2023: Governance Relegated As Politicians Jostle For Tickets

MAJOR organs of governments across the country now operate at the lowest ebb as politicians engage in an intense fight for tickets of their parties for the 2023 general election in the country.

According to the Nigerian Tribune survey, it shows that top functionaries of government and lawmakers have riveted their attention to securing tickets for elective offices as parties step up preparations for primaries to pick candidates.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is to commence the process of choosing its candidates for various elective offices today after a slight adjustment of its timetable and schedule of activities. On the other hand, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed the first meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) for tomorrow after the March 26 convention in Abuja with the timetable and schedule of activities top on the agenda.

The National Assembly has proceeded on break, ostensibly to enable its members, a number of whom are seeking fresh mandate or nursing governorship aspiration, to partake in their respective party primaries.

Thus, many lawmakers have been involved in a publicity stunt in the last few weeks, inaugurating empowerment schemes and projects in their constituencies to curry the favour of their constituents.

Some governors have a frosty relationship with lawmakers from their states over the control of party structure.

The parties have till June 3 as the deadline for the parties to produce their presidential candidates.

Bauchi:

In Bauchi, the ongoing consultations by Governor Bala Mohammed over his presidential bid has slowed down government activities.

Though the deputy governor, Senator Baba Tela is always around the state, there is no indication of formal transmission of power by the governor.

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Thus far, two commissioners and some political appointees have resigned their appointments to aspire for the tickets of the PDP in their constituencies.

The former Commissioner for Works and Transport, Abdulkadir Ibrahim resigned to contest for the ticket of the Alkaleri/Kirfi seat in the House of Representatives having contested and lost the same office in 2019.

Also, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Maryam Garba Bagel resigned to seek the PDP ticket for Bogoro/Dass /Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency.

Akwa Ibom:

Notable politicians, including governorship aspirants mostly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have relocated to their country homes to woo their constituents.

They include Pastor Umo Eno who is Governor Udom Emmanuel’s preferred choice as successor; Senator Bassey Akpan; Mr. Onofiok Luke; Mr. James Iniama; Mr. Akan Okon and others. Although the opposition APC in the state is enmeshed in a factional crisis, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, used the Easter period to declare his governorship ambition.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had, last week, relocated from 149 Ikot Ekpene road, Uyo, to his private facility at 6, Ekpo Obot street, because of the factional feud with the immediate past interim national secretary of APC, Senator John Akpanudoedehe.

Notwithstanding the APC scenario, the PDP secretariat at Atan Offot, has been abuzz with activities as the chairman, Mr. Aniekan Akpan, continues to play host to aspirants on consultative visits.

Kano:

In Kano State, a lot of the aspirants for various elective offices have literally swooped on their constituents, offering consumables and inaugurating supposed constituency projects.

While some of those with governorship aspirations are campaigning through different fora, sponsoring major political events, others have acquired branded vehicles deployed to the various localities in the state.

Sokoto:

Sokoto State governor, Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has, in the last few weeks, been outside the state to lobby PDP delegates and others as part of his ongoing consultations on his presidential bid. Presently, the state deputy governor, Muhammad Manir Dan’Iya, is said to be in charge of affairs in the state.

Plateau:

Nigerian Tribune findings showed that the Government House in Jos, Plateau State, which used to be a beehive, now records less activities, except when Governor Simon Lalong is around.

A civil servant who did not want his name in print said most activities have shifted to the APC party state secretariat and the campaign offices of aspirants.

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“The governor is often out of the state for either politics or other issues and the moment he steps out, other principal officers seldom sit in their respective offices. At present, there are crucial files that need urgent attention but are unattended due to the ongoing lobbying for elective offices by politicians.,” the source claimed.

Kogi:

It was observed that most politicians now spend most hours of the day at the Abuja residence of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State apparently to lobby him on their aspirations.

Bello is most of the time in Abuja because of his presidential ambition.

He was in Port Harcourt for Amaechi and met with Osinbajo and Tinubu, during the tour of 106 wards in his state.

The belief is that he holds the ace in determining who gets the ticket of the party for the elections.

Ondo:

In Ondo State, at least six political appointees have resigned following a directive from Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to all political appointees interested in contesting any position in the 2023 election.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo blazed the trail, resigning less than an hour after the directive was issued.

Ojogo is eyeing the Ilaje/ Ese-Odo Federal Constituency’s ticket on the platform of the APC.

Five other appointees that have resigned are the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Gboyega Adefarati, who is contesting for the House of Representatives ticket of Akoko Southwest/Akoko Southeast Federal Constituency; Special Adviser on Investment Boye Oyewumi, who is gunning for the Ondo South senatorial seat; Chairman, State Information Technology Agency (SITA), Mr Olumbe Akinkugbe, who has indicated an interest in the Ondo East/ Ondo West Federal Constituency and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora, Victor Ategbole, who is seeking to run for the Akoko Southwest/Akoko Southeast Federal Constituency.

Kwara:

Nigerian Tribune also observed that most political office holders aspiring for elective posts in the state are eyeing the House of Representatives, with just a few interested in the Senate.

Some of them include commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Hajia Saadat Modibbo Kawu; Special Adviser on Political Matters, Abdulrazaq Alakawa and Ambassador Yahaya Seriki.

Also, the Security Adviser to the governor, Alhaji Yinka Aluko, has made his intention known to contest for the Kwara Central senatorial seat just as the Senior Special Assistant on Rural Mobilisation, Comrade Musbau Esinrogunjo, has also declared his ambition to contest in the 2023 general elections.

Kaduna:

Governance in Kaduna remains relatively on course in spite of the frenzy concerning those who are gunning for various offices in 2023. So far, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Abdullahi Dattijo has resigned to pursue his governorship ambition.

Zamfara:

Though a former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Kabiru Marafa, a former Minister of Communication, Alhaji Ikira Aliyu Bilbis and some former commissioners have dumped APC for PDP in the state, the Nigeria Tribune learnt that aspiring politicians in the state are using the month of Ramadan to lobby citizens with food items, clothes and cash gifts.

Osun:

There is uncertainty over the bid by Senator Francis Fadahunsi to return to the Senate.

A faction of the PDP in the state chapter of the PDP has reportedly offered the ticket of the party to another contestant.

His hope for the second term ticket now rests on a rival faction of the party as the state prepares for the July 2022 governorship poll in the state.

Lagos:

In Lagos State, there is much attention on the presidential bid of a national leader of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu.

That notwithstanding, the posters and banners of aspirants to various elective offices now adorn the streets of Lagos, but with no one among them indicative of challenging the incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the APC governorship ticket, who is yet to declare a bid.

The governor has been leading the campaign for the bid of Tinubu for president.

Delta:

Most parties’ secretariats at the state, local government and ward levels, as well as campaign offices of elective office seekers are wearing a new look in preparation for the party primaries.

At the level of the National Assembly, deputy president of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, who is representing Delta Central senatorial district, leads the pack as he seeks the governorship ticket of the APC.

Senators Peter Nwaoboshi and the fifth-term Senator James Manager of the Delta North and Delta South senatorial districts respectively are involved in intense consultations.

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Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo (SAN), House of Representatives members, Reverend Francis Waive, Ughelli Federal Constituency; Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, Warri Federal Constituency; Benson Igbakpa, Ethiope Federal Constituency; as well as lawmakers at the Delta State House of Assembly from the 25 local government areas of the state are reaching out to party faithful through foot soldiers.

Oyo:

Following the release of schedule of activities by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the 2023 general election, the politics of who gets the party’s tickets for the various elective positions has dominated the polity in recent weeks.

The frenzy, intense politicking in the Oyo PDP has continued to gain momentum owing to the resolve by the leader of the ruling party in the state, Governor Seyi Makinde that consensus be the adopted mode to choose the party’s candidates for the various positions.

Despite setting up committees to advise on consensus candidates for National Assembly, state House of Assembly positions, Makinde has been at the head of the table where the final decision is made who gets what.

Day and night, politicians, party stalwarts and stakeholders have besieged the state Government House, Ibadan, for meetings usually held with Makinde present where the fate of aspirants are being decided.

In the past weeks, while activities at the Governor’s Office have been on low ebb, the Government House has been charged with a beehive of relating to the battle for who gets the party’s tickets for the 2023 general election.

Lagos is the second least liveable city in the world for the year 2021. This is according to the most recent annual ranking put together by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)…

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