Alhaji Jibrin Barde, which has led to the exit of many party faithful to NNPP. Today, it is gaining ground in Gombe and it has become the opposition party in the State House of Assembly.
Many power blocs have already been formed and their minds already made up on the governorship election. These blocs cut across the three senatorial districts of the state. The political barometer at the moment in Gombe indicates a straight fight, first between Alhaji Jibrin Barde of the PDP and Hon. Khamisu Mailantarki of NNPP who is alleged to be enjoying the support of some political bigwigs in the state and Abuja. Secondly, the battle can also be between Yahaya as a sitting governor versus both Barde and Mailantarki or whoever emerged from a rumored alliance between the PDP and the NNPP.
If the two opposition parties refuse to reach a compromise, Yahaya might end up being the greatest beneficiary of the confusion in their camps. Yet and again, the Goje factor has a big role to play in all these because with his strong grip on Gombe Central and Dankwambo in Gombe North and the strong opposition of Gombe South to the ruling government, whosoever Goje endorses might be the winner of the election.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
Tough task for
PDP in Bauchi
For Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, securing a second-term mandate is not going to be an easy one for several reasons. Fifteen political parties have nominated candidates for the election. These candidates from different political parties emerged from the governorship primaries of the different parties held last year. They are Hassan Kalid of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); Auwal Adamu, Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM); Governor Bala Mohammed of PDP, Senator Halliru Dauda Jika of NNPP; Abubakar Ibrahim of LP, Abubakar Saddique of APC; Umaru Nuhu Tilde of SDP; and Umar Faruq Ahmed of the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP).
Others are Saleh Auwalu Dahiru of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Usman Dankyrana Mustapha of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Musa Magazine of the Action Alliance (AA), Ahmed Magaji Saleh of SDP, Saleh Sulaiman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Kabiru Abdulhamid Shuwa of the Action Peoples’ Party (APP) and Umar Garba Aliyu of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). Despite the crowded list, the contest is among three political parties: the PDP, which is the ruling party; the APC and the NNPP. It’s believed that the result of the presidential election may have an impact on the governorship race with realignment of forces, including those seeking to associate with the incoming APC administration of Tinubu.
The disunity in the state chapter of the PDP may affect the governor’s chances in the zone. For example, prominent politicians like the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara who controls three local government areas (Bogoro, Dass, and Tafawa Balewa), a former national chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, and respected elder statesman, Alh. Muhammadu Bello Kirfi – all from Bauchi South – may work against Mohammed’s reelection. The dethroning of the elder statesman, Kirfi, as the Wazirin Bauchi by the Emirates Council for allegedly “disrespecting” the governor suggests a deep crisis in the party at the state level.
Although some leaders mobilized voters for Atiku, they won’t do the same for Mohammed due to their grievances with him. The chairman of the Bauchi Peoples’ Parliament (Zauren Mutanen Bauchi), a civil society organization, Abubakar Billy, said PDP would only win Bauchi South if the crisis in the party is resolved before the election. Billy, the first grandson of the late Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa said: “The PDP may only have its way only if the governor sorts out his differences with some of these people.”
In Bauchi South, it will be an epic battle between APC and PDP in the zone. NNPP is said to have a weak structure in the zone. The district itself consists of seven local government areas namely, Alkaleri, Bauchi, Bogoro, Dass, Kirfi, Tafawa Balewa, and Toro. The incumbent Governor Mohammed who hails from Alkaleri Local Government Area would seek to take advantage of the plurality of votes from the district, which accounts for 63 per cent of the votes in the state. For those familiar with Bauchi politics, the political climate cannot be predicted. But, what cannot be disputed is that Bauchi people can be stubborn and very cold. Those attributes played out in the ousting of the immediate past Governor Mohammed Abubakar of the APC.
Mohammed defeated the immediate past governor during the last general elections in 2019 with the majority of the votes coming from Bauchi South, especially Bauchi Local Government. As such, whoever wins this zone will automatically win the election due to its large population. Mohammed made history in the 2019 elections by being the first to defeat an incumbent governor in the state since the return to civil rule in 1999. Political analysts believe Mohammed’s re-election will be a very tough one this time around with the multiple oppositions he is facing. Until now, the governor is expected to sail through in the zone but recent developments have changed the permutations.
For instance, a former member of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi, who was among those who helped the governor to secure votes in the Bauchi Local Government in 2019, has fallen out with him. Though Abdullahi was a former PRP stalwart, he is believed to have worked for the governor at the elections. It’s said that Yakubu may work against the governor’s reelection this time around. Similarly, former Governor Isa Yuguda, who hails from Bauchi South, was one of those that helped to mobilize support for Governor Mohammed in the zone. But, he is no longer in the PDP. He is now in the APC and this is a boost for the party.
Both parties continued their rivalry at the election with the PDP showing why it is the ruling party in the state. It won the presidential election for its candidate Atiku and got a majority of the House of Representatives seats and senatorial districts. But unfortunately, the PDP did not win the Bauchi South senatorial district. The candidate of APC, Hon. Shehu Buba was declared the winner in the zone. However, PDP candidate, Aminu Aliyu Garu won the Bauchi Federal Constituency seat. Garu, a popular politician in the South, is expected to vote for the governor in the council as a Rep-elect.
The APC itself won five while the PDP won seven Federal House of Representatives seats. Out of the five, three of the Reps-elect for the APC are from Bauchi South. These Representatives-elect are grassroots politicians who can help mobilize their people to vote for APC candidate, Sadique. Coincidentally, the APC deputy governorship candidate, Shehu Musa Aliyu is from Bauchi Local Government Area as well. He is expected to influence the voting pattern in favour of his party. Aliyu, a popular grassroots politician was elected into the House of Representatives in 2015. He lost in 2019 but contested again and won the primary in 2022 before he was picked as a running mate to Saddique Abubakar.
Hence, political analysts are of the view that the APC candidate will match the governor’s strength for strength in his stronghold. But the governor is not taking chances. He showed his strength when he delivered Bauchi for Atiku. Bauchi North will be another battleground. APC was perceived to be stringer in the area but with the outcome of the presidential/ National Assembly election, it has been observed the zone.
It would be recalled that Bala Mohammed delivered 18 out of 20 local government areas to Atiku at the presidential election. The PDP presidential candidate pulled an upset in Giade and Katagum councils (Bauchi North) by defeating Tinubu in the strongholds of the party. Giade is the local government of the APC gubernatorial candidate, Sadique Abubakar while Katagum is the local government of the current Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and Mariam Katagum, Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment.
The APC also lost the Bauchi North Senatorial election to the PDP. Kaila Dahuwa Samiala was declared the winner of the election. He defeated his closest rival, Sirajo Tanko, of the APC. It lost the Shira/ Giade and Zaki constituencies to the PDP as well. Ibrahim Sanni Tanko and Dan Abba Shehu won the constituencies respectively but analysts predict a comeback by the APC in the zone. The grassroots politicians expected to pull votes for the APC candidate are two former Deputy governors, Abdulmalik Mahmood who served under former governor Adamu Muazu for eight years, and Sajir Aminu Saleh, a deputy governor to former governor Mallam Isa Yuguda and the Reps-elect for the Gamawa Federal Constituency, Gamawa Adamu Ibrahim.
Others mobilizing support for the APC in the zone are Yerima Giade, a former National Commissioner in the Federal Character Commission, and a former National Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Musa Babayo. To garner more support in the northern district, Governor Mohammed selected Auwal Jatau from Zaki LGA as his running mate, after dropping his deputy, Sen. Baba Tela. He also picked the Director-general of his campaign team, Farouk Mustapha from the region, as well.
Mustapha was one of the governorship aspirants of the APC before he defected to the PDP after failing to get the party’s ticket. He once represented Katagum Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives but lost his bid to go to the Senate. The Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr. Aminu Gamawa, the PDP Representatives-elect for Katagum, Shehu Mohammed and Ibrahim Sani Tanko who won Shira/ Giade constituency’s ticket, are expected to deliver votes to Bala Mohammed in the zone.
But an APC chieftain in the state, Comrade Sabo Mohammed told the Nation that the picking of Jata’u, won’t stop his party from winning the zone. He said there is a collective consensus among critical stakeholders in the state to massively support Sadique. He said Bauchi South itself has dominated the governorship in the last 23 years, taking advantage of its population and the number of local government areas. He said: “All the governors since 1999 on the platform of both the PDP and the APC are from the region. They include Ahmadu Adamu Muazu (PDP), Isa Yuguda (APC), Mohammed Abubakar (APC), and the incumbent Governor Bala Mohammed (PDP).
“The bone of contention is that the people of the northern zone, comprising Misau, Jama’re and Katagum Emirate Councils are not happy with the fact that the only time the region produced a governor was 43 years ago when Abubakar Tatari Ali became the first civilian governor between 1979 and 1983. But, his tenure was thwarted by the military coup on December 31, 1983, which brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power as a military leader.” He told the Nation that only disunity in the zone would rob them of the opportunity of producing the next governor because they have gained sympathy from the people of Bauchi State after being sidelined for a long period.
But Billy said the electorate in Bauchi North are behind the governor in the zone. He said there is no agitation anywhere because the Katagum people are okay with producing a deputy governor because their collective decision was to wait until 2027 to produce a governor. “Come to think of it, Bauchi people are not after where you’re from but your performance. That’s why they voted out former governor Mohammed Abubakar. We’ve not seen someone who has done so much like this governor in terms of infrastructural development”
The Bauchi Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Damban, Darazo, Ganjuwa, Misau, Ningi, and Warji. The APC appears to be currently divided in the zone following the defection of the Senator representing the zone, Jika Dauda Halliru representing Bauchi Central, who is now contesting for the governorship race under the NNPP. It’s believed that the emergence of Jika from the Bauchi Central will spoil APC’s votes in the zone to give the PDP an edge. Jika was elected to represent the Darazo/Ganjuwa Constituency in the House of Representatives and he served two terms between 2007 and 2015.
In the 2019 election, he was elected a senator to represent Bauchi Central on the platform of the APC. The grassroots politician was once the speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly before he later emerged as the governorship candidate of the NNPP, following his defection to the party. Jika’s popularity in the zone would give both the APC and PDP a. headache considering his political experience and popularity. Danlami Babantakko described Jika as a very strong candidate who is a determined and committed politician with vast experience in politics.
He said: “Unarguably, Jika is a good material in the party, and politics, as they say, is a game of numbers; he has thousands of supporters across the state that would eventually help the party to wrestle power from the opposition. Banking on the popularity of the NNPP, Jika plans to cash in on Rabiu Kwankwaso’s popularity as the main actor in the NNPP. He will certainly spoil APC’s votes in the zone.” However, PDP won the Bauchi Central Senatorial district. Abdul Ningi, an ally of the presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar was declared the winner of the election. Ningi scored 104,878 votes while Hon Uba Ahmad Nana of the APC came second with 84,621 votes. Sen. Isah Hamma Misau of the NNPP came third with 17,995 votes.
Ningi’s victory makes it his second term in the Senate. He served as a Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015 in his first term. Ningi, who delivered his council to Atiku, is expected to pull massive votes for the governor in the zone. Other popular stakeholders for the PDP in Bauchi Central are the party chairman, Alhaji Hamza Akuyam; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Suleiman Abubakar who was in the APC before he defected to the PDP; and the Head of Service, Yahuza Adamu.
The rest are the PDP Reps-elect in Ningi/Warji, Adamu Hashimu, the Reps-elect in Misau/Damba Bappa Aliyu, and the Reps-elect in Ganjuwa/Darazo, Mansur Manu Soro. For the APC, stakeholders expected to pull votes for Sadique in the zone are Uba Nana, the immediate past Chairman of the party but unfortunately, he lost the senatorial election to Ningi. He is from one of the minority LG (Warji) in the zone. Other APC stakeholders are the current APC Chairman Alhaji Babayo Misau and a presidential aide Ya’u Darazo.
VERDICT: PDP
PDP battles for survival in Enugu
As the people of Enugu State go to the polls to elect a new governor today, they are expected to make a choice out of 17 candidates. Before the February 25 elections, the candidates for the governorship election in Enugu State were pruned down to the Big Four: the ruling PDP, LP, APGA and APC. They are no doubt the frontline political parties that will be contesting the election in the state. The results of the last elections threw up LP as frontrunner and relegated the chances of the PDP.
But the Director-General of the PDP Campaign Council in the state, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, said the party would win the March 18 governorship election in Enugu State. He said his confidence stemmed from the pedigree of the party’s candidate at the election, Peter Mbah. “It is not about party anymore. Among the contestants, Peter Mbah of the PDP is the most competent who knows how to do the job perfectly. I am confident that PDP will win because of Mbah’s pedigree and his robust manifesto to move Enugu State forward. If we need to be transparent and truthful, Mbah is the best candidate of all the candidates in the election because of his private sector background,’ he said.
However, since after the presidential and National Assembly elections where Labour Party had a landslide victory, it is obvious that the governorship election in Enugu State is now going to be a contest between the PDP’s Mbah and LP’s Chijioke Edeoga. This is barring any unforeseen surprises can throw up any of the other two candidates: former minister, Frank Nweke Jnr of APGA and Chief Uche Nnaji of the APC at the eleventh hour.
Mbah of the PDP has the power of incumbency on his side. His party, the PDP candidate has been the party in power in Enugu for the past 24 years and he is the personal choice of the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. He and his party have elevated the 2023 campaigns to an enviable height to the extent that pundits now say that this was the first time PDP in Enugu State would embark on a campaign that has so far captured almost everyone.
Notwithstanding the fact that he is one of the favorites to win the election, Mbah still considers anyone or group that matters in the development of the state as key to his victory. To that effect, no day passes without him visiting communities and groups to assist him win the election and help him realize his dream of making Enugu everyone’s dream. He also boasts of a formidable track record in academics and public service. He has been a Commissioner for Finance and later, Chief of Staff to then governor, Chimaraoke Nnamani.
Since leaving public service, he joined the private sector, where he has left an indelible mark a builder of business of a flourishing enterprise. His supporters point to his achievements as the owner and chief executive officer of Pinnacle Oil, which today has one of the largest oil tank farms in the country, to advance the argument that Mbah is a top notch technocrat expected to take the economy of Enugu State to greater heights.
Mbah also appears to have struck the right balance on the issue of zoning – a major factor in Enugu politics where the cultural zones determine who goes for them when it comes to the governorship position. In view of this, stakeholders from Enugu East Senatorial District, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, trade unions, market leaders, among others, rose in unison to adopt him as their sole candidate for the governorship election. Most significant of the endorsements were the ones coming from the former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani and some APC leaders in the zone. He has equally garnered endorsements from former governor of Old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, amongst others.
But he is not without weak points which may discourage voters from electing him as governor. His party, PDP, lost seven out of the eighth federal constituencies in the state during the last national assembly election. Also, the party leader in the state, Governor Ugwuanyi, equally lost his bid to go to the Senate to LP. This has affected the confidence of his party members and demoralized the party in the state despite getting victory for Enugu West senatorial seat and Nkanu West/East Federal Constituency seat.
Also, despite the efforts by the leaders of the party to ensure there was no legal encumbrances following the outcome of the party’s governorship primaries, there seems to be troubles lurking around Mbah’s emergence as PDP candidate and nibbling around the party’s chances of retaining the seat. This time from outside the party as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Senatorial candidate for Enugu North Senatorial District, Comrade Chika Emmanuel Idoko, had gone to court to seek the disqualification of all candidates of the PDP listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the elections, for alleged breaches of the Electoral Act.
Though, the matter has been struck out for lack of locus, LP and APC are still in pursuit of the matter in different courts. Idoko had alleged that the PDP violated provisions of the Electoral Act, which prescribes a minimum number of days a party should serve its notice on INEC before conducting its party primaries for purposes of producing candidates. Chijioke Edeoga is the LP governorship candidate. He is regarded as an experienced and accomplished politician, who has risen through the ranks to where he is now. He had held positions as a member of the House of Representatives, local government chairman and commissioner. He also served as an adviser on Legislative matters to the then Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ekweremadu from where he was appointed as the Special Assistant to Former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on National Assembly Matters from 2011 – 2015. His supporters count his experience as one that can easily distinguish him and help him perform if given the opportunity.
Before the last election, his supporters saw him as the only candidate running the election against the ruling PDP. This, one of them claimed, was the reason he has been receiving very vicious attacks from the PDP supporters. But now, just one week to the election, Edeoga’s supporters are seeing him as governor-in-waiting. He, too, is basking in the massive victory his Labour Party has so far recorded in the last election in the state, winning one senatorial seat and seven House of Representatives seats out of eight in the state. Speaking with newsmen after the national elections, Edeoga said that his party would consolidate on the outcome of the previous elections, by nipping in the bud all rigging plans of their rivals in the state.
He is also buoyed by his recent victory at the Supreme Court where he was affirmed as the authentic governorship candidate of Labour Party. He said that victory in court was victory against the government and ruling party, who he accused of funding Evarest Nnaji to distract him in the court with frivolous court matter. Though, he has not been very flamboyant in his campaigns, Edeoga has been consistently systematic in his campaigns, going from community to community to sell his programmes. Edeoga is also seen as a politician who has a clean record.
According to some of his supporters, his greatest support base lies in the Nsukka cultural zone, where he is said to have his lineage as well as Oji River, where his running mate comes from. He is also believed to have made serious inroads within the state capital. Though, he hails from Isi-Uzo LGA in Enugu East Senatorial District, it was however gathered that owing to their belief that Edeoga is one of them, most of the political bigwigs in the six local government areas in Nsukka, are seriously rooting for him as their candidate. They are said to be major financiers of Edeoga’s campaigns.
Edeoga is also well positioned by the fact that the LP has a very large following in Enugu because of Peter Obi, an analyst said. “Don’t take it away from him, he understands the political terrain. He has been a local government chairman, a House of Representatives member and commissioner. He has advantage. He comes from Enugu East Senatorial Zone and has three other major candidates from the same Enugu East. Now, the other three candidates, Nnaji of APC, Mbah of PDP and Nweke of APGA come from the core Nkanu while Edeoga is the only candidate outside Nkanu. So, it is expected that the three candidates from Nkanu would fight for and the divide the votes in the area, then leaving Edeoga alone in his Isi-Uzo,” he said.
His only major weakness is the fact that Enugu State stakeholders, who are majorly of the PDP, will like to fight back to retain the state at all costs. Sources within his camp revealed that the LP candidate and his handlers are not oblivious of the efforts by the PDP leadership in the state to truncate his chances on Saturday. “But we are not leaving anything to chances. We are poised to win this election,” an aide said.
Nweke is the governorship candidate of APGA. He has served as minister of the Federal Republic. Before that, he was the Chief of Staff to then governor Nnamani. He is regarded as charismatic and highly intelligent. He has bright ideas, charm and charisma needed to govern a state like Enugu. Above all, he seems to know the problems of the state and has ideas on how to tackle them.
He has been very dogged in his campaigns, reaching out to villages and kindreds with the firm belief that with the new Electoral Act, he is on his way to winning the election. Part of his confidence is that the level of discontent in the state had been very significant. As a result, the people would change their voting pattern in the next election to his favour. However, his outing is seen as giving Edeoga and LP advantage because he hails from Nkanu where his PDP and APC counterparts also hail from.
This means that he would have to work extra hard to get the votes of the people of the area and by extension the entire state. Another challenge is that though, APGA is a ruling party in the neighbouring Anambra State, but before Nweke joined the party, nothing much was heard about it in Enugu State.
Uche Nnaji is the governorship candidate of APC. His party can be said to be the largest opposition political party in the state despite incursions by Labour. He and APC have also tried to make impressions by touring the 260 wards in the state. Though, most of the residents hardly know him, the candidate prides himself as a business mogul, who owns oil well and a chunk of stakes in a refinery outside Nigeria.
His party has already won the presidential election and it is expected that this should boost his chances of making greater impacts on March 11. He believes that Enugu deserves a governor like him, who would develop the state without depending on federal allocations. Nnaji, who was a high profile politician in 1999 before he took a break, is now backed by his close associate and governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
One of the major weaknesses of the APC candidate is the feeling among the people of Enugu State is that his wealth is hardly felt in the state, particularly, in his area. Nnaji is also seen as media-shy as he does not do enough to sell himself to the voters through the media. Significantly, since his emergence as the candidate major stakeholders of the party in the state, have since abandoned it following intractable intraparty crisis.
Nnaji, who has now inherited the crisis that has ridden the party in the past four years, has led to such leaders as the former governor, Sullivan Chime; former Senate president, Senator Ken Nnamani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, among many others abandoning his governorship project for other parties. Despite the fact that APC has won the presidential election, it does not seem to translate to positive effect on his candidature.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
APC, Labour threaten PDP in Delta
The fallout of the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Delta state will no doubt affect the voting pattern in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections today. Labour Party won the presidential poll with a wide margin. Obi polled 341,866 votes against PDP’s 161,600 and APC’s 90,183, to win in eighteen local government areas with the PDP picking the remaining seven. But can it reenact that feat in the gubernatorial election, or will it be a straight fight between APC and PDP?
Will the APC winning the presidential poll have a positive impact on the governorship results? While another Labour Party victory may be plausible, many factors may conspire to rob it of victory, despite the momentum generated by the Obi movement and inadvertently brighten APC’s chances. A major factor against a repeat of the February 25 feat may be apathy and disinterest among LP supporters after Obi failed to win the presidential election.
According to some analysts, many voters that participated in the presidential poll did so because Peter Obi was on the ballot. And with him not on the ballot, they predict a marked change in focus to local issues. They believe LP supporters may struggle to replicate the same level of enthusiasm displayed during presidential poll at the gubernatorial election, creating a leeway for the comeback of either the APC or PDP.
An analysis of poll results show that the Labour Party effect was more impactful in Delta North, where it won eight local government areas, than in Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts where it lost six local government areas. Ika North East, where Governor Okowa hails from, is the only local government area that escaped the Labour Party beating in Delta North. With the APC winning Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts, coupled with the victory of Tinubu, the party’s push for the Delta governorship seat may enjoy added impetus.
The polarisation within PDP ranks occasioned by disagreement over Okowa’s choice as governor may blight its chances with APC, the main beneficiary. Ex-Governor James Ibori and leader of the PDP, who has had a faceoff with incumbent Okowa over the party’s governorship candidate, may pose a grave danger to the ruling party’s chances.
Although a member of the PDP, Ibori has been lukewarm in his support for his party during the electioneering season. He has been in open romance with the opposition APC, even attending their social events. Losing Ibori’s support to the opposition may help the opposition party’s cause. PDP may also suffer a backlash from civil servants , many, who are LP supporters and form a significant number of the electorate in Delta North, may cast a protest block vote for the opposition to spite the PDP.
With APC winning the presidential poll, it has become the beautiful bride and some political parties may collapse their structure for the opposition to stay relevant in the scheme of things. Essentially, the gubernatorial race in Delta is a two horse race between DSP Ovie Omo-Agege of APC and Delta Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori of PDP but the LP candidate, Ken Pela’s campaign has been tepid and uninspiring. He may face an impossible task dislodging APC and PDP, except the unexpected happens.
Aside the two arch rivals PDP and APC, other political parties in the governorship race are APGA with Olorogun Great Ogboru as governorship candidate, Social Democratic Party (SDP) with Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi as its flagbearer. Others include YPP led by its gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Sunny Ofehe and NNPP’s Dr. Goodnews Agbi and a host of fringe parties.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is the Delta APC governorship candidate. He is a two time senator representing Delta Central in the NASS. He came to political limelight under the administration of ex-Governor James Ibori in 2003, after he was appointed a special assistant and thereafter commissioner (Special Duties). He rose to the position of Secretary to Delta state government, a position he resigned from in 2007 to pursue his political ambitions.
In 2015, he contested and won the Delta Central Senatorial District election and was re-elected in 2019. He rose to the position of Deputy Senate President. That position has enabled him to surpass his predecessors in terms of the projects attracted to his constituency and contributions to lawmaking at the red chambers. The Delta APC, unable to attract high profile personalities in the past due to internal crisis, has become a beautiful bride in Delta politics, benefitting from the gale of defections that has left the ruling PDP reeling. Undoubtedly, his emergence as APC governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections has made the opposition party a force to reckon with.
To his credit, Omo-Agege along with other party leaders, has transformed the fortunes of the party hobbled by crisis to a formidable opposition capable of upstaging the ruling PDP. Omo-Agege is a charismatic grassroots politician with cult followership, especially among the Urhobo ethnic groups in Delta Central on account of the democratic dividends they have enjoyed during his tenure as a federal legislator. On the campaign trail, he has led a robust campaign across the length and breadth of the state, personally leading the ward-to-ward campaigns, engaging stakeholders on his party’s manifesto and forging critical alliances across the three senatorial districts in the state.
While unveiling his party’s 60 page manifesto christened “EDGE” to Build a New Delta (BAND), Omo-Agege maintained it was the product of “profound thought based on my practical experience both in the executive and legislative arms of government.” He said “EDGE” covers critical areas of governance that would drive his administration’s agenda if elected governor. His words, “The manifesto is our Vision and Mission; it captures EDGE which breaks down as: E for Employment and Empowerment; D for Development (Economic, Infrastructural and Industrial); G for Good Governance, and E for Enduring Peace and Security.”
He said the EDGE agenda sums up the hopes and aspirations of Deltans for economic stability, sustainable employment, security, and access to modern public infrastructure, solid institutions, and a clean environment. Continuing, “It is strategically organized to make ours a model state and a leading centre of excellence. With EDGE, we bring credibility, efficiency and trust back to governance. It is the ultimate paradigm shift to reform our public service, cut the cost of governance, eliminate waste, and deny corruption and other crimes comfort and safety in our governance architecture. EDGE agenda is our firm promise and its success is non-negotiable.
“My plan as stated in our manifesto will change the commercial ecosystem of the State and create an investment-friendly charter that makes access to funds and infrastructure a natural way of life. Human capital development, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, housing and other labour-intensive interventions will be at the core of our agenda. We shall establish a Delta State Employment, Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme (DEEP), and facilitate the establishment of cluster industries in each of the twenty-five Local Government Areas of our State. We will deliberately create an enabling environment for industries and manufacturing; establish tech hubs, set up small business loan guarantee schemes, promote skills acquisition and set up a Career Development Centre for Deltans.”
Sheriff Oborevwori is the Speaker of the Delta state. He hails from Osubi, Okpe LGA, in Delta Central Senatorial District.Oborevwori, is without a doubt, a formidable opponent in any political contest, especially with the support of the behemoth Delta PDP. He is a grassroots politician who has paid his dues. In 1996, Oborevwori was elected councilor and appointed Supervisory Councilor for Works in Okpe Local Government Council.
He was the pioneer chairman, Osubi community from 1996 to 2003. Following his contributions to the development of Osubi Community, he was given the chieftaincy title the “Ukodo of Okpe Kingdom in 2003 by His Royal Majesty, the Orhorho 1, Orodje of Okpe Kingdom. He also served as a political aide under ex-Governors Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief James Ibori as a Senior Special Assistant (Security).
However, he broke into limelight in 2015 after he was elected as the member representing Okpe State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly under the People’s Democracy Party (PDP). He was elected Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly on 11 May 2017 following the impeachment of the then Speaker, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya. He was re-elected in 2019 as Speaker for a second term and credited with being the Speaker serving the longest tenure.
The PDP has embarked on a vigorous campaign across the entire state selling his candidacy. His political manifesto is anchored on the M.O.R.E agenda, geared towards “consolidating and extending the gains of the current administration”. According to him, “It is designed to continue and expand the infrastructural and human capital development programmes of the Okowa administration”. M.O.R.E is an acronym for -Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security.
The race for Dennis Osadebey House promises to be epic battle. Though hobbled by crisis, the PDP will not wring its fingers in despair, but will fight back to retain power. Only time will tell where the pendulum will swing come March 11th.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
PDP, ADC dare
APC in Ogun
The governorship election holding today in Ogun State is an interesting one. Political contest in the state has always been between APC, which is the ruling party in the state, and PDP. In spite of the fact that an intra-party struggle for the leadership of the latter weakened the opposition in the state, the Sikiru Ogundele-led State Executive Committee (SEC) it managed to keep its challenge to APC alive all through the campaign season so much so that some analysts predicted that the party may spring a surprise at the governorship election and unseat the seating governor. The two parties continued their rivalry all the way to the presidential contest last Saturday.
But the outcome of the presidential poll, which saw the PDP losing massively to the ruling party changed the outlook of next Saturday’s contest in the state. APC scored 341,554 votes while PDP got 123,831 votes in the presidential election. The APC also won all the National Assembly seats across the state, leaving the opposition PDP without any. The ruling party won the three senatorial seats and all the House of Representatives seats in Ogun State. With that, pundits are saying Saturday’s gubernatorial election may be a smooth sail for Governor Dapo Abiodun of the APC contrary to earlier projections.
For the LP, its presence is largely felt in Abeokuta, the state capital and Ijebu-Ode in the East Senatorial District. “Beyond these two major towns, it is only in the Sango Ota axis that you can see anything that has to do with Labour Party. This is due to the closeness of that area to Lagos State,” Comrade Bode Adu, Ogun State Secretary of the Joint Action Coalition for Democracy (JACD), told our correspondent. This position was proven by the result of the presidential election which saw the LP candidate winning sizeable votes in the aforementioned parts of the state. Beyond that, LP is not expected to make much impact on Saturday.
Besides, the ongoing face-off between the suspended National Publicity Secretary of LP, Abayomi Arabambi and the leadership of the party, has further weakened the party in Ogun. “Arabambi is the embodiment of LP in Ogun State. He is the one who popularised the party here. He was its state chairman and gubernatorial candidate at different times. Without Arabambi, there is no LP in Ogun,” Adu said. The Nation also gathered that the embattled LP chieftain and his supporters may not work for the party on Saturday.
APC’s victory at the presidential election in the state has confirmed its hold on the politics of the state. By winning all the National Assembly seats across the state, Governor Abiodun and the ruling party have put a lie to claims by some pundits that the party is unpopular in some parts of the state, especially Ogun Central senatorial district where former Governor Ibikunle Amosun hails from. His running battle with the governor and the leadership of the party was a serious source of concern before last Saturday’s election.
Amosun had endorsed the governorship and National Assembly candidates of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) before last Saturday. But the candidates of the ADC failed to win any seat at the National Assembly poll, even in Amosun’s Abeokuta stronghold. Almost all the political bigwigs in the state are members of the APC. To start with, all former governors of the state alive today are APC chieftains. Former Governor Segun Osoba has been the leader of APC in the state since inception while Amosun, in spite of his lingering face-off with Governor Abiodun, has never left the party since it was formed.
In February 2021, former Governor Gbenga Daniel officially defected to APC, barely two years after serving as Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation at the last presidential election. He had in March 2019 officially resigned from the party, saying he was pulling out from partisan politics. He later joined the APC and emerged as its senatorial candidate in Ogun East. Last Saturday, he won election to emerge as the senator of the district.
Aside the three former governors, the APC in Ogun boasts of almost all former Deputy Governors and ex-National Assembly members. Across the three senatorial districts, the party enjoys the support of the major leaders, leaving the opposition with starters and a few notable figures. In Ogun West, the new found political collaboration among the camps of Senator Solomon Olamilekan (Yayi), Hon. Abiodun Akinlade (Baba Adeen), and Gboyega Isiaka (GNI), according to analysts, will again deliver the votes for the APC on Saturday.
Former minister, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, former Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salmat Badru and former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi, are also in APC. Incumbent Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Vice Director-General of the Ogun State APC Campaign Council from Ogun West, Chief Jide Ojuko, House of Representatives member-elect for Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, Tunji Akinosi, Chief Kunle Salako, Chief Sikiru Adegbite, and several other prominent leaders in the district are poised to work for the success of the party again.
Claims by PDP that it has recaptured Ogun West during its campaign may not be true after all, going by its abysmal performance in the zone during the National Assembly election. The party failed to win a single seat as APC won the senatorial district and the three House of Representatives seat in the zone. Until its swift move in getting Ipokia-born Adekunle Akinlade, the 2019 governorship candidate of the APM, to pair with Adebutu as its deputy governorship candidate, PDP was almost going without a presence in Ogun West. Its senatorial candidate in the zone, Chief Ganiu Dada (Oluwo-Itoki, Otta – Aworiland), is regarded as a new comer to the politics of the state.
No doubt, PDP lacks the support base currently being enjoyed by APC in Ogun West. Chief Alani Akinde, Elder Sunday Soledolu, Asiwaju Oriyomi, Chief Tolu Bankole and Chief Lisa Adejobi are the few names the party can boasts of ahead of the election. This obviously explains why PDP made little or no impact in the presidential and national assembly elections.
Ogun East is also looking good for APC as Abiodun and Daniel lead the party in the zone. While the governor is seeking re-election, Daniel is the senator-elect of the zone. Both Senator Gbenga Kaka and Lekan Mustapha are also in APC. In spite of the presence of Adebutu, the PDP governorship candidate in the zone, the outcome of the presidential election in the zone has shown that the PDP is not likely to pull much wait on Saturday. Besides, the votes from the senatorial district alone won’t be enough to make Adebutu governor.
Immediate past Post Master General of the Federation, Asiwaju Bisi Adegbuyi, Senator Dipo Odujirin, Otunba Oluseyi Oduntan, a former Managing Director of the Honeywell Group, Olusegun Olumide-Senbanjo, Deji Ashiru popularly known as EDA, Hon. Biyi Adeleye, and many other prominent politicians are all ready to repeat the party’s performance during last Saturday’s election in the state. The party boasts of the best structures in the state having been in charge of the governance for twelve years without interruption.
Currently, the APC also has its members as the federal legislators representing eight out of the nine federal constituencies of the state, leaving PDP with only Ijebu North/Ijebu East/Ogun Waterside where Hon. Adesegun Adekoya holds the seat. This is expected to work in favour of Governor Abiodun on Election Day. Presently, the Ogun State House of Assembly consists of 25 members of the APC and one member of the PDP. This is also seen as a huge advantage for the APC candidate. All council chairmen and councilors in the state are APC members.
With about eighty chieftains of the party, spread across the state, serving in Abiodun’s cabinet as commissioners, special advisers, consultants, and senior special assistants, all ready to ensure the APC win on Saturday, the ruling party appears to be more favoured to carry the day.
The PDP, in spite of its unending crisis, also boasts of widespread presence in the state. Though factionalised, the party has managed to retain its popularity in some parts, especially in Ogun East where both the late Kashamu and Adebutu, hail from. However, the party has lost most of its heavyweights to APC since the last general elections, largely due to the unending internal wrangling that bedeviled it since 2011. Sadly, the remnant of the party is also divided into factions. Pundits say these factors are responsible for PDP’s abysmal outing last Saturday.
After months of litigation over the party’s gubernatorial ticket, the factions recently announced a truce. But observers say the olive branch is not total as there are a lot of issues still unresolved. The Kashamu faction had berated the party’s NWC for recognising Adebutu as the gubernatorial candidate. Some of the litigations that followed are still in court though an Appeal Court verdict in favour of Adebutu brought respite to the troubled party few weeks ago.
It is also not clear if the Samson Bamgbose-led faction that produced Jimi Lawal as its gubernatorial candidate will work for the gubernatorial aspiration of Adebutu. Already, there are rumours that the faction may be planning to work against the PDP candidate in solidarity with Otunba Jimi Lawal who battled Adebutu in the struggle for the gubernatorial ticket of the party. Should that happen, the opposition party will be going into Saturday’s election with ‘half engine’ and this can only compound its vulnerability at the polls.
The opposition party is further limited by the fact that it does not have political office holders in office currently. Save for Hon. Adesegun Adekoya, the Rep member representing Ijebu North/Ijebu East/Ogun Waterside in the National Assembly, and the Ijebu North I state constituency representative, Abiodun Sylvester, the party cannot boast of any elected or appointed political office holder anywhere in the state. This, pundits say, will affect it adversely at the governorship elections.
VERDICT: APC TO WIN
Soludo, Obi battle for supremacy in Anambra
Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and former governor Peter Obi are at daggers drawn over the control of majority seats in the House of Assembly election coming up on Saturday. Soludo was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), while Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) during the February 25 election.
The other two political parties with heavy presence in Anambra State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), are silent on the assembly election, following what happened during the presidential election. Political observers believe the control of the assembly election will be a straight fight between LP and APGA.
Obi, who is a former governor of Anambra is leading the LP assault on the state ahead of Saturday’s elections. His supporters across the state are insisting that the LP is ready to dislodge all other parties including the ruling APGA and take over the state assembly. But Soludo, and the leadership of APGA in the state have intensified campaigns ahead of the elections, insisting that Anambra remains an APGA state irrespective of what transpired on February 15.
The two parties and their respective candidates been struggling to outdo one another in the struggle for votes across the state ahead of the March 18 House of Assembly poll in the state. While Obi told candidates of the Labour Party during a meeting last Friday to win and support the APGA-led government, Soludo urged the electorate to ignore Obi and vote for the ruling party.
Members of the two parties have engaged in war of words. While APGA claims it will be a different game on Saturday, LP believes the ‘Obidient effect’ will repeat itself. The Nation learnt Soludo has summoned monarchs, presidents- general of communities and women leaders to tell them the need to vote APGA members on Saturday. It was further gathered that the governor threatened to stop their privileges, should LP triumph in the poll.
But the Press Secretary to Prof. Soludo, Chris Aburime, debunked the claim, saying it was the handiwork of the opposition. He said APGA was on ground in Anambra State and did not need any form of threat from Mr. Governor to win election. Aburime said: “Why are they limiting the contest between LP and APGA when you have solid parties like APC and PDP in Anambra?
“No sitting governor will like to lose assembly election to the opposition. Governor Soludo and his party members are ready for Saturday. That’s the much I can tell you, at least, for now.” For Ozo Obi Ochije, one of the chieftains of the ruling party in the state, what happened during the presidential election in Anambra State would not be repeated on Saturday. He said LP members would testify after the election that APGA owned Anambra State.
Soludo has also been appealing to the electorate in his state, majority of whom lined up behind LP in the last election, to vote for APGA candidates this time around to enable him deliver on his promises. The governor yesterday described as deceitful a comment by Obi that LP state assembly candidates should work with Soludo after Saturday’s election. Aburime, said: “That call was meant to deceive Anambra people. Obi cannot be talking about development in Anambra and also be talking about asking the Anambra people to elect lawmakers from an opposition party to work with Soludo.
“He worked with a legislature that was dominated by lawmakers from the PDP when he first came in as governor, and he knows that it was not easy for him. He even suffered impeachment because of that, and we hope it is not the same thing he wants to set Soludo up for. Anambra people should go all out next Saturday and vote for APGA if they want the developmental strides of Mr Governor to continue. You cannot be talking of development and at the same time talking of electing opposition politicians into the House of Assembly. It is not done. It is deceit.
“Anambra people supported Obi during the presidential election, and besides, Soludo refused to interfere as the people trooped out to vote for Labour Party, and that was even before Soludo made the environment conducive for people to come out and vote. We have voted Labour Party in the presidential election, but for the House of Assembly election, we are voting for APGA, and we want Anambra people to know so.” Aburime told The Nation separately that the House of Assembly elections would be a different ball game altogether.
He said what the governor would not allow anyone to do is to cause problems during the election, adding that if INEC holds a free and fair election, APGA would triumph. For Ozo Obi Ochije, one of the chieftains of APGA, the Labour Party candidates should not dream of what transpired during the presidential to repeat itself. According to him, “Anambra State is APGA and APGA is Anambra. My problem with the LP members is that they only think straight forward without looking for other options.”
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
Tension in Abia as LP threatens status quo
Discussions are still on in Abia State over what played out in the state during the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. The attention of the eligible voters in Abia State have been on the drama and its impact on today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state. Parties have resumed campaigns as provided for by the electoral act, but top on their agenda is how to ensure that their parties emerge victorious at the polls.
Abia State since 1999 is no doubt a PDP state as it has produced governors of the state since the return of democracy in the country, except the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Theodore Ahaemfule Orji who was elected the governor of the state in his first tenure on the platform of the Progressives People Alliance (PPA); a party that was formed and registered by Senator Orji Kalu after he fell out with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Before the February 25 elections, the leadership of the PDP in the state had boasted of its continued dominance of the state political space, but crisis that rocked the party after its primaries, including the death of its former gubernatorial candidate and the controversy trailing the choice of its deputy governorship candidate may cause the party to go into the all- important election with a disunited front.
More worrisome for the party is the outcome of the February 25 polls where most candidates of the party, including the governor; Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Engr. Enyinnaya Orji, and the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu and among others lost their elections to the opposition parties.
However, heads have started rolling in the PDP as the governor of the state has sacked of six Transitional Committee Chairmen and their deputies less than six days after the February 25 elections. Though no reason for their sack was given in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chris Ezem, it was however gathered that the action taken by the governor was not unconnected with the abysmal performance of their party in the affected local government areas where the PDP lost to opposition parties.
One of the questions on the lips of political watchers in the state is how the PDP can bounce back and regroup to keep hold on the governorship seat of the state in the face of seeming backlash and alleged anti-party activities by its members after the poor outing in the February 25 elections. Another question that the PDP will answer on March 11 is, how well that they have been able to market their new governorship candidate, Okey Ahiwe to the Abia electorate within the past few weeks?
Going by what brought about the sudden replacement of the TC Chairmen, can the PDP boast of a united party ahead of the governorship and State House of Assembly Elections?
While APGA was able to secure the Abia South Senatorial District seat as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe defeated Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Chinedu Onyeizu of the Labour Party to emerge winner of the poll, the party is looking forward to consolidate on the victory of Abaribe to win the governorship seat and other seats in the state assembly.
One of the challenges facing APGA in the state is fallout of factional party primaries that is pending case at the Supreme Court; over the authentic governorship candidate of the party between Prof. Gregory Ibe and Sir Chikwe Udensi. There are indications that APGA might go into the March 11 elections without any governorship candidate, that’s, should the Supreme Court fail to deliver judgement on the matter before March 11.
One other issue that the APGA candidate or party needs to tackle is issue of equity and power rotation. Gregory Ibe is from Abia North where few believe should produce the next governor of Abia State according to the contentious charter of equity. But the Ngwa bloc in their interpretation of the same charter of equity has maintained that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state.
While the Labour Party in the state is still basking in the euphoria of the success that they recorded at the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, it will be a herculean task for them to take over leadership of the state from the grip of the PDP as many have attributed their success to the Peter Obi bandwagon effect.Others have opined that the decision some disappointed Abia electorate not to vote in the coming election as their preferred Presidential Candidate didn’t win the election may affect the chances of the governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Alex Otti to win the much coveted seat. Another issue raised against Otti on several occasions is his identity; whether he is from Arochukwu local government area or Isiala Ngwa South.
According to political pundits, Otti and his team needs to do more work and persuade Abia electorate to come out and vote the way they voted on February 25. Another school of thought has it that the voting pattern in the governorship and House of Assembly elections will change as there won’t be the Obi factor in the choice of candidates.
For the All Progressives Congress (APC), many believed that they have not done much in terms of campaign and having goodwill among the citizens of the state. Though its governorship candidate, High Chief Ikechi Emenike has been running for the governorship seat under various political parties since 1999, experts have said that the chances of the party to clinch the governorship seat are limited.
They equally doubt the possibility of the emergence of Emenike as the winner of the March 18 polls considering the votes for APC presidential and National Assembly candidates in the just concluded elections. Abia on March 11 will witness another intriguing moment that will determine the fate of the state and its people in the next four years.
It is expected that the PDP being the ruling party in the state would deploy every possible arsenal within their reach to retain the guber seat or risk being an opposition party for the first time in the state.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
Ruling party struggles in Cross River
Governor Ben Ayade is going into today’s election an unhappy man. Not only did he lose his senatorial bid, his party also lost the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. Today, he aims to make good his bid to install an APC chieftain as his successor. But analysts say the chances of the ruling APC is not very bright.
The governorship election in Cross River State is populated by 17 candidates from different political parties but pundits believe the actual contenders are just the candidates of APC and the candidate of PDP. There is a known name among the other candidates, like Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, the former Minister for Niger Delta who decamped from the APC to the PRP. His chance is far from contention in the race and his party, the PRP is largely unknown to many in the state.
Besides the APC governorship candidate, Senator Prince Bassey Otu and the PDP candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, the new sensation in the country’s polity, the Labour Party would have been a third force in the governorship race if they had a candidate in the race. In fact, the result of the February 25th Presidential election was a big upset achieved by Labour Party in Cross River State. The party did not just score the majority vote cast in Cross River state, it won ten out of the 18 LGAs in the state.
Therefore the governorship election can’t produce a similar result like the presidential polls in the State. It will be a two horse race between the APC and the PDP. The wave and sensation for Labour Party because of the support garnered by Peter Obi for his presidential ambition cannot repeat itself in the governorship race. The APC governorship candidate, Senator Prince Bassey Otu is rather the sensation in the race this time, he has remain popular and likeable politician who earned the nickname Sweet-Prince following his far reaching empowerment programs for his constituents when he was in the National Assembly.
Another factor that may also contribute to favor the APC governorship candidate is the strong agitation in the state to maintain the principles of rotation in the Governorship seat within the three senatorial districts of the State. For instance, from 1999 to 2007, the Southern part produced the governor. In 2007 to 2015, the Central Senatorial district produced the governor and currently, from 2015 to 2023, the incumbent governor is from the northern senatorial district.
The clamour is in favour of the Southern district to produce the next governor. The APC candidate is from the Southern district while the PDP candidate, Senator Sandy Onor is from the Central Senatorial district.
Onor is however a force in the race that should not be undermined nor under estimated. He is a serving senator and the PDP remains a Strong opposition party in Cross River State. His friend and party member, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of the northern senatorial district, last week secured electoral victory over Governor Ben Ayade of the APC who desired to go back to the Senate.
So the probabilities are there that a synergy can be formed to repeat a PDP victory in the northern district to combine with a possible determination of Sandy Onor to get victory in the Central Senatorial district. However the result of last Saturday Presidential and National Assembly Elections shows that the PDP governorship candidate could not win his polling unit, political Ward and local government area for his political party.
The race is believed to be open to either the APC or the PDP but the APC is believed to have a clearer path to victory.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
Wike, PDP battle multiple oppositions in Rivers
There is tension in Rivers State as the people vote to elect a new governor today. A coalition of five political parties in Rivers on Wednesday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of plotting to rig today’s governorship and state house of assembly elections. The governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Cole, National Rescue Movement(NRM), Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich; Action Alliance(AA), Dr Dawari George; Accord, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and African Democratic Congress(ADC), Chief Tonte Ibraye, Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt, said that they had uncovered a well-orchestrated plot by certain top officials of INEC in Rivers State to compromise the elections come Saturday.
They alleged that the plot which was in connivance with officials of Rivers State Government was with the intent to manipulate the election in favour of PDP candidates in the respective elections. Speaking on behalf of the parties, the governorship candidate of the APC, Tonye Cole said; “We are reliably informed of the recent plots by the Governor of Rivers State to use the instrumentality of the 23 Local Government Area Council Secretariats serving as LGA Collation Centres by the INEC to rig and manipulate the results of March 18, 2023, Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in the state.
“That Governor Wike has instructed all LGA Executive Chairmen, as the chief security officers of their respective Local Government Areas, to carry out what he calls ‘Operation No Mercy’ on every other party Agent. The Council Chairmen are to ensure those agents representing their parties’ interests do not have access to the collation centres. “The PDP Government of Rivers State has also assured INEC officials of their safety provided they comply with the PDP Agents to manipulate the process before taking it out to the state collation centre.”
The parties, therefore, called on INEC and every relevant authority should stop all government officials from accessing the collation centres. That in accordance with Section 43(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibiting Government officials from acting or serving as agents to political parties at elections, INEC and relevant security authorities should restrict the movement of all Rivers State Government officials beginning with Governor Wike down to the Chairmen of the Councils. INEC should ensure that all categories of officials prohibited by the Electoral Act stay away from the collation centres as their presence will compromise the process. Expectedly, Wike and the PDP denied the allegations while boasting that the ruling party has no reason to rig elections in the state.
Some observers believe that the outcome of the just-conlcuded Presidential election will affect the guber poll. The incumbent Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his state chapter of PDP worked for the victory of APC presidential candidate Tinubu, who trounced the PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar. It was the first time a PDP candidate lost Rivers, a traditional stronghold of the party, to another party. Wike’s directive to his party leaders changed the voting pattern in the state. While the supporters of the PDP voted for their party’s National Assembly candidates, they overwhelmingly elected the APC’s Tinubu.
Wike’s support for Tinubu is already breeding bad blood between him and Igbo people in the state. Such individuals at the cosmopolitan areas of the state especially in Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt and Oyigbo, are said to be angry that the governor opted for Tinubu instead of their brother in the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi. Aggrieved by the development, some have vowed to boycott the governorship election while others said they would vote for either the candidate of the LP or the APC. But Wike is not leaving anything to chance. He is not calling their bluffs. Rather the governor has started engaging them in various meetings. On Thursday, the governor met with the Igbo stakeholders in the state and explained the political dynamics that compelled him to support Tinubu instead of Obi.
By all indications, PDP is still stronger ahead of the poll. The party’s structure is still intact. All their ward and local government leaders are united behind their Governorship Candidate, Sir. Sim Fubara. The party, despite the crisis at the national level, has not shown any sign of cracks at the state level. Wike’s character will surely define the looming poll. He is loved by the majority of the people in the state. This has rubbed off on Fubara, who was until his emergence as the candidate, unknown in the political circle. The governor’s performance in office through his developmental projects that dot the length and breadth of the state has compelled many people to identify with his candidate.
Wike was all over the state campaigning for Fubara. He used the inauguration and commissioning of projects to campaign in each community. Most of the community projects are completed; others are still ongoing and the beneficiaries believe that to complete the projects Fubara should be elected on Saturday. In fact, Fubara is contesting against 16 other candidates. Five of them are outstanding and adjudged as major contenders for the state’s top job. The candidates of the APC, Tonye Cole; Accord, Dumu Lulu-Briggs; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Magnus Abe; Action Alliance (AA), Dawari George and LP, Beatrice Itubo.
Without mincing words, the Rivers APC is going into the poll as a fragmented house. The APC’s divided house may prove detrimental to its fortunes at the poll. The four out of the five outstanding candidates were offshoot of the APC and former loyalists of the state’s leader, Rotimi Amaechi. The way and manner Amaechi plotted the emergence of Cole compelled all of them to abandon the former governor to pursue their ambitions in other parties. Lulu-Briggs, who hails from Abonema in Akuku-Toru, moved out of the APC to Accord with his followers.
Senator Magnus Abe, a consummate politician, who hails from Ogoni, was the first to inflict serious injuries that spread like cancer on the party before he finally dumped the party for the SDP. He took away many APC members and leaders. Dawari George, a former foot soldier of Amaechi did not see any reason to remain in the party after Cole’s emergence. Apart from the depletion of the support base of the APC, the party has been speaking in discordant tunes ahead of the poll following irreconcilable differences among its members. A faction of the party led by Tony Okocha, a former Chief of Staff to Amaechi, has been at daggers drawn with the state’s Working Committee of the party led by Emeka Beke.
Their fault lines were emphasised during the preparation for the Rivers’ campaign for Tinubu. There were indications that while Tony Okocha’s faction mobilised and voted for Tinubu, the party members loyal to Amaechi voted either for Atiku or Obi. While Okocha, who led the Independent Campaign Council (ICC) for Tinubu celebrated the APC’s triumph at the presidential poll, there was deafening silence at the state’s secretariat of the party.
Okocha has directed his faction to reciprocate Wike’s gesture by mobilising others to vote massively for Fubara on Saturday. He said: “We will reciprocate the governor’s gesture by supporting who the governor wants us to support. Saying that Wike was key to the victory of Tinubu in Rivers State is an understatement. The governor was instrumental to our victory 1million times.
“He told Rivers people to vote someone that will support the state. He mobilised human beings and resources to ensure this victory.” But the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Darlington Nwauju, immediately countered Okocha saying he had no capacity to speak for the party. He said: “Tony Okocha has been a transactional politician. He has no legal and moral rights to speak for the APC in the state. He has no business talking about, who the APC will support. On March 18, people across party leanings will vote for the APC Governorship Candidate, Tonye Cole”.
Beyond the defence of the party, the fragmentation of the state APC ahead of the election may affect its fortunes. Just like the PDP at the national level, Lulu-Briggs, Dawari George, and Abe may share the votes that should ordinarily be given to Cole and the APC. For Beatrice Itubor of the LP, her case may just be like that of Peter Obi if the Igbo people, angry against Wike for supporting Tinubu decide to protest with their votes. She may not have the spread and the number required to pose any threat to Wike’s candidate.
VERDICT: PDP
APC, PDP, LP lead Plateau guber race
After the presidential and the National Assembly elections, the attention of voters and stakeholders in Plateau State has shifted to today’s governorship battle. Giving that the incumbent governor Lalong is completing his second term, the race is now open for any political party to succeed him. And from the look of things, the contending political parties are APC, PDP and LP. Though the governorship election is a state affair, the outcome of the presidential election will certainly have influence on the voting pattern in the March 11 governorship election. How such influence is likely to play out in the case of is the puzzle everyone is eager to see.
The statistics of strength of the contending political parties obtained from the results of the presidential election shows that, of the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Plateau State, the ruling APC won in three namely Kanam, Wase and Kanke respectfully. PDP won in Langtang and Mikang LGAs. And LP won in 12 LGAs including Bokkos, Langtang North, Jos East, Riyom, Mangu, Bassa, Jos South, Pankshin, Shendam, Qua’an Pan and Barkin Ladi LGAs.
Giving the voting pattern of the presidential election, the chances of the ruling APC to extend its dominance in Plateau state beyond the tenure of Lalong is very slim. Winning just three of the 17 LGAs was already a vote of no confidence in the ruling party. It was a major setback for APC.
Notwithstanding, the fact that APC retained power at the national level could snowball into a victory to the ruling party in the governorship election. Already, APC stakeholders are warning people against voting other political parties that will make them remain in opposition against APC at the national level. Whether or not the new campaign strategy will change the voting pattern on March 11 is left to be seen.
As things stand now, the governorship election has been limited to Labour Party and PDP. THE NATION found out that irrespective of the outcome of the presidential election, the factors that will determine winner of the governorship election are: the personalities behind the three contending political parties – APC, PDP and LP; the incumbent governor, Simon Bako Lalong; the immediate past governor of the state Jonah David Jang and another ex-governor of the state Senator Joshua Chibi Dariye. They are the topmost political titans in the state and they are so influential that they call the shots in the state.
Their political influence shows clearly in the dominant political parties today in the state. The incumbent governor Lalong is the driving force in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Jang is unarguably the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Senator Dariye is equally the leader of Labour Party in the state. The leaders of these three political parties decide what happens in their political parties respectively. As a matter of fact the governorship election in Plateau State can only be won by APC, PDP or LP.
Another factor that has put PDP ahead of others and made its chances in the governorship election brighter was in respect of the results of the National Assembly elections. From the results, PDP won two of the three senatorial districts. The opposition party has also five of the eight House of Representatives seats in the state. Given such grassroots dominance, PDP is ahead of other parties. Though LP got the highest number of votes cast in the presidential election, the party did not win any National Assembly seat. LP might not do well in the governorship election.
VERDICT: PDP
Obaseki fights for political survival in Edo
Governor Godwin Obaseki is fighting for his political survival as he leads the ruling PDP into today’s election. During the February 25th elections, PDP’s performance was so awful in the state that Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, lost their polling booths. The party came a distant third in the presidential election while the Labour party and APC won the majority of the national assembly seats. Gone is the sympathy the PDP enjoyed from the majority of the people in the 2021 governorship election. The governor and his deputy have since launched an aggressive campaign to woo back the people but the plan does not appear to be working.
The presidential candidate of LP, Peter Obi, visited Benin recently and told his supporters to ensure that all the incoming 24 members of the state assembly are from his party, the LP. The APC too says it is determined to take the political leadership of the state back by winning majority of the assembly seats in today’s election. The stiff competition between the leading political parties have been generating tension that led to wars of words and clashes among supporters ahead of today’s election. Obi urged his supporters and the people of the state not to be demoralized by his loss at the presidential polls. He enjoined them to support all LP candidates in the House of Assembly election, noting that the wave of change sweeping across the country cannot be stopped by anyone.
“I must urge the Labour Party supporters not to be discouraged by the outcome of the presidential election. Nigeria must not be allowed to remain the way it is. There must be a paradigm shift from the present state to a better and a prosperous Nigeria. We have begun the journey of a new Nigeria. The movement is real, and nobody can stop it. We will not allow Nigeria to remain the way it is. We will continue to vote for the Labour Party,” Obi said.
Though rattled by its loss on February 25th, the PDP under the leadership of the governor, made concerted at changing the game ahead of today’s election. Determined to ensure his continued control of the Assembly, Obaseki took the PDP campaign to the markets and streets to tell the traders and residents about the need to vote for his party in the March 18 election, noting that achieving this would help him continue the development of the state.
The governor has also gone out of his way to mend fences with some of his known political opponents. But the Legacy Group, led by PDP Vice Chairman South-South, Dan Orbih, has continued to give the governor no chance for reconciliation. The group which is also said to have refused to work for the candidates of the PDP during the last election, is not likely to help Obaseki and his candidates in today’s election across the state. Many observers of the politics of the state are not giving the ruling party much chance in the Assembly poll today.
Meanwhile, the APC is encouraged by the emergence of its leader, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole as the Edo North’s Senator-elect and the victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Leaders of the party say it is ready to regain its lost pride of place in Edo politics by winning today’s election. Oshiomhole and other leaders of the party have been leading the APC’s campaign in the state ahead of today’s election. The party’s campaigns across the state have been well received, giving indications that the people may be prepared to vote out the PDP.
Allegations and counter allegations have been flying all around ahead of today’s election. Last Thursday, barely two days before today’s election, the State Deputy Chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe was allegedly arrested on the orders of the deputy governor of Edo state Hon Philip Shaibu. He was said to have been arrested in Ikabigbo his home town in Etsako West local government area for undisclosed reasons. Tenebe is a popular mobilizer for the APC and a strong loyalist of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, he has in a recent video accused the deputy governor of sundry issues. The party had in a press conference in Benin City on Tuesday alleged that the state government planned to rig Saturday’s election using thugs in various disguises. The state chairman of the party, Col David Imuse (rtd) and the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the APC, Ofure Osehobo both confirmed the arrest. He has since been released by the police.
The PDP government had also accused the APC of harbouring impeachment plans against Obaseki. The Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, said Oshiomhole and the APC plans to remove the governor from office upon getting majority members of the House of Assembly. He however assured that the people of the state vote massively for the PDP today to ensure an assembly controlled by the PDP.
“The recent statement by the former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on the fate of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the Edo State House of Assembly polls exposes his insidious plan to oust the current governor through impeachment. We are, however, confident that, as it happened in 2020 when Edo people stood with the governor despite the bullying and intimidation by Oshiomhole and his paymasters, Edo people will again rise in defence of the governor at the polls on Saturday, March 18, vote massively for the PDP, and elect a House controlled by the party. Obaseki has never placed his confidence in any man or godfather. He has placed his confidence in God and the people,” Osagie said.
The APC denied the allegations and urged the PDP to be ready for defeat in today’s election. Victor Oshioke, Oshiomhole’s media aide, said the governor and his party are scared of what the future holds for them. “Godwin Obaseki is a corrosive politician whose attitudes are patently leprous. He contaminates and destroys any party, place, or person that he associates with. For almost seven years, he governed Edo State like Herod, insensitive to the aspirations, frustrations, and cries of the people who elected him. But on February 25, 2023, the Edo people unambiguously rejected him and his PDP faction in the presidential, Senate, and House of Representatives polls.
“For the first time since the return to democracy in 1999, the Edo State PDP failed to win any seats in the national assembly, a direct consequence of Godwin Obaseki’s cantankerous, vicious, and reckless use of state power to intimidate, oppress, terrorise, and pauperise our people. On March 18, Edo people will once again go to the poll to put the final nail in the coffin of impunity, hatred, insecurity, maladministration, destruction of private properties, economic retrogression, infrastructural decay, and disrespect for traditional institutions, which are the unfortunate hallmarks of Godwin Obaseki’s two tenures in office.
“No man is God, and Oshiomhole is not God. He has never pretended to have godly powers, so he cannot install or decree who becomes a member of the House of Assembly. That is for the electorate to do. But as a leader, Oshiomhole is calling on all Edo people to come out and vote for all APC candidates so that true democracy can once again be restored in Edo State,” he said.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
PDP, APC in another battle royale in Osun
Governor Ademola Adeleke’s PDP fared well in Osun State last month, but he is leaving nothing to chance as he has spent the last one week moving from one part of the state to the other to get support for PDP candidates. For Governor Adeleke and his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC, today’s election will be a fresh test of their popularity. Both are determined to win the majority of the assembly seats for their parties more so when Oyetola is looking forward to returning to office on account of the petition he filed against the last governorship election.
The election petition tribunal adjudged him winner but Adeleke has taken the matter to the Court of Appeal. Adeleke, since his inauguration, has been trying to endear himself to the people by clearing salary and pension arrears. Oyetola urged the people of the state to vote massively on Saturday for the candidates of the APC, saying this would go a long way to make things easy for his administration when he returns to power soon.
He said: “We want you to continue to pray for us to reclaim our mandate soon. We want our people to win in the next House of Assembly election so that no opposition will be allowed. We want you to know that APC is the only party that can take us to victory. This is the party that God has made for us. That is where benefits lie. Please, vote APC all through. If we truly want to benefit from the federal government, please, let’s elect our people to House of Assembly. These are the people that will work with us when we return to government.” Adeleke in a broadcast explained why he needed the state assembly to be filled by PDP member.
He said: “For me to continue to serve you well, I request that you vote for the 26 House of Assembly candidates of the PDP. They are the team I will work with. They are very important for the implementation of the Imole agenda. A PDP fully controlled State Assembly is the key to more dividends of democracy.” A civil society activist, Comrade Ayo Ologun, charged the electorate not to be swayed by politicians’ campaign of which party owns the assembly but vibrant legislative arm that will make policies and contribute to good governance. Majority of the current members of the state assembly are from the APC, which remains very popular in the state.
Political observers say it is too early to predict which of the two parties will carry the day. While some pundits say the PDP will be encouraged by its victory on February 25th to once again rout the APC and claim majority of the seats in the House of Assembly, others are of the opinion that the emergence of Asiwaju Tinubu as President-elect will influence the voters to support APC candidates this time around and reject the ruling party. Both the ruling PDP and the opposition PDP have been appealing to the voters for support.
APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said “I can tell you categorically that APC will triumph by the grace of God. The outcome of the presidential election and the emergence of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will in no small measure boost the morale of the party members. We must not relent because of the success recorded in previous elections at the federal level. We must redouble our efforts to consolidate on the success. We must continue to canvass and campaign for our party and all our candidates. We must all come out and vote next Saturday. I want to call on all APC stakeholders, elders, women and youth groups to continue the campaign to ensure the victory of the party.”
The PDP has also been up and doing for weeks. Governor Adeleke also called on the people to endorse the PDP again today to enable him to continue delivery of dividends of democracy. “My good people of Osun State. I address you today to express my heartfelt appreciation for your love and backing for me all the time. You voted for me massively last year. I am ever grateful. You voted for my party massively in federal elections. I am thankful. Your trust in me is not taken for granted. Since I assumed office, I have been delivering on my electoral promises despite the funding constraints.
I have blocked leakages in state finance; launched Osun on tech revolution through new tech innovation policy, ICT Policy and domestication of Nigeria Start Up act,” he said. According to him, his administration has stabilised the public service; introduced farmers intervention initiative; launched the payment of backlog of salaries and several emoluments. Adeleke said he has also commenced payment of arrears of contributory pensions; approved almost a billion naira for Osun rural project development, implemented mass water projects across 332 wards in the state among several others.
He continued: “For me to continue to serve you well, I request that you vote for the 26 House of Assembly candidates of the PDP. They are the team I will work with. They are very important for the implementation of the Imole agenda. A PDP fully controlled State Assembly is the key to more dividends of democracy,” he pleaded. It is now left to be seen after today’s election where the pendulum will swing.
VERDICT: BATTLEGROUND
