All over Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, talks about next month’s elections have assumed centre stage. A rather absurd amount of attention has been poured on the presidential candidates for the elections without acknowledging, so much, the gubernatorial candidates who, after the elections, will also be critical for the smooth running of the economy.

Below is a summarized account of some of the fiercest gubernatorial campaign battles currently ongoing in Nigeria. The initial list was developed by the Sunday Trust.

This Election is Nigeria's Fiercest governorship campaigns among all the candidates, and it is going to be the most expensive in the history of governorship elections in Nigeria.

Lagos: Many believe the very soul of the topmost state economy in Nigeria has been sold to the All Progressive Congress (APC) because of the straight victories its candidates have enjoyed over the years. However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released a prominent personality, Jimi Agbaje, to contest with Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC. Ambode appears to enjoy the blessings of notable personalities in the state including former Governor Bola Tinubu and incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola. But with a political heavy-weight in the person of Chief Bode George supporting Jimi Agbaje, as well key players of the present Federal Government, the perception is that the playing field is becoming sufficiently levelled for both candidates to compete.
Jimi Agbaje could spring an unlikely surprise in the race to replace incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola

Benue: This state has been dominated by the PDP since the present political democratic dispensation began in 1999, hence, the party, whose candidate is Prince Terhemen Tarzoor, already enjoys some advantages. However, Dr Samuel Ortom of the APC has galvanized strong grassroots support and may be giving the PDP a big run for their money. However, the PDP continues to exert some influence in certain zones within the 7 Idoma speaking local government areas where APC lacks any significant presence.

Katsina: The situation here is rather peculiar as five candidates are currently jostling for the top state job. They include 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, the PDP and APC candidates, as usual, are believed to be the only two with any real chance at grabbing the seat. Masari is perceived to have more political clout than Nashuni who is, more or less, a political newbie enjoying the blessings of the present state government.

Kaduna: Here, former Minister of the FCT Malam Nasir el-Rufa’i (APC) will be competing with the current state governor Dr Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (PDP). Just like Benue and, indeed, Nigeria, the PDP has dominated elections in Kaduna since 1999 and would be sure to leverage this strategic advantage in the elections. However, certain aggrieved former PDP members have defected to the APC and this could increase the chances of el-Rufai emerging governor come February.



Oyo: Like Katsina, Oyo State has five rather formidable governorship candidates including 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). All five contenders are heavyweights in their own right and may stand relatively equal chances of winning.

Akwa Ibom: In Akwa Ibom, the fierce gubernatorial battle is between two former Secretaries to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Udom Gabriel of the PDP and Mr Umana Okon Umana of the APC. Gabriel, who took over from Umana, is perceived to be the preferred candidate by incumbent Governor Godswill Akpabio after Umana was allegedly forced to resign by Governor Akpabio after he openly declared his interest in the 2015 governorship race. Mr Umana subsequently defected to the APC upon realizing he could not win the PDP ticket. The configuration in this southern Nigerian state is particularly delicate as both candidates are prominent locals with significant political leverage.

Adamawa: The chances of APC candidate Senator Muhammad Jibrilla Bindow has heightened following the crisis over the primaries that produced Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (PDP) as governorship candidate. Also, a group of aggrieved aspirants have also defected from the PDP to the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) in order to boost their chances of winning. This fragmented configuration will likely give the APC a competitive advantage in the elections

Sokoto: In a rather dramatic twist, the two contenders here are brothers-in-law. The APC candidate is the present Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, while Senator Abdallah Wali, Nigerian ambassador to the kingdom of Morocco, represents the PDP. Tambuwal is married to one of the Wali’s sisters, Mariya, and both candidates are from the same local government area. It would be interesting to note which of the two peculiar candidate eventually steps in as governor of the north-western Nigerian state.

Nasarawa: Again, five political parties have presented candidates for the 2015 election in Nasarawa. The APC seeks the re-election of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, while Yusuf Agabi is the preferred candidate of the PDP. Other contending parties including the Labour Party (LP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Accord Party are fielding Barrister Lagi Innocent, Mathew Ombugaku and Arc. Stanley Buba respectively. Incumbent governor Al-Makura has the relatively sound track record of being the first to give the state a foundation for development but Agabi has recently acquired the confidence of the people and will wield no small influence in the forthcoming polls.

Bauchi: The battle here is between the PDP and APC. Auwal Jatau of the House of Representatives represents the PDP while the APC has presented Barrister Muhammad Abubakar as its candidate.


http://www.ventures-africa.com/2015/01/nigerias-fiercest-gubernatorial-campaigns-this-year/

Ambode will beat agbaje silly
APC just have to work hard!!

Lagos is fierce? I laff in Ikorodu

AMbode would beat Agbaje like a snake

The chips will soon be down! We wish n pray against loss of life and wanton destruction of property resulting from electioneering violence.