The race for the
governorship seat
in Kogi, the
confluence state, is
gradually getting
tough considering
that the incumbent
governor of the
state, Idris Wada, is
also in the race,
seeking re-election
on the platform of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It is also getting more interesting as aspirants
have continued to spring up from the different
political parties, especially from the opposition All
Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The atmosphere is full of jostling and scheming
ahead of the November 21, 2015 governorship
election in the state as top politicians have
commenced serious struggle for the ticket of their
parties.
The PDP, which is in control of the state, has not
yet announced the sale of forms but aspirants
have started making consultations and lobby for
the party’s ticket.
Evidently, the incumbent governor, Idris Wada, is
among the top contenders.
The governor had visited the national secretariat
of the party on several occasions and held
meetings with the party’s acting national
chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
Sources said the discussions revolved around his
second term ambition.
Wada had on 1st July, 2015, arrived at the PDP
national secretariat in the morning to have a
meeting with the National Working Committee
(NWC) but was kept waiting for hours, a clear
indication that all was not well.
This was after the party’s national leadership had
cancelled the ad hoc delegates ward congress in
the state, which was conducted on 27th June, on
the ground that it was conducted by an unknown
local organising committee.
Considering that the party had rescheduled the
congresses for 14th July, the governor, our
correspondent gathered, was displeased with the
development and therefore stormed the national
secretariat of the party with his deputy, Yomi
Awoniyi and other officials of the government.
However, he refused to address the press at the
end of the meeting.
But, while speaking with our correspondent in a
telephone interview on whether the party was
willing to give automatic ticket to Wada to run for
a second term, the PDP national publicity
secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the party would not,
stressing that the governor must also participate
in the party’s primary election.
This position indicated a twist in the party
considering that it, last year, gave automatic
tickets to the then President Goodluck Jonathan,
Senate President David Mark and its governors
who were seeking re-election.
Analysts say while the PDP may have its preferred
candidate in Kogi who it considers stronger and
more grassroots-oriented than Wada, there are
fears that the governor may work against
whoever emerges the party’s candidate other
than he himself.
It is argued that this is especially so considering
that the governor has the enormous resources
and structures on ground and can influence
certain decisions in the state chapter of the party,
including influencing his supporters to take a
particular line of action.
But aggrieved workers at the PDP national
secretariat, Abuja, have revealed that the
governor was asked to commit the sum of
N1billion to the NWC before he would be granted
ticket; an allegation Metuh denied.
With the reality on ground, coupled with the fact
that the PDP lost some of its controlled states in
the last general elections (it now has only 13
governors out of the 36 states), pundits believe
that fielding an unpopular candidate or
imposition would cost the party electoral defeat.
However, during his last visit to the PDP national
secretariat, Wada came with the former PDP
governorship candidate in Osun State, Iyiola
Omisore, in what many believed was to push for
him to emerge as the party’s candidate for the
election.
Omisore himself contested on the party’s
platform in last year’s governorship election in
Osun but was defeated by candidate of the APC,
Rauf Aregbesola, who won a second term.
Citing the resolve of the PDP not to give him
automatic ticket, analysts believed that Wada is
not in the PDP’s good books and this scenario
shows that the party has the option of fielding its
preferred candidate without getting Wada’s
support or fielding the governor for a second
term all at its own peril.
The dilemma, our correspondent gathered, is
coming from the performance of the governor
which many party officials are not satisfied with.
There are also fears that people at the grassroots
did not see any significant changes in their lives in
terms of dividends of democracy and might vote
the party out if the governor is fielded.
Another factor which observers believe would
work against Wada’s aspiration is that civil
servants have been suffering over non-payment
of their salaries and would be reluctant to give
their votes to a sitting government under which
they languished in poverty.
Another challenging factor is the perceived strong
nature of the opposition, especially the APC in the
state, which has brought so much competition, a
development that demands for fielding of a
popular candidate by the PDP.
The fear is that if the APC, which controls the
federal government fields a more popular
candidate, the PDP will be thrown out of office to
now assume the new status of opposition party in
the state.
However, following insistence on organising
primary elections, there are indications that the
PDP has changed strategy.
Metuh had told newsmen recently that the party
would be fair to all aspirants of the PDP in the
state in order to ensure that it did not lose out in
the elections and to also sustain its members.
By and large, the PDP is also insisting that the
election should not be conducted under the new
INEC boss, Mrs Amina Zakari, stressing that the
party would not accept any results that would be
released under her watch, alleging that she is too
close to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The party had acknowledged that prior to the last
elections, most cases of defection by its members
to other political parties were avoidable, but, that
the party took the issue for granted.
On the other hand, there are indications that the
APC is confident of winning the Kogi guber
election considering the dramatic turn of events
during the last general elections.
The party is also boasting of having experienced
aspirants, some of whom have governed the state
before and know the political terrain.
However, this does not mean that all is well for
the party as there is bickering among its ranks as
to who will emerge as its candidate. So far, there
are over 30 aspirants hunting for the ticket of the
APC.
Some party stakeholders are kicking against the
possible candidature of Prince Abubakar Audu, a
former governor of the state. His first stint was
from January 1992 to November, 1993 when the
then democratic process was truncated.
He then won again during this dispensation and
governed Kogi from 29th May, 1999 to 29th, 2003.
Since his defeat in 2003, Audu has continued to
contest and lose governorship elections in the
state. And despite what analysts term his
“remarkable achievements” during his reign,
sources said APC leaders are “skeptical”, that he
might also lead the party to failure if given
fielded.
Another aspirant of the APC is Alhaji Yahaya Bello,
who hails from Agassa in Okene Local
Government Area.
He is seen by some politicians as more
marketable within the APC circle especially
considering his wealth.
Other contenders within the APC include Senators
Nicholas Ugbane, Alex Kadiri, Mr. Onukaba
Adeniyi-Ojo, Mr. Olusola Olumoroti, Dr. Habib
Yaqeen, Mr. Lanre and Ipinmisho.
As it is now, the PDP and the APC have locked
horns in the race for Lugard House while
aspirants are scrambling to emerge their party’s
candidates.
All things being equal, it is on November 21st that
INEC will tell who the competition favours
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