•Upsets likely in Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Adamawa as 100 aspirants battle in 28 states
By Our Correspondents
T
he ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) holds its governorship primaries across the country today with predictable outcomes in some states where the exercise promises to be a coronation as 14 governors will be returned unopposed.
Our checks indicated that there will be no voting in many states, especially in places where the incumbent state chief executives are seeking a renewal of their mandates for a second term.
About 100 aspirants are set to vye for tickets across 28 states.
States where the first term incumbent governors and other persons backed by their second term counterparts are the sole aspirants of the ruling party included Akwa Ibom (Umo Bassey Eno), Borno (Alhaji Mustapha Gubio), Cross River (Sen. Bassey Edet Otu), Delta (Sheriff Oborevwori), Ebonyi (Mr. Ogbonna Francis Nwifuru), Enugu (Peter N. Mbah), Katsina (Dikko Umaru Radda), and Kebbi (Nasir Idris).
Others are Jigawa (Umar A. Namadi), Kaduna (Uba Sani), Kano (Abba K. Yusuf), Niger (Mohammed Umar Bago), Sokoto (Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto) and Zamfara (Dauda Lawal).
But in Taraba, the battle has been narrowed down to Governor Agbu Kefas and the former Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji after two other contestants withdrew from the race.
Chief David Sabo Kente who announced his stepping down on Wednesday told newsmen in Jalingo that his decision was taken to preserve peace and unity within the party and the state.
According to him “No one has ‘settled’ me. This decision is solely in the interest of peace, unity, and stability of our party and Taraba State. It is not for personal gain,” Kente stated.
Political analysts, however, believe that he may have been prevailed upon by Governor Kefas to withdraw in order to boost his chance in today’s contests.
Former Minister of Power, Engr. Saleh Mammam, is also out of the race after being convicted and sentenced to 75 years’ imprisonment over an alleged N33.8 billion fraud.
Both aspirants obtained the exorbitant indication of interest and nomination forms sold by the ruling APC.
Our Correspondent reports that Tarabans are waiting with bathed breath and anxiety for the outcome of what is likely going ro be a Titanic contest.
Nasarawa is another state where consensus talks collapsed and the governorship hopefuls are expected to slug it out today in a direct primary.
From Lafia, Our Correspondent reports that the political atmosphere in Nasarawa state strongly suggests that the race remains that of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada to lose. The combination of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s open endorsement, the existing structure of the ruling party in the state, and the pattern already established in the party’s senatorial and House of Representatives primaries all point in one direction which is the continuity of the governor’s political machinery.
The question, however, is whether former Inspector-General of Police(IGP) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, openly supported by a former Governor of the state, Umaru Tanko Almakura, and a former National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) boss Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna can disrupt what increasingly looks like a carefully managed succession arrangement by the state government.
Analysts are, however, not ruling out surprises from Adamu who is also backed by a former governor among other political heavy weights in the state.
Peoples Daily reports that Mohammed Adamu enters the race with national name recognition, security credentials and elite connections.
Prof. Haruna, on the other hand, is viewed in some circles as a technocrat with intellectual appeal and bureaucratic experience. But political primaries are rarely won on profile alone. They are won through structures, ward-level mobilisation, party officials loyalty and the backing of entrenched party actors.
In Gombe, Our Correspondent reports that two governorship aspirants have atepped down. They are the former Minister of Transport Mr. Saidu Alkali and the former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Ibrahim Pantami.
The aspirants while withdrawing their bids cited
irregularities in the process leading to the primaries.
Their withdrawal is said to have cleared the coast for the emergency of Mr. Jemilu Isyaku Gwamna as the APC governorship candidate in the state. Isyaku Gwamna is said to be the choice of Governor Inuwa Yahaya who is planning to be in the Senate after his governorship tenure.
In Abia State, four aspirants, namely Mascot Uzor-Kalu, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, Martins Okechukwu AzubuikeOpah Erik Chinemeucheya will be jostling for the party’s ticket.
In Adamawa State, 10 aspirants including Ahmed Galadima Aminu, Salihu Bakari, Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas, Bello Ibrahim, H.E Abdurahaman Bashir Haske, Felix Bilishan Tangwami, Sen. Aminu Iya Abbas, Mustapha Salihu, Joel H. Madaki and Diyaul-Hak Abubakar are billed to slug it out for the ticket.
A list obtained at the APC headquarters also showed that in Bauchi State, eight aspirants namely Sen. Shehu Buba Umar, Nura Manu Soro, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Bala Maijama’a Wunti, Arc. Kabir Baba Ma’aji, Baba Abubakar Suleiman and Dr. Yakubu Yakubu Abdullahi picked nomination forms ahead of tomorrow’s internal elections.
But it’s a different stroke for the incumbent in Benue state, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, as four other aspirants including Mathias Byuan PhD, Kuraun Jeffrey Isaac, Akutah Pius Ukeyima and Hon. Terwase Orbunde are to contest with him.
Interestingly, Kwara State recorded the highest number of aspirants with 16 names including Olufemi Kolawole Sanni, Dr. Sen. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Mohammed Omar Bio, Muhammed Dele Belgore (SAN), Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin Tajudeen, Amb. Yahaya Abdulfatai, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, Tajudeen Audu Abdulkadir, Salihu Mustapha, Azeez Salaro Muideen O., Bashir Omolaya Bolanrwa, Ahmad Ibrahim Mahmoud, Yetunde Musiliant Adebowale Bello, Mahalia Aishatu Ahman Pategi, Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman and Prof. Olawale Adeniyi Rafiu Sulaiman.
Lagos State had three aspirants namely Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Samuel Mawoyon Ajose and Laraen Jim-Kamal.
Ogun State has two aspirants: Sen. Adeola Solomon Olamilekan and Abayomi Semako Hunye.
For Oyo State, 11 aspirants are in the race namely: Dr. Ayobami Wasu Adesina, Sharafadeen Alli, Adebayo Adekola Adelabu, Engr. Oyedele Hakeem Alau Oyebode, Barr. Akeem Adedeji Agbaje, Dr. Adewale Kolapo Kareem, Astota Kolawole, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Olamitan Raufu Aderemi, Buhari Omotayo Fatai and Bakare Ololade Usman.
In Plateau State, Governor Caleb Muftwang is being challenged by Cdr. (Chief) Yilchini Jan Bida (Rtd).
Rivers State recorded three other aspirants who are challenging the incumbent governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. They include: Patrick Tonye Cole, Hon. Chinda Kingsely Ogundu and Dr. Dakorimama Alabi George.
Incidentally, Fubara withdrew from the race Wednesday night.
In Yobe State, there are seven aspirants including Khashim Musa Tumsa, Mustapha Yunusa Maihaya, Lawan Kolo Geidam, Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, IGP Alkali Baba Usman (Rtd), Baba Mallam Wali and Bashir Sheriff Machina.
