Nigerians are again heading to the polls Saturday for crucial gubernatorial and house of assembly elections in which twenty nine state governors and nine hundred and ninety one state legislators will emerge.
No less than 70 women are in the governorship race on different political platforms across the federation. There will be no governorship contest in nine states but Assembly elections would be conducted in all the 36 states.
The affected states where governorship elections are not holding are Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo and Osun.
Millions of Nigerians will this morning troop out to elect governors for 29 states and 991 members of Houses of Assembly.
On the eve of the elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, assured Nigerians that the polls would be free and fair, while urging them to turn out massively.
Security agencies claim they have put all necessary machinery in place to ensure hitch-free elections, warning that trouble makers would be dealt with.
The battle for governorship is expected to be fierce in 19 of the 29 states. In Abia State, incumbent Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP will be contending with two strong rivals, Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); and Uche Ogah of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Analysts say Ikpeazu has the power of incumbency to his advantage, having governed the state for close to four years. Oti of APGA is contesting the governorship seat for the second time.
In Adamawa State, the major contenders are incumbent Governor Jibrilla Bindow of the APC, Umaru Ahmadu of PDP and Nyako Abdul-Aziz Murtala of ADC.
Bindow has headwind advantage both as incumbent governor and as a prospective beneficiary of the win his party had at the presidential election. However, his thrust could be checked by the PDP candidate, whose state party presented the presidential candidate for the presidential election, Atiku Abubakar. It is going to be a tough contest for Bindow.
In Akwa Ibom, Governor Udom Emmanuel of PDP is adjudged to have performed creditably well and added to this, the state is a traditional PDP state, which has drawn the peoples support to him.
But his main rival, Nsima Ekere of APC could give Udom some problems. Ekere is representing the ruling party with the backing of Senator Godswill Akpabio who was governor of the state for eight years and who also has a very deep war chest.
Bauchi State is another key battle ground to watch. Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (APC), who is the incumbent governor, has the backing of Abuja. However, he has Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (PDP), a former Minister of the FCT and a grassroots politician to contend with in today’s election. Mohammed has an able ally in former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara who won his election against the opposition of the governor. He has enough resources to prosecute the quest.
The Benue State governorship contest is a straight contest between incumbent Governor Samuel Ortom (PDP) and Emmanuel Jime (APC). Ortom has his people behind him, particularly with his anti-open grazing law. He is poised to retain his seat as governor. Emmanuel Jime of the (APC) has has already been tagged “Myetti Allah” candidate, which may work against him.
It will be a straight fight between incumbent Governor Ben Ayade of PDP and John Owan Eno of the APC. Ayade, has a key campaign thrust, standing on the zoning formula to hang on to his mandate. Uncertainty had dodged Eno’s candidacy before the courts cleared him to be on the ballot.
In Delta state, many believe the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa (PDP) has performed well and will win. He maintains former Governor James Ibori’s structure with vast resources. He is superintending a purely PDP state where APC is doing everything to wrest power through Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, who comes with his sturdy reputation as a grassroots champion.
The governorship contest in Gombe State appears to be between the government and traditional institution. Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya (APC) is running on the federal might, while Nafada Usman Bayero (PDP) is running as opposition with some royal support.
In Imo state, the political atmosphere has arguably never been this electrified. Hope Uzodinma, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would have had it easy. He would have flown through the wings of the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election.
However, the crisis within the APC in the state, caused by the ambition of the outgoing governor, Rochas Okorocha who has chosen to foist a replacement on the people.
Now, votes will be divided among four major candidates: three of which were initially aspirants in the APC – Ifeanyi Araraume and Uche Nwosu left the ruling party to fly the flags of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) and Action Alliance (AA) respectively. The trio are facing the PDP’s Emeka Ihedioha, who now stands a better chance as a result of the division.
He has been a federal lawmaker for a while and is one of the closest allies to Atiku Abubakar.
In Kaduna State, incumbent Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (APC) is seen as controversial in some of his decisions. He has the treasury of the state and the backing of APC at the centre to his advantage. Contending with El-Rufai is Isa Mohammed Ashiru (PDP). He is running against an incumbent in a state divided along ethnic and religious lines.
Kano state presents Incumbent Governor Ganduje Abdullahi Umar (APC), who is dodged by bribery scandal in close contest with Abba Kabir Yusuf (PDP), who has the backing of Kwankwaso. Whether or not he can displace the incumbent will be seen today.
In Kwara State, the contest is between Abdulrahman Abburazaq (APC), who has the support the federal government and Razak Atunwa (PDP), who is supported by the Saraki machinery. Regardless, Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed sees it as a project to install a governor and sack the Saraki dynasty. He has funds from the federal government.
Another exciting contest today will be fought in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capaital and perhaps the most cosmopolitan state where Babajide Olusola Sanwolu (APC) and Tinubu’s candidate is squaring up with Jimi Agbaje (PDP). Agbaje is struggling to break the stronghold of Tinubu on Lagos. The power at the center would want to control Lagos.
In Nassarawa, Alhaji Sule Audu (APC) is running to maintain the hold of the party in the state. Also in the race is David Emmanuel Ombudagu (PDP), who is running on the platform of the main opposition.
Ogun state is another place to watch keenly. Adedapo Abiodun (APC) is not the chosen candidate of the incumbent governor who has had an altercation with the party. He will have support from Abuja. The other candidate is Akinlade Adekunle Abdulkabir (APM) backed by Governor Amosun who is not sparing anything to support him.
In Oyo State, Adelabu Adebayo Adekola (APC) stands for the ruling party, which has seen alignments and realignments, while Oluseyi Makinde (PDP), appears to garner the support of the aggrieved people of the state.
In Plateau State, incumbent Governor Simon Bako Lalong (APC) has access to the treasury, as well as support from the center. Belonging to APC and the problem of herdsmen attack may hamper his re-election bid. He has Jeremiah Useni (PDP), former FCT minister, and lawmaker to contend with. Useni has deep pocket and will have the advantage of rallying his people for security reasons over incessant attacks.
In Sokoto State, Tambuwal Aminu Waziri (PDP), the incumbent governor, has access to the treasury and could retain his seat. However, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto (APC) is working with former governor Wamakko Maittagarawa to snatch power with the support of the ruling party in Abuja.
The Taraba contest is between Darius Ishaku (PDP), incumbent governor with access to the treasury. He may have a free run, more so as 20 other gubernatorial candidates have endorsed him. Abubakar Sani Danladi (APC) who is running on the platform of APC is his main challenger. Though, he was formerly disqualified by the court, but his appeal was speedily heard and he was brought back to the race. Danladi has federal support.
