2027:  Confusion in 5 states over consensus choice

There is palpable tension in five states of the federation over quest by many parties to adopt consensus candidates.

Oyo, Adamawa,Kwara, Benue, and Rivers top the list of affected states.

Incumbent Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde who had promised,last  year to name his successor in January , is yet to do so following the crisis in his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But he confirmed that PDP  candidates  for all positions would  be chosen by consensus because ,as he said, it  seems the best way to present a formidable house ahead of the elections.

Close to ten PDP members  are currently showing interest in the Oyo governorship race.

Recently, the Governor’s Advisory Council invited the PDP  aspirants for  an “interaction”  for them to present and discuss their plans and programmes for Oyo State and the Agodi Government House job.

Chairman of the council, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) said the interaction was to create a level playing field for all aspirants ahead of the primaries. It was also meant to assess their credentials, experience, and acceptability, while helping the party build internal consensus before choosing a strong governorship candidate.

Ayorinde, however, insisted the process was not a screening exercise. According to him, it was simply an “interaction” between the council and the aspirants, designed to ensure that no one was imposed on the party from any quarter.

In the case of the APC,observers are of the view that Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu and Chairman of the Governing Council of Dave Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences in Ebonyi State,Alhaji Adebayo Shittu are unlikely to seek the governorship ticket having nor resigned  their appointment on or before March 31,2026 as required by the Electoral Act.

Other APC governorship aspirants in the state ,notably Dr Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK) and Hakeem Alao fondly called Allow Alao are displeased by reports  that Senator Alli may have been penned down as the party’s consensus candidate.

The duo are demanding  free, fair and transparent primaries or be consulted duly, if consensus arrangement would be adopted.

Party elders in the state are said to be intensifying efforts in getting candidates for all elective offices chosen by consensus.

The ADC in the state is factionalized .As at yesterday,it was not clear how it intends to pick its candidates in the state.

Popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat has no rival for the governorship ticket of Accord Party in the state,at least for now.

In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his camp are keeping mum  on his aspiration for reelection.

For much of his first term ,the governor was locked in a stand off with his immediate predecessor and estranged godfather,Nyesom Wike.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister himself is keeping his card  close to his chest on his choice for the governorship seat in 2027.

While observers have been discussing who he could be supporting for the governorship,the minister has repeatedly said the only person he has endorsed so far is President Tinubu.

He also said that he would consult the elders in his camp on his choice and that even if they object to it he would convince them to accept him.

Wike said: “Those of you sending people to preach ethnicity, it will not work. I will work with those who are sincere, not minding where the person comes from. I will sit here some people are parading themselves; putting themselves in groups saying Ijaw groups continuity, Ogoni group, Ikwere groups, continue to group yourself. It is me you are using to group.

“I have not promised anybody anything as it concerns 2027 .  I have not endorsed anybody for any position, from senate, reps , governorship or state assembly. The only person I have declared support for in 2027 is President Bola Tinubu. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you to lose the little you already have”

A source close to the governor said only Fubara would decide his fate insisting that the governors in the APC and the national leadership of the APC are  willing to give him the ticket.

He said: “It is only the governor that will decide his fate. He has the support of his colleagues and residents of the state. His support in the state can always be rekindled. But we are waiting for his decision”.

Benue State is another hot spot as the governor risks not being picked as a consensus candidate.

The state chapter of APC is not foreclosing direct primaries especially in picking its governorship candidate.

The party’s Organizing Secretary James Ornguga said  that Governor Hyacinth Alia  has performed well in his first term and is ready for any challenge to get a return ticket.

He was optimistic that the governor would  get a return ticket irrespective of the mode of selection for choosing the party’s governorship candidate.

The Abdurahman Mohammed faction of the PDP in the state said its major task is to return to power in the state  in 2023 and to achieve that it will adopt  “a comprehensive and sincere consensus” to pic its candidates.

Secretary of the Benue State chapter of  the party, Dan Nyikwgh said:  “after we lost elections in 2023, the party has faced multiple challenges arising from Congresses across all levels including the national leadership, but now that the court of appeal has confirmed the authentic national chairman in person of Ahaji Abdurahman Mohammed, the party is rebuilding.

” We’re  gradually becoming yet another beautiful bride.Those who  left the party due to the crises are coming back, we need to sit down and talk to accommodate every interest.

“The  umbrella is big enough to accommodate every interest;above all ex-Governor  Samuel Ortom has been providing leadership, and our sole interest now is to take over power from the  government of Chief Hyacinth Alia.

” And  this much, every other contestant knows that , this is a must-do task, and we can only achieve this through a comprehensive and sincere consensus.Therefore, any mode of selection  our leaders in PDP agree upon , including consensus, would be done .

A key member of ADC in the state, Barr. Alex Adum  said the party might  go for direct primaries.

The Kwara State chapter of APC may also opt for consensus. But the biggest challenge for the party now is determining the zone to produce its governorship candidate.

Its chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi said recently that the party would try as much as possible to avoid acrimonious primaries.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has repeatedly denied having a preferred candidate and  asked for a  level playing field for all aspirants .

Aspirants from Kwara North senatorial district have clamoured assiduously for the shift of governorship seat to the region.

They claim that their region has not had a shot at the exalted position since 2027.

The aspirants are being backed by the Kwara state APC Elders Caucus. The caucus is being les by an octogenarian Chief James Ayeni. The elders hinged their support for the region of fairness, equity and justice.

So far, four aspirants from Kwara North had signified their governorship ambition. They are current Speaker of the state House of Assembly Salihu Yakubu Danladi, Senator representing  Kwara North Sadiq Suleiman Umar, former Transportation Mminister Bio Ibrahim and a chartered accountant Tajudeen Audu.

From Kwara South and Central senatorial districts  are former chairman, Senate Committee on Health Dr Yahaya Oloriegbe, Deputy Senate Leader Oyelola Yisa Ashiru, ex-APC chairman Hon Bashir Bolarinwa, Oluwatoyin Tajudeen Alabi all from Kwara Central and South respectively.

Bolarinwa, former House of Representatives member, on Thursday presented his letter of intent to the APC leadership in the state.

The only known governorship aspirant from PDP is  Omar Bolaji Gambari, son of former of Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof Ibrahim Gambari

Findings revealed that Mr Gambari has the backing of former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

However, neither the PDP nor ADC has disclosed the process  that will lead to the emergence of their candidates.

Adamawa State

The ADC in Adamawa ,home state of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ,seems to have disintegrated even before the commencement of primaries for the coming elections.

Critical stakeholders including popular governorship aspirant  Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani yesterday passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the party and  decided to pull out.

They cited  collapse of internal democracy for their action.

They are now in search of a viable political platform for effective participation in the 2027 general elections, particularly the Governorship race in Adamawa State.

Rising from a meeting in Yola yesterday where they reviewed the recently conducted party congresses in the state,,the ADC members declared that the actions of the party leadership at both state and national levels “have destroyed internal democracy, undermined the rule of law, and rendered the party structure in Adamawa State illegitimate and unacceptable.”

They faulted the congresses conducted under the leadership of Ishaya Bauka,describing them as   fundamentally flawed, manipulated, and imposed against the will of the majority of party members.

“Valid court judgments and subsisting injunctions were deliberately ignored, setting a dangerous precedent of lawlessness within the party,” they said in a communiqué.

Continuing, they said: “The party leadership engaged in systematic exclusion, imposition, and intimidation of genuine stakeholders and aspirants.

“The party has consequently lost moral legitimacy and can no longer serve as a credible platform for democratic participation in Adamawa State.

“In view of the above, and in the overriding interest of justice, political survival, and the people of Adamawa State, we unanimously resolve as follows:

“We pass a vote of no confidence on the ADC leadership at both the State and National levels for their complicity in the collapse of internal democracy.

“We hereby announce our immediate and irreversible resignation en masse from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State.

“We categorically reject the outcomes of the recently conducted congresses and declare them null, void, and of no consequence.

“We resolve to immediately align with a more credible and democratic political platform that guarantees fairness, justice, and respect for the rule of law.

“We unanimously mandate Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani to lead stakeholders in determining and transitioning into a viable political platform for effective participation in the 2027 general elections, particularly the Governorship race in Adamawa State.

“A structured and coordinated movement of stakeholders and supporters across Polling Units, Wards, LGAs, and the State will commence immediately to ensure a seamless transition.

“We shall embark on aggressive grassroots mobilization, political education, and structural rebuilding under the new political platform to ensure electoral victory.

“The ADC, by its actions, has abdicated its responsibility as a democratic institution in Adamawa State. We refuse to be part of a system that thrives on injustice, impunity, and illegality.

“This decision marks the beginning of a new political direction anchored on credibility, inclusiveness, and true democratic ideals.”

Delta State

The contest for  the APC senatorial ticket in Delta North promises to be a tough one as former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa indicated  his plan to challenge the incumbent Senator Ned Munir Nwoko.

Some political leaders in the senatorial district are said to have prevailed on the former governor to stage a return to the Senate for a better representation of Delta North.

He was in the senate between 2011 and 2015 before becoming  governor in 2015

Nwoko,declaring his intention to seek re-election on Friday said his performance in the Senate has been driven by a commitment to amplifying the voices of his constituents and addressing their socio-economic challenges.

“The people know me, and I know them. I understand their needs and I am committed to solving their problems,” he said.

The lawmaker also pledged to work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, expressing confidence in the President’s leadership and ongoing reforms at the national level.

On infrastructure in the education sector, Nwoko disclosed plans to upgrade the Federal College of Education, Asaba, into a federal university.

He described the move as strategic to expanding access to higher education and fostering development in the region.

He further urged constituents to remain steadfast in their support for progressive governance, cautioning against a return to what he termed “old politics.”

Addressing the issue of Anioma State creation, Nwoko aligned himself with the position of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, noting that Akpabio’s stance represents the official position on the matter.