Ironically, Audu who was dethroned by the PDP in 2003 is leading the pack of the 28 aspirants jostling to replace Wada, the incumbent governor of the party at Lugard House in the November election. The other aspirants include Alhaji Yahaya Bello; Senator Alex Usman Kadiri; Hussein Idris Kashim; Alh. Sanusi Abubakar Aliyu (Gamji); Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane; Sani Halilu Shuaibu; Suleman Baba Ali; AVM Saliu Atawodi; Muhammad Abdullahi; Senator Nuruddeen Abatemi Usman; the only female contestant, Princess Hadiza Ibrahim; Yakubu Mohammed, a former acting governor of the state, Hon. Clarence Olafemi; and Suleiman Ejeh Abutu.
The others are Sunday Ejibo; Otunba Suleman Lanre Ipinmisho; Dr. Tim Nda Diche; Habeeb Abdullahi Yakeen; Rotimi Yakub Obadofin; Babatunde Irukera; Ocholi Enojoh James; Aliyu Zakari Jiya; Olushola George Olumoroti; and Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo. Audu had also served as the governor of Kogi State from January 1992 to November 1993.
To signify his position as a leading and the most experienced among the aspirants, Audu had described his fellow contestants as ‘school leavers’ in a chat with journalists after he obtained his nomination form some weeks ago. Sources told this magazine that the chance of the former Governor emerging as the gubernatorial candidate is brightened by the fact that members of executives of the Kogi chapter of APC are his loyalists.
Indeed, the former Governor had always boasted that he built up the APC in Kogi State as he has always been in opposition while most of the other aspirants just decamped from the PDP.
Supporters of Audu have continue to tout his achievements like the establishment of the State University, Polytechnic, housing development and construction of inter township roads among others, which according to them have not been equaled by his successors as reasons why the former Governor should be allowed to occupy the governorship seat for another four years.
But if there is any aspirant who all the other aspirants will, if possible, prevent from participating in the gubernatorial primaries, it is Audu. For one, most of the aspirants believe that the former Governor has had his time in governing Kogi State and should allow others to try their hands on the job.
Audu case is also not helped by the fact that he is still being tried by the EFCC on corrupt allegation related to mismanagement of funds during his first time in office. Other aspirants are already playing this fact as one of the reasons the APC which was elected into office on its strong anti corruption stance should not allow the former governor fly its flag in the impending election.
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