Politics

One Year In Office: Check Out List Of State Governors Who Are Yet To Fight Their Predecessors

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2 years ago

May 21, 2024

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Twenty governors will mark their first year in office in less than ten days.

A few of them ascended to governorship through the endorsement of their predecessors, who cleared the path for them amidst a pool of other aspiring politicians.

In Nigeria, conflicts between political godfathers and their proteges, known as godsons, are quite common.

Some of the most notable recent conflicts include Rabiu Kwankwaso versus Umar Ganduje, Peter Obi versus Willie Obiano, Udom Emmanuel versus Godswill Akpabio, Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki, Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola, among others.

Currently, the clash between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor, ex-governor Nyesom Wike, has become the focal point of news coverage.

Former governor Nasir El-Rufai and Governor Uba Sani are entangled in a conflict in Kaduna, while Governor Alia and ex-governor George Akume engage in a struggle for party structure supremacy in Benue State.

However, in certain states, the transition from incumbents to successors has been uneventful. Although disputes may arise, they have yet to attract media attention.

Kano State:

After enduring years of political setbacks at the hands of his former deputy, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State seems to have mastered the art of being a political mentor.

In 2015, he reluctantly supported his then-deputy, Umar Ganduje, for the governorship seat, a decision that nearly cost him his political stronghold.

In subsequent elections, Kwankwaso backed his son-in-law, Abba Yusuf, but faced defeat. In 2023, the same ticket was replicated, and it proved successful.

Currently, both Kwankwaso and his son-in-law seem to be directing their efforts towards the common adversary, Ganduje.

Jigawa:

The Minister of Defence and former Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, and his successor Umar Namadi have maintained a tranquil relationship. Badaru handpicked his deputy as his successor, and the succession plan seemed meticulously executed in 2019.

Delta:

In 2023, Delta State witnessed a shift as a candidate endorsed by James Ibori failed to secure the governorship for the first time.

Ifeanyi Okowa, broke the tradition when his candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, defeated Ibori’s favored candidate, David Edevbie.

Okowa explained his decision, citing fairness and the need to respect rotational politics within the state.

Despite these events, Delta State has remained tranquil since the election, with both the incumbent and his predecessor maintaining a peaceful atmosphere.

Enugu State:

In 2022, Former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a member of the influential G5 group, threw his support behind Peter Mbah before the primaries. Despite a push by the Labour Party during the election, the PDP managed to retain control of the state.

However, Ugwuanyi faced a significant setback in his bid for the senate seat, losing heavily to Okechukwu Ezea of the Labour Party.

Since leaving office, Ugwuanyi has shifted his focus to the G5 struggle for control within the PDP at the national level, while Mbah appears to be firmly in charge of governance and the PDP in Enugu State. The former governor’s silence on state governance suggests a harmonious relationship with his successor.

Sokoto:

Aliyu Wamakko has played a significant role in the leadership tussles in Sokoto State since 1999. His endorsement of Aminu Tambuwal in 2015 led to a fallout, but he made a comeback by backing Ahmad Aliyu last year. Currently, both Wamakko and Aliyu appear to be content with the political arrangement in the state.

Kebbi State:

Former Governor Atiku Bagudu threw his weight behind Nasir Idris during the primaries, resulting in victory over former Majority Leader of the Senate, Yahaya Abdullahi.

Bagudu’s support for the former President of the Teachers’ Union deterred heavyweight contenders like former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, from entering the race for the party ticket.

One year into the administration, Bagudu and his successor have not engaged in any power struggles over control of the party structure in the state.

Cross River:

Governor Bassey Otu and his predecessor, Ben Ayade, appear to have a cooperative relationship since the last election. Although Ayade endorsed Otu as the gubernatorial candidate, the endorsement faced challenges. Since losing the senatorial election, Ayade has remained politically inactive, seemingly relinquishing control of the political structure to his successor.

Ebonyi:

Dave Umahi, the former Governor of Ebonyi State, fought a tough battle to ascend to power. He single-handedly nominated Francis Nwifuru as the candidate of the APC and ensured his victory.

Umahi, now the Minister of Works, seems focused on his federal duties, while the governor is handling affairs at the state level.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu emerges as a prominent figure among political godfathers in the resurgence of democracy. Since 2007, he has orchestrated the elevation of three governors in Lagos State while maintaining control over the political structure in the state.

Politics

FBI records: I’m ready for scrutiny, unlike you, Atiku tells Tinubu

Published

17 hours ago

September 5, 2026

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Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to open up his records for public scrutiny, just as he has done, insisting that the renewed circulation of decades-old allegations against him is a distraction from the president’s own reluctance to submit to similar examination.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president, described the resurfacing of allegations rooted in the political battles of the President Olusegun Obasanjo era as the convulsion of political opponents cornered by their own failures, unable to defend the hardship Nigerians are enduring and now desperately searching for an Atiku controversy because they cannot survive scrutiny of their own economic record.

“At some point, desperation announces itself. When those defending this government can no longer explain why food, transportation, electricity, rent, education, insecurity and healthcare are increasingly beyond the reach of ordinary families, they rummage through twenty-year-old files looking for an escape route. This is panic dressed up as accountability,” the statement read.

Atiku maintained that the allegations had already been tested through the full machinery of the state during his political disagreement with the Obasanjo administration, and none resulted in a conviction. “Let us not rewrite history. The Obasanjo administration did not protect me. At the height of our political disagreement, these matters travelled through the EFCC, an administrative panel, the National Assembly and the courts. The machinery of the state was fully deployed, and the political hostility was public. Yet no court convicted me on these allegations. That is the record.”

He questioned what new evidence had emerged to justify reviving the allegations nearly two decades later.

According to him, “A petition is not a conviction, an acknowledgement stamp is not evidence of guilt, and repetition cannot magically become a judgment of court.” Anyone with credible evidence against me should bring it out and test it before the law. I have issued that challenge before, and I repeat it today without hesitation.”

Drawing a contrast with the President, Atiku pointed to Tinubu’s intervention in an American court case seeking the release of FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration DEA records concerning him.

“While I am saying, ‘bring out your evidence,’ Tinubu actually went to an American court to intervene in a case seeking FBI and DEA records concerning him, citing privacy interests in records he argued should not be disclosed. It is like a man ordering his neighbour to empty his pockets while keeping his own firmly zipped.

A man seeking protection for his own records has no business waving petitions at somebody else. My challenge is simple: let every lawful record be opened and every allegation tested. Let Nigerians see who welcomes scrutiny and who reaches for privacy arguments when the files concern him,” he said.

He argued, however, that the exchange of allegations does little to address the everyday economic struggles of Nigerians.

Atiku also cautioned against the use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC as a tool for political battles, stressing that the agency belongs to the country and not to any individual or party.

He said no amount of recycled allegations could substitute for governance that improves the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

According to him, the coming elections would ultimately be decided on record and performance, not on old political battles. “The old script did not stop me then, and it will not stop me now. In 2027, Nigerians will judge us by our records, the lives they are living and the future we offer them. Those afraid of that judgment may continue rummaging through the archives. We are facing the Nigerian people.”

Politics

(FULL LIST) 2027: ADC unveils governorship, deputy candidates in 28 states

Published

17 hours ago

September 5, 2026

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The African Democratic Congress has unveiled its governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 2027 general elections in 28 states, including former presidential aide Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour in Lagos, former Kaduna State governorship candidate Isa Ashiru and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

The party also fielded former Delta State governorship candidate Great Ogboru, Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita in Katsina.

The candidates were announced in a statement on Friday, with the party saying they would carry its banner and commitment to providing Nigerians with credible leadership and a “real alternative” in the 2027 elections.

A release by the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi also shared on X disclosed this.

Other notable candidates include Senator Halliru Dauda Jika in Bauchi, former House of Representatives member Herman Iorwase Hembe in Benue, former House of Representatives member Zakari Mohammed in Kwara and former Nigerian Army officer Brigadier General John Sunday Sura in Plateau.

The party also fielded candidates in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

In Lagos, Rhodes-Vivour will contest the governorship with Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere as his running mate, while Ashiru will fly the party’s ticket in Kaduna alongside Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku.

Ogboru is paired with Afiari Gloria in Delta, while Kaita will contest in Katsina with Aminu Yar’adua Ahmed as his running mate.

In Kebbi, Malami will contest alongside Zagi Musa Mohammed.

The ADC said the candidates represented its commitment to offering Nigerians an alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.

ADC unveiled the candidates ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship elections.

Also, governorship campaigns are scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026.

Here is the full list:

ADC governor & deputy governor candidates

Abia: Governor – Kalu Kalu Agu; Deputy Governor – Alozie Ogidimma Darlington.

Adamawa: Governor – Modibbo Hammantukur Ribadu; Deputy Governor – Aguwa Kevin Iliya.

Akwa Ibom: Governor – Akpanudoedehe John James; Deputy Governor – Nsien Mkpombuk Tommy.

Bauchi: Governor – Sen. Halliru Dauda Jika; Deputy Governor – Sama’ila Mohammed Kabir.

Benue: Governor – Rt. Hon. Herman Iorwase Hembe; Deputy Governor – Abba John Abba.

Borno: Governor – Babagana Buhari; Deputy Governor – Mamman Dauda.

Cross River: Governor – Nkoyo Toyo; Deputy Governor – Okwoche Andrew Adagbor.

Delta: Governor – Chief Great Ogboru; Deputy Governor – Afiari Gloria.

Ebonyi: Governor – Ukpai Mba Udeh; Deputy Governor – Onwe Daniel Ede.

Enugu: Governor – Ocho Obodoze Chukwuma; Deputy Governor – Eze Arinze Christopher.

Gombe: Governor – Bala Bello; Deputy Governor – Bala Sani Isa.

Jigawa: Governor – Sabo Mohammed Nakudu; Deputy Governor – Musa Ya’u Balarabe.

Kaduna: Governor – Isa Mohammed Ashiru; Deputy Governor – Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku.

Kano: Governor – Ibrahim Ali Amin; Deputy Governor – Shehu Abdulkadir Bari.

Kastina: Governor – Sen. Ahmad Babba Kaita; Deputy Governor – Aminu Yar’adua Ahmed.

Kebbi: Governor – Abubakar Malami; Deputy Governor – Zagi Musa Mohammed.

Kwara: Governor – Zakari Mohammed; Deputy Governor – Olawuyi Julius Olayide.

Lagos State: Governor – Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour; Deputy Governor – Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere.

Nasarawa: Nuhu Angbazo — Governor; Ahmed Yusuf — Deputy Governor

Niger: Dr. Mohammed Kpautagi — Governor; Musa Mamman — Deputy Governor

Ogun: Biodun Collins Ogundipe — Governor; Muraina Oluwaranti Oluyemi — Deputy Governor

Oyo: Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke — Governor; Wahab Adeniyi — Deputy Governor

Plateau: Brig. Gen. John Sunday Sura — Governor; Pwajok-Kele Chundung Bitrus — Deputy Governor

Rivers: Gabriel Pidomson — Governor; Okumgba David Amapakaye — Deputy Governor

Sokoto: Manir Mohammad Daniya — Governor; Isah Bello Ambarura — Deputy Governor

Taraba: Abubakar Umar Tutare — Governor; Kwetishe Haruna Kwenyan — Deputy Governor

Yobe: Kassim G. Gaidam — Governor; Kori Lawan Mohammed — Deputy Governor

Zamfara: Shinkafi Bilyaminu Yusuf — Governor; Muhammad Abdulmuddalib Auwal — Deputy Governor

Politics

Lere Olayinka: Some Presidential Candidates Are Not Contesting To Win 2027 Election But To Make An Impression

Published

1 day ago

September 4, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said some presidential candidates in the 2027 election are not contesting with the intention of winning but to register their presence and make an impression.

Olayinka stated this during an interview on Arise News on Friday while discussing the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said the number of presidential candidates on the ballot did not necessarily mean that all of them were contesting with the mindset of winning.

“So it is not everybody that contests elections that wants to win. There are people that contest elections just to register their presence. For instance, in this 2027 election, we have 19 presidential candidates.

“Can we say honestly that all the 19 are contesting with the mindset of winning? The answer is no.”

Olayinka cited the 2023 performance of the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, as an example of why he believed some candidates could not realistically win the presidential election.

“For instance, the candidate of AAC, Omoyele Sowore, had 14,600 votes in 2023. How would that person win the election next year? They know that they cannot win.

“They are just contesting.”

He also extended his argument to the party of former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi.

“Even NDC, the party of Peter Obi, they know they cannot win the election. They are just contesting to try to register their presence.”

According to Olayinka, a party’s grassroots structure and presence across states would also be critical to its ability to compete effectively in a presidential election.

“You don’t have a governorship candidate in 15 states. You only have it in 13. There was an election in Ekiti and Osun recently.

“NDC did not fit candidates. How do you win an election when you don’t have people on ground to canvass votes for you, to manage elections for you?”

He said political parties needed substantial personnel at polling units to effectively manage their operations on election day.

“In Nigeria today, there are 176,846 polling units. To make good impression on election day, you need at least five people to manage each polling unit for you.

“At least. You need five people. We have done elections before, so we know what it is.

“It is not about making noise.”