Eyes on drivers’ seats as 16 senators battle to claim governorship crowns

SUNDAY ABORISADE examines the large numbers of senators who are eyeing the governorship seats in their respective states and the likely issues this may throw up

Gone are those days that the Senate was considered as the retirement abode and safe haven for former ministers, governors, retired captains of industries and top civil servants; at the moment, the red chamber has become a platform where governors are made.

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There are quite a number of senators, who are currently serving as governors, just as there is a considerable figure of former governors enjoying their retirement at the upper legislative chamber.

Some of the former governors in the 9th Senate are: Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), Theodore Orji (Abia Central), Gabriel Suswan (Benue North East), Kashim Shettima (Borno Central), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North) and Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu East).

Others are: Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), Rochas Okorocha (Imo North), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano Central), Ibrahim Gaya (Kano South), Muhammad Aliero (Kebbi South), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa North) and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West).

The list also includes Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun Central), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto North) and Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe East).

Meanwhile, 16 serving senators are warming up to become governors of their respective states, starting from the November 26, 2021 Anambra governorship election.

Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South) and Senator Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central) have perfected necessary arrangements to contest their parties’ primary elections, preparatory to the main election.

While Ubah will contest the poll on the ticket of the Young People’s Party, Ekwunife is planning to fly the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that other serving senators had started perfecting strategies to contest the governorship seats in their respective states.

One of them, according to findings, is the current Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), who was a deputy governor of Abia State before coming to the red chamber.

Abaribe is an experienced politician, who has done everything necessary to win the party’s ticket, according to one of his close aides.

The aide, who preferred anonymity because he did not have the mandate of his boss to speak on the issue, said the 66-year-old Abaribe “has perfected strategies to contest the 2023 governorship election in his seat.”

He said the senator was currently oiling his political machinery to kick-start his campaign to take over from Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Another former deputy governor, Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), is also said to be in the race in her state next year.

Olujimi was deputy to former governor Ayo Fayose in his first time in office. She later contested the Senate seat in the 8th National Assembly and later emerged as the Senate minority leader.

Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East) is also a major contender for the Sokoto State governorship election in 2023.

Our correspondent learnt that he had set up a formidable team and strong machinery in motion to actualise his dream.

This is his second time in the Senate as he contested the seat of the Sokoto East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in 2015.

A three-time Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, is also said to be eyeing the Enugu Government House in 2023.

One of the senator’s aide confided in our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the lawyer was seriously warming up to take over from Senator Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Another governorship hopeful in the Senate is the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha.

Politicians are not concerned with d current situation of d country .

Wishing them all the best in their political struggle. They should serve the people ooo.