2015 Guber Race: 10 Toughest Battlegrounds Nigeria Singles Dati Meet Lonely Nigerians And Fall In Love. Joi Ads by Google Punch Nigeria Power Nige DAILY TRUST REPORT Lagos In Lagos State, the gubernatorial battle will be a straight fight between two gladiators, Akin Ambode of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pharm Jimi Agbaje. The intensity of the contest would be determined by the political standing of the backers of the two candidates in the state. For Ambode, he would be banking on the fact that he is the candidate of the ruling APC, as well as on the support of a political heavyweight, former Governor Bola Tinubu. The latter has variously been described as Ambode’s godfather. Party chieftains are, however, insisting that the factors that were considered for the choice of Ambode went beyond his previous working relationship with Tinubu. They said Ambode fits into the party’s plan to field a Christian as governor, after Tinubu and Fashola, both of whom are Muslims. Agbaje is supported by Chief Bode George, another formidable political force with enough political clout and followership to tip the scale in favour of his choice. He also enjoys the backing of the former Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe. Thus, when Agbaje teamed up with the PDP to vie for the governorship seat, not a few people doubted his chances of clinching the ticket, especially with his alliance with the two powerful blocks in PDP, the Bode George and Ogunlewe. Not a few had expressed skepticism about the chances of the PDP in Lagos in 2015, especially in the wake of the crisis that broke out in the aftermath of its governorship primary election in the state. However, the effort of Vice President Namadi Sambo, which succeeded in calming frayed nerves, appeared to have put the party in good stead. More than anything, Agbaje seems to be enjoying the support of the presidency in his quest to wrestle power from the APC- led government. Benue In Benue State, the jostle for the governorship position in next year’s general election would surely be a fierce battle of personality and party influence between the candidate of the ruling PDP, Prince Terhemen Tarzoor and that of the APC, Dr. Samuel Ortom. Political watchers think that the PDP would not have an easy ride to the Government House in 2015 despite having occupied the office since the return of democracy in 1999, basically because the APC candidature of Ortom, who is seen to have grassroots support in the state will spring surprises. Ortom may curry sympathy votes from 14 major Tiv ethnic speaking local government areas out of the 23 councils in the state, following what is seen as the unfair treatment meted out to him during the PDP’s primary, which led to his defection to the APC. But, Tarzoor and the PDP, fully aware of the strong opposition in Ortom, are not relenting to ensure that the party maintains the status-quo in the state, relying on the support of Governor Gabriel Suswam, who is also bent on handing over the baton to his ‘anointed’ flagbearer. The PDP’s greatest strength at the moment lies in the seven Idoma speaking local government areas of Zone C, which seem to lack the presence of the APC and have remained faithful to the PDP over the years. Katsina There are five gubernatorial candidates presently in the race for the Katsina Government House namely: Yakubu Lado of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Aminu Masari of APC, Musa Nashuni of PDP, Abdulmumin Aliyu of NCP and Abdullahi Tsauri of APGA. Of the five, only Nashuni and Masari are believed to have what it takes to clinch the seat in 2015, as the fierce battle will be between the two. Nashuni is a neophyte politically, as his entrance into politics was as a result of his appointment in 2007 as a Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Shema on Resource Development, before he was appointed a commissioner in 2010. The full backing of the state governor and the party is a pillar he intends to lean on to become the next governor of the state, as he is using all the paraphernalia of government in his campaigns. However, for Masari, his political strength has been tested. He contested for the position in 2011 under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and lost to the incumbent Shema. His close pact with General Buhari and his firm control of the party in the state, as well as the overwhelming support of his present party and the protest votes across the state is a plus for his second attempt. For Lado, Tsauri, Abdulmumin, many believed they are out to make the numbers as they stand no chance in the race. Their political platforms are only on billboards and a few places they exist. Their parties are more or less non- existent in the state. Kaduna In Kaduna, the contest would be fought and won between two major contenders: Malam Nasir el-Rufa’i on the platform of the APC and Dr Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, the candidate for the PDP and governor of the state. Yero’s party, the PDP, has won all governorship elections in the state since 1999 and formed the majority in the House of Assembly. Running for his second term, the candidate has a good chance in the contest by virtue of the dominance of his party in the state. Also, apart from the incumbency factor, Yero would rely on the support of the federal government, because the vice president is from Kaduna State. However, the governor is already facing stiff opposition both from aggrieved party members and the rival APC. Most of the founding members of his party have defected to the APC. His main challenger, el-Rufa’i, would bank on the wider appeal of the APC among the electorate in Kaduna, as well as their dissatisfaction over the inadequacies of the ruling PDP to breach infrastructural deficit, to upstage him. Another factor that could make the contest even more intense is the cult-like followership that the presidential candidate of the APC has in Kaduna, which may result in sympathy votes for el-Rufa’i. Oyo In Oyo State, there are five formidable governorship candidates. They are the incumbent Governor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi of the APC, Senator Teslim Folarin of the PDP, Senator Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord Party, former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of the Labour Party (LP) and Engr. Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The governorship contest is expected to be explosive, judging from the political experience and past records of these five contenders. In 2011, Ajimobi defeated Alao-Akala and Ladoja who came 2nd and 3rd respectively in a keenly contested poll. Alao-Akala is still controlling large followership because of his generosity and the projects he executed in rural areas during his tenure. He left the PDP to grab the ticket of the LP. Ladoja, who remains a godfather in Accord Party, has full control over his members in the State House of Assembly and National Assembly. He is still enjoying the support of teachers who respect him because of his educational plans during his tenure. Folarin, a former Senate Leader, is a protégé of the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu, a power broker in Oyo state. He has been having a cat-and-mouse relationship with Alao-Akala, who he wanted to challenge in 2011 before he was detained over the controversial death of a leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ibadan. Folarin, however, emerged the gubernatorial candidate at an election which was boycotted by Alao-Akala. Just like Alao-Akala, Engr. Makinde left the PDP for the SDP and secured the governorship ticket of his new party. He mentioned lack of respect for the rule of law and series of injustice within the PDP as the reasons why he left. His campaign was famous on the NTA network station. He has been gaining popularity among the people, especially those who want a new face to govern the state. Of all the five key contenders, only Alao- Akala is not an indigene of Ibadan. Akwa Ibom The governorship contest in Akwa Ibom is between two former Secretaries to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Udom Gabriel of the PDP and Mr Umana Okon Umana of the APC. Emmanuel, who took over from Umana, is seen as the candidate of Governor Godswill Akpabio. But Umana, was said to have been forced to resign by Governor Akpabio after he openly declared his interest in the 2015 governorship race. On June 6, 2011, Umana was re- appointed Secretary to the State Government, a position he held until July 2013. He was believed to be the anointed candidate of Governor Akpabio for the exalted office until he fell out of favour with his boss. The former SSG had rejected the position of Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC). He felt that the NNDC appointment was a ploy by the incumbent governor to take him away from Uyo and give the governorship ticket to another favoured candidate. Since his exit from government, he has remained unrelenting in his dream to succeed his former boss. Umana left the PDP after realizing that he could not secure the PDP ticket. He defected to the APC and secured the party’s governorship ticket. Adamawa With the PDP still in crisis over the primaries that produced Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as governorship candidate, the chances of the APC candidate, Senator Muhammad Jibrilla Bindow is boosted. Moreover, a group of aspirants recently defected from the PDP to actualize their dreams on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). These decampees include the PDM flagbearer in the state, Dr Ahmad Moddibo, his wife, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmad, the member of the House of Representatives from Yola North/ Yola South/ Girei Federal Constituency who got the party’s ticket for Central Senatorial seat and Adurrahman Kwaccam who emerged candidate for the House of Representatives in Mubi North/ Mubi South/Maiha. Several other members of the PDP defected alongside the aspirants after accusing the party of imposing candidates. Moddibo, Aisha and Kwaccam were among the top aspirants in PDP with strong financial war chests, hence their regrouping in PDM is certainly bolstering the chances of the party ahead of 2015 general elections. While PDP’s Ribadu and PDM’s Moddibo are preparing to launch their campaigns, Senator Bindo had already toured the state last October before the aborted by- election when he was the candidate of the APC and the support he garnered surprised many. Observers feel that if Bindow could maintain his popularity and consolidate on it his victory is just a matter of time. With a united party behind him and support from the party’s leader and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Bindo has a bright chance to win the governorship election. The Buhari factor may likely attract votes from unlikely quarters as some Buhari supporters across political parties may cast votes in his favour. Although the PDP is grappling with internal division with the suspended chairman of the state chapter, Chief Joel Madaki, some members of the State Working Committee and a host of governorship and other aspirants still contesting the candidature of Ribadu, the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential candidate should not be underestimated. Ribadu’s record as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has projected him as a strong man who can bring transformation in Adamawa against the vested interest of the elites, who benefited immensely from the state resources at the expense of its development. In addition, the manner in which he emerged as the PDP candidate has given credence to reports that the presidency, with the backing of the PDP national chairman, Adamu Muazu and business Mogul, Aliko Dangote could do anything possible to ensure his victory. Sokoto In Sokoto, the two major contenders for the governorship seat are brothers in- law, House of Represenatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the candidate of the APC, and Senator Abdallah Wali of the PDP. Tambuwal is married to one of the Wali’s sisters, Mariya. Both candidates are from the same local government area of Tambuwal. While Tambuwal is participating in the Sokoto governorship race for the first time, Wali, the Nigerian ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, is for the second time presenting himself to the people of Sokoto for election into the number one position in the state. Interestingly, Bafarawa and Wali are now together in the PDP, with the former Governor noted to be solidly backing the later. For Tambuwal, the incumbent governor, Wamakko is a sturdy support. Tambuwal is contesting under the banner of the party that controls the state government, while Wali is running on the platform of a party that controls the central government. So as Tambuwal and Wali prepare to slug it out in 2015, observers say the Sokoto governorship battle would obviously translate to a battle between the two major political players in the state, former Governor Bafarawa and incumbent Governor Wamakko, who are long political time rivals. The chances of the two governorship candidates would be determined to a large extent by the influence of these principals and the individual political prowess of the two contenders to the exalted office. Nasarawa In Nasarawa State, five political parties have fielded candidates for the 2015 election, with the APC seeking the re- election of Governor Umaru Tanko Al- Makura, while Yusuf Agabi is flying the flag of the main opposition party, the PDP, to challenge the former. The other three political parties, namely: the LP, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Accord Party are fielding Barrister Lagi Innocent, Mathew Ombugaku and Arc. Stanley Buba respectively. Al-Makura and his main opponent, Agabi are from Lafia, in the southern zone, and are successful personalities in their respective careers. Al-Makura’s re-election chances in 2015, four years after, are 50:50 with Agabi’s who has emerged as the new kid on the block of Nasarawa politics. While Al- Makura is banking on his performance record as the first ingenious leader to give Nasarawa a foundation for development, Agabi is a darling of the people, banking on his free will with them to get their votes. Al-Makura has lost the confidence of political leaders who supported his bid to Government House in 2011, and will rely on the people to maintain his seat. Agabi’s PDP will be eyeing the political leaders who have fallen out with the governor. Bauchi With the emergence of the governorship candidates of both the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and the All Progressives Congress APC in Bauchi State, the battle line has been drawn as both parties struggle to outdo each other. While the PDP has House of Representative member Auwal Jatau as its governorship candidate, the opposition APC elected Barrister Muhammad Abubakar as its flag bearer.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 12:28:22 +0000
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