Politics
2027: Succession Fever As 10 Governors Prepare For Handover
Succession storms are brewing in no fewer than 10 states where governors are nearing the end of their second and final terms in office.
In May 2023, 28 governors were sworn into office, while eight other states held off-cycle inaugurations.
Of the 28, 18 began their first terms, while the remaining 10 commenced their final terms in office.
The 10 governors are those of Oyo, Gombe, Bauchi, Lagos, Ogun, Borno, Nasarawa, Kwara, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
Seven of them are members of the All Progressives Congress, while the remaining three belong to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Findings by The Sunday PUNCH showed that no fewer than 22 politicians have so far declared their interest in Nasarawa, Lagos, and Ogun, while the names of some political heavyweights continue to dominate conversations within both the APC and PDP in those states.
Campaign posters have also started flooding some states, even as outgoing governors keep their succession plans secret.
Lagos and Tinubu’s loyalists
In Lagos, our correspondents gathered that the ball is firmly in the court of the ruling APC, with the final decision resting on President Bola Tinubu, a former governor of the state.
However, underground politicking is intensifying, as five political heavyweights are being linked to the 2027 governorship race, despite none of them making an official declaration yet.
According to a reliable party source, among those being considered are the current Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
Others are Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo, also known as Tokunbo Abiru, who currently represents Lagos East in the Senate; the Chief of Staff to the President and immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
The current Principal Secretary to the President and former Lagos State Head of Service, Muri Okunola, has also been touted as a possible candidate.
“But from my experience, Tinubu may not pick any of these loyalists. History has shown he often brings someone unexpected and gives that person full support. That is how he works. All these people making noise now are just distractions. Tinubu will not pick any of them. I am very sure of that,” the party source stated.
When contacted, the APC Publicity Secretary for the state, Seye Oladejo, said the party was busy with plans for the forthcoming local government election, adding that the 2027 governorship race agenda would come after the LG poll.
However, opposition parties said they had started making plans for the governorship election and were ready to challenge the APC dominance in the state.
The Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Mr Tai Benedict, said some politicians had already indicated interest in contesting the election on the platform of the party.
“One of them is Funso Doherty, and we have others. But not until later we cannot decide. We do not want to be in the same problem we had when Jandor (Abdul-Azeez Adediran) came and stole the show. This time around, we have to look inwards so that we do not pick the wrong candidate,” he added.
The Chairman of the Julius Abure-led Labour Party in the state, Mrs Dayo Ekong, said the party had started making plans for the governorship election.
“We have been doing our grassroots mobilisation and building our structures across all the polling units in the state, and we are sure of building on the gains of the last election,” the Secretary of the party, Sam Okpala, added.
20 aspirants declare interest in Nasarawa
Ahead of the governorship election, political heavyweights across Nasarawa State have started jostling for the state’s number one seat as the second tenure of the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Sule, will soon elapse.
Political observers say the 2027 elections, especially that of the governorship, will be an interesting battle among top politicians in the various parties in the state.
According to the state governor, no fewer than 20 persons from the APC, PDP, among others, have declared interest in contesting for his seat.
Consultations, alignments, and re-alignments across the 13 local government areas in the state have also intensified.
Some of the notable contenders across party lines are a former Minister of the Environment, Muhammad-Hassan Abdullahi; a former governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election, David Ombugadu; Senator Aliyu Wadada (SDP, Nasarawa West), and the Accountant General of the state, Dr Musa Mohammed.
Others are a former head of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Prof. Mohammed Haruna; former Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaibu; a former Inspector of Police of Police, Muhammed Adamu; a top APC stakeholder in the state, Shehu Tukur; Abu Giza, and Mohammad Maikaya from Toto LGA of the state.
Posters of some of the aspirants have already appeared in strategic locations within the Lafia metropolis and other major towns in the state.
One of our correspondents observed that even though zoning is not recognised in the 1999 Constitution, the questions of which zone produces Sule’s successor and whether the zoning formula will count in the contest are generating debate among political actors in the state.
Wale Edun, Yayi warm up in Ogun
In Ogun State, some notable politicians have been identified as the likely successors to Governor Dapo Abiodun. Most of them are within the ruling APC.
Among them is the Senator representing Ogun West in the Senate, Olamilekan Adeola, aka Yayi.
Adeola, who at one time was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, House of Representatives member representing Alimosho federal constituency, and a two-term Senator representing Lagos West senatorial district, returned to Ogun State in the build-up to the 2023 general elections to represent Ogun West senatorial district.
Since returning to Ogun state, Yayi has been seen as a frontrunner in the 2027 governorship seat contest. Adeola is said to be enjoying the backing of President Tinubu, having worked with him in Lagos State for a number of years.
Another politician said that the likely occupant of the Oke Mosan Governor’s Office come 2027 is Gboyega Isiaka, currently representing Imeko-Afon/Yewa North Federal constituency.
Isiaka had contested the governorship seat in Ogun State three times: 2011 under the Peoples Party of Nigeria, 2015 under PDP, and ADC in 2019.
He later defected to the APC and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2023.
One other name in the race is a former Minister of Steel and immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafadeen Ishola.
Similarly, the Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr Wale Edun, is another politician said to be warming up for the 2027 governorship race.
The Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, is also said to be eyeing the coveted seat by 2027.
For the opposition parties, only the PDP has a pronounced governorship aspirant, Oladipupo Adebutu, a former House of Representatives member representing Remo federal constituency.
Adebutu was also the opposition party’s governorship candidate in 2023 before he lost to Abiodun.
Saraki spearheads PDP’s Kwara comeback.
The 2027 governorship race is gathering momentum in Kwara State following a resolve of the PDP to reclaim the state from the ruling APC.
Even though the APC is yet to make a public declaration on the 2027 governorship plans, there are indications that the state governor, Mallam AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, who is the party leader in the state, will try to retain the state.
With the state governor being out of the state for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who leads the PDP in the state, has taken advantage of the Sallah celebration to restructure the opposition party over the past few days.
Saraki, who supervised the pre-registration of members of PDP, said he received new members into the party in Ajikobi ward in Ilorin West LGA of Kwara State.
Speaking in an interview with journalists recently, Saraki said he was encouraged by the turnout of members for the re-registration into the party, adding that he also received new members into the party.
On the ability of the party to stage a comeback in 2027, Saraki said, “We are even more encouraged by the level of enthusiasm that we are getting. People are coming out to register for the party; people are tired of the state of affairs in the state. New members are coming out to join the party.
“At the same time, all our old members are very active. The members we have seen are very impressive. I think the factors of what people are going through in the state the insecurity, unemployment, hunger, and lack of a lack of governance. So, we are confident that the PDP will bounce back in 2027,” he added.
As of Thursday, only one politician, Ladi Hassan, has declared intention to contest the governorship of the state on the platform of the PDP.
Other aspirants in the party include a former member of the House of Representatives and ex-speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof Ali Ahmad.
Saraki, however, said he would give all aspirants a level playing ground, adding that he had no preferred candidate.
In the APC, none of the aspirants has made a public declaration, though there has been an off-the-scene campaign by some of them. But the governor is seen to be favouring the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi, who is from the Kwara North Senatorial zone.
Other aspirants, who have also been working underground, include the Senator presently representing Kwara North, Sadiq Umar; Director General of the Nigeria Institute for Legislative Studies, Prof Abubakar Suleiman; Campaign DG of Mallam AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq re-election in 2023, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki; and the senator representing Kwara Central and the Turaki of Ilorin, Senator Saliu Mustapha.
However, the state APC chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said the party had yet to start its campaign.
Five contenders in Gombe
Though Governor Muhammed Yahaya of Gombe State has not publicly spoken about his preferred successor, his party, the APC, will not take the lead in determining the next governor of the state.
According to sources in the party, the Commissioner for Finance, Gambo Magaji; the current Minister of Transportation and former senator, Saidu Alkali; and former Minister of Digital Economy, Prof Ali Pantami, are among the strong contenders for the race in the state.
For the PDP, it is believed that Jibrin Barde, who was the party’s 2023 candidate, is likely to recontest.
He came in a distant second during the last election.
A former gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in 2023, Ahmed Mailantarki, who recently defected to the PDP, is another politician being mentioned.
Borno awaits Zulum’s choice.
In Borno State, while it is still unclear who will be Governor Babagana Zulum’s candidate, there are indications that the next governor will be from one of the Senators representing the state in the National Assembly.
A source within the APC expressed confidence that anyone chosen by the governor would get the people’s support.
“Of course, anyone Zulum appoints will emerge. Everyone can not like you, but I can categorically tell you that Zulum is popular and his people are behind him. For any opposition to unseat the party in this state, it is difficult,” the source said.
As of the time of filling this report, no opposition aspirant has spoken about their ambition, but speculations of a coalition is brewing in the state.
Oyo PDP in disarray
Some prominent chieftains of the PDP in Oyo State are set to dump the party.
A party source told our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, that the aggrieved members were already in advanced consultations for a coalition with the African Democratic Congress.
The source, who did not want his name in print, said, “The aggrieved chieftains, alongside their followers, are already in advanced consultations with opposition parties and may announce their formal departure in the next couple of weeks.
“The majority of these party chieftains are well-grounded in their wards and local governments within the state. They are grassroots politicians.”
Another source said the planned defection was being fuelled by “mounting dissatisfaction over the party’s internal handling of power distribution, appointments, and continued marginalisation of loyal stakeholders who played key roles in securing victory for the party in the past elections.”
“The aggrieved politicians have endured systematic exclusion and political betrayal under the current party structure in the state. Many of these leaders have been sidelined, used, and dumped. There is no political reward system for loyalty anymore in the state PDP.
“How do you expect men who sacrificed everything for the party to continue to remain silent when they and their followers are consistently ignored?
“These leaders are not just leaving alone, they are leaving with their structures. That’s thousands of committed party loyalists across the state. The PDP leadership should be worried,” the source added.
SOURCE: PUNCH
Politics
Anambra APC Crisis Deepens as Anosike Group Warns Against Secretariat Takeover by Rival Faction
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The leadership crisis rocking the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) escalated on Sunday as a factional executive led by Chief Ifeanyi Osegbo reportedly moved to take over the party’s state secretariat in Awka.
However, the executive led by Senator Emma Anosike described the move as unlawful and warned party members against attending any meeting convened by the rival faction.
The dispute stems from a Federal High Court judgment which the Osegbo faction claims affirmed its leadership. The Anosike camp, however, insists the judgment has been misrepresented, describing it as flawed and arguing that neither Senator Emma Anosike nor the party’s State Secretary was joined as a party in the suit. According to the group, the National Working Committee (NWC) and the APC National Chairman were the only defendants in the case.
The Anosike-led executive further argued that any attempt by the Osegbo faction to take over the state secretariat must first be backed by the National Working Committee, which it said remains the only authority empowered to effect such a change.
The group also maintained that security agencies, including personnel deployed by the Inspector-General of Police, continue to recognise Senator Emma Anosike as the authentic chairman of the party in Anambra State.
Despite this, members of the Osegbo faction reportedly arrived at the party secretariat on Sunday to assume control, although the keys to the offices remain in the custody of the Anosike-led executive.
Defending the move, the faction’s Legal Adviser, Barrister Rich Egenti, insisted that the court judgment had already been fully executed.
“There is nothing left to stay. Mere filing of a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal after full execution of the judgment does not amount to a stay. Those challenging the judgment should approach the Court of Appeal and obtain the appropriate order instead of circulating propaganda,” Egenti said.
He added that the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court had acknowledged that the execution process had been concluded.
“Any attempt by any person or group to stop the lawful assembly of the Anambra APC will be deemed contemptuous and illegal and shall be vehemently resisted,” he stated.
Responding, the Anosike-led executive said it had already taken all necessary legal steps to challenge the judgment.
In a statement, the group noted that Chief Ifeanyi Osegbo did not contest for any position during the last state congresses, including the office of state chairman.
“Our legal team has filed the necessary applications, including a stay of execution and an appeal before the Court of Appeal,” the statement read.
The group further claimed that the APC national leadership had also appealed the judgment and continued to recognise Senator Emma Anosike as the party’s state chairman.
“We remain confident that the courts will determine the issues in accordance with the law. It is also on record that the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies are investigating allegations of document forgery which allegedly misled the court into delivering the judgment,” the statement added.
The Anosike faction urged party members to remain calm, law-abiding and refrain from attending meetings convened by any leadership other than that led by Senator Emma Anosike, Hon. J.C. Okeke and Sir Obi Okpala, whom it described as the duly elected and inaugurated executives of the party in Anambra State.
On July 3, the faction filed a notice of appeal and an application for a stay of execution before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
In the appeal, Senator Emma Anosike, Sir Obi Okpala and other elected executive members are seeking an order setting aside the June 24, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice M.G. Umar, describing the proceedings as a nullity.
The appellants also asked the appellate court to stay the execution of the judgment pending the determination of their application.
Among the grounds of appeal are alleged non-service of court processes, denial of fair hearing, misrepresentation in obtaining the judgment, forum shopping, issue estoppel, and the court’s jurisdiction to set aside a judgment alleged to be a nullity.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has come under criticism following its decision to alter the list of candidates that emerged from its National Assembly primaries, sparking fresh concerns over internal democracy and the credibility of its candidate selection process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Opposition parties condemned the move, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accusing the ruling party of descending into confusion, the Labour Party (LP) describing the substitutions as undemocratic, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) branding the action reckless.
The APC, however, defended the changes, insisting they reflected fairness and the wishes of party members. It also urged opposition parties to focus on resolving their own internal crises rather than commenting on its affairs.
The controversy followed the APC’s directive to its state chapters to submit the final list of candidates for the 2027 elections while issuing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms for completion.
Several aspirants who were initially declared winners alleged that they were replaced after the party’s May Primary Election Appeal Commission reviewed petitions arising from the primaries.
Reports indicate that the APC National Working Committee (NWC), acting on the appeal committee’s recommendations, overturned the victories of several senatorial candidates in nine states and restored six serving senators to the party’s final list.
Those reinstated include Sunday Karimi (Kogi West), Emmanuel Udende (Benue North-East), Titus Zam (Benue North-West), Shuaibu Isa Lau (Taraba North), Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), and Olajide Ipinsagba (Ondo North). In Abia South, Prince Paul Ikonne replaced Edinburgh Erondu.
Among those affected was former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, whose earlier victory in the Benue North-East primary was nullified in favour of incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende.
The revised list has since generated internal disagreements and raised legal questions, particularly in light of INEC’s warning that it would reject the names of candidates who did not emerge from primaries monitored by the commission.
Reacting to the development, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, described the changes as evidence of growing confusion within the APC, saying the opposition would take advantage of the situation ahead of the elections.
“With the change of the candidate list, there is confusion in the APC. Let them remain in confusion so that we can take advantage of it and reclaim power. It is not our duty to advise them on how to put their house in order,” he said.
The Labour Party also criticised the substitutions, insisting that candidates who emerge from valid primaries should not be replaced.
LP National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said the party had consistently respected the outcome of its primaries, describing the APC’s action as a mockery of the Electoral Act and democratic principles.
“For us in the Labour Party, we have never removed the names of people who won our primaries and replaced them with those who did not. That is how democracy should be practised,” Asogwa said.
However, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, argued that political parties have the constitutional right to determine their candidates through internal mechanisms.
He noted that the Supreme Court had affirmed the authority of political parties to nominate candidates and stressed the need for aggrieved members to pursue available internal appeal and reconciliation processes.
Similarly, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) defended the APC’s action. Its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the Electoral Act empowers political parties to manage their candidate selection process, including addressing irregularities through internal mechanisms.
He maintained that if a party identifies flaws in its primary process and opts to make adjustments in line with its constitution, it is within its rights to do so, while denying allegations that the NDC had imposed candidates.
The Oyo State Government has denied reports claiming it paid ransom to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted by bandits in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said the claim was “far from the truth” and accused “irresponsible bloggers” of deliberately spreading misinformation to confuse the public.
“Although both the Oyo State and Federal Governments have been making concerted efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted children and their teachers, no ransom has been paid to the bandits, either directly or indirectly,” Oyelade stated.
He urged residents to disregard the reports and rely only on information released through official government channels.
The commissioner added that the Oyo State Government is working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe release of the abductees and bring the incident to a successful conclusion.
The pupils and teachers were abducted on May 15 when armed bandits attacked three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle communities of Oriire Local Government Area. The coordinated attack also claimed the life of a teacher.
The victims have remained in captivity since the attack, while the Oyo State Government, the Federal Government, and security agencies continue efforts to secure their freedom.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has dismissed reports that aggrieved aspirants who lost the party’s primary elections are plotting to work against its candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Following the conclusion of the party’s primaries a few weeks ago, reports had alleged that some unsuccessful aspirants were considering supporting candidates of other political parties in protest, with the aim of undermining APGA’s chances at the polls.
However, APGA National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, described the claims as false, insisting that the party remains united after a reconciliation meeting convened by Governor Charles Soludo.
“I am hearing this from you. As a party, we have not received any report of such a plot. Let me state clearly that all the aspirants have resolved to work for the success of the party in the 2027 general elections,” Opara said.
He explained that during the meeting held at the Light House in Awka, aspirants and candidates openly discussed issues arising from the primaries, stressing that none of the participants accused the party of conducting an unfair or non-transparent process.
“Everyone expressed their views about the primary elections. No one alleged that the process lacked transparency. The only concern expressed was that each aspirant had hoped to emerge victorious.
“At the end of the meeting, every misunderstanding, anxiety and misgiving surrounding the primaries was resolved, and the party remains one united family,” he added.
Opara also warned opposition parties against what he described as deliberate attempts to spread falsehoods and create disaffection within APGA.
He cautioned individuals engaging in cyberbullying and name-dropping for political purposes to desist, warning that the party would not hesitate to pursue legal action against anyone found defaming its members.
“This is nothing but cheap blackmail by the opposition. They should be mindful of the legal consequences of cyberbullying and name-dropping. We urge our party faithful and the general public to disregard these spurious reports,” he said.
This version improves grammar, flow, attribution, and readability while preserving the substance of the original report.
Former Minister Uche Nnaji
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court order permitting it to detain former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, for an initial 14 days as investigations into alleged certificate forgery continue.
The remand order followed Nnaji’s arrest on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after he arrived from Enugu aboard a chartered flight.
According to an official of the anti-graft agency, the court-approved remand will enable investigators to interrogate the former minister over the allegations, with the possibility of seeking an extension should further investigation require additional time.
Nnaji was apprehended following the execution of a bench warrant earlier issued by the Federal High Court after he allegedly failed to honour several invitations extended by the commission.
The ICPC subsequently confirmed the arrest in an official statement signed by its spokesperson, John Odey, stating that the former minister is in the commission’s custody as investigations continue into allegations bordering on the forgery of academic credentials and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate allegedly submitted during his ministerial screening process.
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