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  • How APC, PDP Shared 36 States After Governorship Elections

    How APC, PDP Shared 36 States After Governorship Elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation of results for the 2023 gubernatorial election ends today, March 21, 2023. 

    Here is a summary of how the top parties won, the incumbent governors that have been re-elected into power, and the parties that still control off-cycle election states:

    Editorial Note: There has been a suspension of result collation in Enugu and Abia states. This is due to a call to review results in 2 Enugu LGAs and an attack on voters and INEC officials in Obingwa LG of Abia State. 

    The Kebbi governorship election is declared inconclusive by INEC due to overvoting in 20 out of 21 LGs.

    Adamawa governorship election has also been declared inconclusive by INEC. It is expected that there’d be a rerun election.

    Which party led the race?

    Apart from the four states where INEC suspended collation, Governors have been declared across the remaining 24 states. The All Progressives Congress won 15 states, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won eight states and the New Nigeria Party (NNPP) with one state (Kano).

    Which states had their incumbent governors reelected?

    Eleven incumbent governors ran for re-election in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Yobe and Zamfara. However, only six states had their incumbent governors re-elected into power. They are: 

    Oyo State – Seyi Makinde

    Seyi Makinde, the incumbent governor and PDP candidate in Oyo state, has been declared the winner of the 2023 gubernatorial race with 563,756 votes.

    Lagos State – Babajide Sanwo-Olu

    Sanwo-Olu, the incumbent governor and APC candidate in Lagos state, has been reelected governor in Nigeria’s commercial capital with 762,134 votes, thereby beating his rival, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party. This was amidst allegations of voter suppression.

    Ogun State – Dapo Abiodun

    Incumbent governor and APC candidate of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, won his re-election with 276,298 votes to emerge the winner of the keenly contested election. Ladi Adebutu of the PDP came second with 262,383  votes.

    Kwara State – Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman 

    APC’s Abdulrahman got the majority vote in Kwara with 273,424 votes. This helped him beat his PDP rival, Abdullahi Shuaibu Yaman, who had 155,490 votes.

    Yobe State – Mai Mala Buni

    Mai Mala Buni has been re-elected Governor of Yobe State, winning in all 17 local government areas of the state with a total of 317,113 votes.

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sharif Abdulahi, came a distant second with a total score of 104,259.

    Nasarawa State – Abdullahi Sule 

    Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) acquired 347,209 votes to beat his closest contender, David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 283,016 votes.

    RECOMMENDED: How Many Governors Are Vying for A Second Term in 2023? 

    How many off-cycle election states does each party rule?

    Only 28 states participated in the 2023 governorship elections. The remaining eight states (Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Osun, and Ondo) will hold theirs later. This is due to a different election cycle usually caused by litigations.

    However, this means that certain states will maintain their party strongholds. Let’s see how many states each major political party in Nigeria still has:

    All Progressives Congress (APC) (4)

    The APC holds power in these off-cycle states – Ekiti, Imo, Kogi and Ondo.

    This means that Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) would all get to keep their seats as governors — in the meantime. 

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) (3)

    Bayelsa, Edo and Osun are under the PDP and will not hold elections. Douye Diri, Godwin Obaseki and Ademola Adeleke, respectively, are still governors of these states. 

    All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) (1)

    Only Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance would not hold elections. Anambra is also the only state in Nigeria that the party controls. Charles Soludo remains governor of Anambra State.

    How many states do the parties control overall?

    If one adds up the states won from elections to the states a party still rules due to off-cycle polls, here are the results: 

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) now controls 19 states in Nigeria.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has a stronghold in 11 states.

    The New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) now rules Kano State, beating the incumbent APC. 

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) maintains dominance in Anambra state. 

    Thank you for following the 2023 governorship and state assembly election coverage with us. Learn more about politics, governance and policies and be a part of a cool community by joining our WhatsApp community here.

    Chiamaka Dike

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  • Oyo, Lagos Governors Win Re-election Bids; Collation Continues

    Oyo, Lagos Governors Win Re-election Bids; Collation Continues

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation of results for the 2023 gubernatorial election has officially started across 28 states in Nigeria. Here are the results declared: 

    Seyi Makinde is re-elected governor of Oyo State

    Seyi Makinde, the PDP candidate in Oyo state has been declared the winner of the 2023 gubernatorial race in the state. This is with 435,026 votes. This would be Seyi Makinde’s second term as governor of Oyo State.

    He is also the only G5 governor that didn’t lose his election.

    Sanwo-Olu wins Lagos re-election bid

    Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), secured his re-election bid after winning 18 out of 19 local governments declared so far. 

    In Eti-Osa, results are yet to be collated. Voting has been postponed in one of the key polling units (VGC) due to last-minute logistical changes from INEC. 

    Rhodes-Vivour wins Amuwo-Odofin LGA 

    Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP) won the Amuwo-Odofin LGA of Lagos State.

    Violence mars Lagos Elections

    Across several polling units in Lagos, voters experienced intimidation and suppression of their votes. There were also alleged signs of tribalism towards the Igbos in Lagos.

    This is in comparison to Sanwo-Olu’s polling unit in Lagos, which was marginally peaceful.

    There may be a post-election court tribunal for Lagos State

    Yesterday, Rhodes-Vivour went on Twitter to reassure supporters that their votes will be rightfully defended. In Nigeria, we know there’s only one way you can do that – in a court of law.

    RECOMMENDED: How to Challenge Election Results in Court

    Follow the results with us at Zikoko Citizen by visiting our election tracker page.

    To be part of the conversation, join our WhatsApp community here. 

    Chiamaka Dike

    , ,

  • 2023 Governorship Elections: What Should Nigerians Expect?

    2023 Governorship Elections: What Should Nigerians Expect?

    Polls have closed across the 28 states participating in Nigeria’s 2023 governorship and state assembly elections on March 18, 2023 — except for where INEC postponed polls.

    While we await INEC’s official collation and announcement, here are some interesting data points to note:

    There are a lot of old governorship candidates 

    To become a Nigerian governor, candidates must be at least 30 years of age — but the statistics from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show the average governorship candidate age as 51. Those seeking re-election just happen to be around 58. 

    Yup, this old.

    Two hundred and seventeen (217) governorship candidates are between 51 and 65 years old. The oldest governorship candidate, Abdulraheem Shuaibu Oba of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kwara state, is 74 years old. The youngest candidates, 20 of them,  are only 35 years old. 

    So, your new governor is likely a 50-year-old moonlighting as a youth.

    Nigeria could have its first elected female governor

    Women have always been the underdogs in Nigerian politics. In the 2019 elections, only 21 women made it to the National House of Assembly out of 469 members. 

    That trend doesn’t seem to change anytime soon, as only 25 of 417 candidates for the governorship elections are women. And their chances don’t look good against their male counterparts.

    However, there seems to be a solid female candidate from Adamawa, Aishatu “Binani” Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC). If all goes well, she could very well be Nigeria’s first female governor. And that could inspire more female participation in Nigerian politics. 

    Recommended: Will the North Produce Nigeria’s First Female Governor? 

    Seyi Makinde is the last G-5 governor standing

    The G5 governors were a group of five governors of the People’s Democratic Party who were beefing with Atiku’s candidacy as president. This was due to their belief that zoning for the presidential candidacy should have come from the South instead of the North. 

    Even though their wishes were granted with Atiku’s loss during the presidential election, things didn’t exactly turn out well for the governors.

    Enugu’s Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Abia’s Okezie Ikpeazu and Benue’s Samuel Ortom lost their senatorial bids. And their ringleader, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, is not even on the ballot. 

    You thought I’ll be part abi? Dey play.

    Now all eyes are now on Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde. Would he win or lose his re-election bid? Only time will tell.

    God abeg 

    Nigerians could get results faster through IReV

    The failure of INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) during the presidential elections may have served as the commission’s wake-up call. 

    As of 9:45 p.m. yesterday, Stears observed results pouring in from various parts of the country. For instance, 75% of Oyo state’s polling units have reported. In Enugu, it’s 79%, while Lagos and Rivers are at 55% and 62%, respectively.

    Now result uploads have hit a 77.4% average completion rate. Oyo State results are currently at a 94.7% completion rate. However, no state or LGA gubernatorial candidate has been declared the winner yet. 

    Lagos results could come in slower than the others 

    As of yesterday, INEC postponed elections in 8 polling units in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) area of Lagos State until today. 

    Thus, we expect Lagos State results will come in later. 

    Follow the results with us at Zikoko Citizen by visiting our election tracker page.

    To be part of the conversation, join our WhatsApp community here. 

    Chiamaka Dike

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  • Navigating Nigeria: Five Interesting Governorship Elections This Weekend

    Navigating Nigeria: Five Interesting Governorship Elections This Weekend

    For Navigating Nigeria this week, we look at the March 18 governorship elections and some key states to watch out for. While the February presidential and national assembly elections threw up some surprises, it’s anyone’s guess whether the status quo will be restored or if lightning can strike twice.

    After a one-week delay, the 2023 governorship elections are upon us. On March 18, 2023, 28 states will vote for their governors. The reason all 36 states are not taking part is due to off-cycle elections. We saw this in Ekiti and Osun last year, where the states held their elections at different times.

    The February 25 presidential and national assembly elections had some surprises, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) losing national assembly seats. For example, in Nasir El-Rufai’s APC-led Kaduna, the PDP won all three senatorial seats. The APC had previously held two of those. The PDP also won ten out of 16 house of representatives seats in the state.

    There were also surprising performances by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano and the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos. With the governorship elections two days away, it’s anyone’s guess about whether to expect more shocks or if the ruling party will re-strategise to reclaim some scalp. Here are five states to watch out for in the March 18 governorship election.

    Kano

    In Kano, the three leading candidates are Yusuf Abba Kabir of the NNPP, Gawuna Nasir Yusuf of the APC and Wali Mohammed Sadiq of the PDP. The NNPP won 38 out of 44 local governments in the presidential election with 997,279 votes. The APC won the remaining six, polling 517,341 votes. The margin of victory was over 470,000 votes.

    The odds are long for the APC, led by the term-limited Abdullahi Ganduje, to retain power. But this is Nigeria, where miracles happen daily.

    [Abdullahi Ganduje / Daily Post]

    ALSO READ: Kano State 2023 Governorship Elections: Meet the Aspirants

    Abia

    The LP swept through the South-East at the presidential election. In Abia state, currently led by PDP’s term-limited Okezie Ikpeazu, the PDP had a disastrous outing where it only managed 22,676 votes to fall a distant second to the LP, which polled 327,095 votes. Okpezie also lost his bid for the senate, marking a shocking decline in popularity. 

    Thirty-six people are vying for the governor’s seat, but the leading candidate is Alex Otti of the LP. If the LP repeats a performance similar to the presidential election, it will become the first time it leads the state.

    You can learn more about the Abia governorship election here.

    Adamawa

    Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the PDP is the current governor of Adamawa. Atiku Abubakar of the PDP won the state at the presidential election by a distance, with 417,611 votes to beat his closest challenger, Tinubu, with 182,881 votes. However, the governorship election is likely to be a much tighter affair.

    Fintiri is up against Senator Aishatu Binani of the APC. Binani is the first female governorship candidate of a major political party. She clinched the party’s ticket after defeating Nuhu Ribadu, former chair of the EFCC. No small feat as Ribadu was a former presidential candidate in 2011, finishing third with over two million votes.

    [Aishatu Binani / The Sun Nigeria]

    Binani’s journey hasn’t been rosy. She had to fight to reclaim her mandate after a federal high court nullified the primaries. She remains confident of victory against the incumbent. If she manages to pull it off, she’ll become Nigeria’s first-ever elected female governor. You can read more about her here.

    Lagos

    The state, which prides itself as the centre of excellence, will be the scene of a hard-fought contest on March 18. The incumbent, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC, is up against Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV) of the LP and Abdulazeez Olajide Adediran (Jandor) of the PDP. 

    [Sanwo-Olu, GRV and Jandor / BBC]

    At the presidential election, Obi won Lagos with 582,454 votes, ahead of Tinubu, a former Lagos governor who got 572,606 votes.

    The dynamics of the governorship election are different, however. The shock factor the LP had on February 25 is no longer there, and Sanwo has responded by going into overdrive in his campaign.

    This one’s hard to call, but a repeat of the February 25 results would be seismic — at the risk of stating the obvious. It would be the first time BAT loses his grip on the state. Lagos is BAT’s prized possession, and while he’s achieved a lifelong ambition by emerging president-elect, it doesn’t look like he’ll let go of Lagos without a fight. 

    Rivers

    Without beating about the bush, Rivers was the scene of electoral fraud at the just concluded presidential election. While BAT emerged victorious, there’ve been growing calls for the results to be investigated. That said, the state’s governorship election will be tightly contested. The LP, PDP, APC and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have strong candidates. Nyesom Wike, the state’s outgoing governor, will want to have his say on who emerges as his successor. Will the outcome of the February 25 election repeat itself, or will a different party emerge winner? Your guess is as good as mine.

    [Nyesom Wike / Punch]

    We’ll be bringing you special coverage of the governorship elections as they happen across the country. To get live updates, join us on how WhatsApp by clicking the image below:

    Stephen Agwaibor

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  • Check Out This Survival Kit for the March 18 Elections

    Check Out This Survival Kit for the March 18 Elections

    Written By Onyinye Nwachukwu

    As Nigeria’s 2022/3023 election season comes to a close, one cannot help but note how exhilarating it’s been. Earlier in the season, eventful primaries triggered an upsurge in energy and voter registration, particularly among youth. The emergence of a youth-propelled third force candidate in the person of the Labour Party’s (LP) Peter Obi allowed them to dream up endless possibilities of bringing sanity into Nigerian politics.

    However, reality often differs widely from expectation, and the atmosphere was thrown into a sullen mood following the declaration of the election winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

    There’s been running commentary online about how the results may have dampened the hopes and enthusiasm of young Nigerians. In a conversation with my mum and her friends over the weekend, we were left without any doubt that INEC had failed to deliver credible elections, especially with reports coming from Rivers state. We were dumbfounded at INEC’s audacity in declaring a winner following the stunts that were pulled that included manipulated results, voter suppression as well as threats to the life of the state’s collation officer. 

    [Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike / Premium Times]

    While we’re still coming to terms with how INEC handled the presidential and national assembly elections poorly, let’s not forget that governorship and state house of assembly seats are still up for grabs. Citizen already explained here why the March 18 elections are essential. 

    If you need to know who is contesting in your ward, here is a list of all the candidates for Saturday’s elections. Look at it and get familiar with who best represents your interest. 

    Here’s a list of things you’d need to carry along as you prepare for the March 18 elections.

    Election day must-haves

    If you already have your PVC, here’s a list of things we believe you’ll need while exercising your civic duties.

    A bath

    Chances are, you’d be in a crowd, line, or small huddle. Whatever the case, you’d be in close contact with people. So remember to take a bath and not be the reason anyone wouldn’t vote for your candidate. A quick shower, mouthwash, and spritz of deodorant are advised—extra points for perfumes and lotion. 

    Water bottles

    Now except your polling unit is in Victoria Garden City (VGC) like the one we saw with a barbecue stand on Twitter in the past week, chances are there would be no vendors at your unit. So grab a bottle of water for yourself and another for a stranger. 

    Wide-brimmed hat

    This one sounds foreign, but it protects you from the sun. And If you still feel the hat is ridiculous, then the face cap is for you. It protects your face and eyes from heavy sunlight. Throw in a sunshade for 2FA. 

    Snacks

    Reports from the just concluded elections indicate that you might spend all day there to ensure your votes are uploaded. So remember to pack some snacks with you. Depending on how many people turn up at your polling unit, you might need to dust your food flask from secondary school, university, or your in-office days. Your culinary skills are also going to be put to the test.

    Raincoat

    These days, the weather is as unpredictable as the exchange rate. If it rains, you need something to keep you from getting wet, and a raincoat is perfect. We’re sure INEC wouldn’t provide canopies and seats that day, so stay prepared and get a raincoat. 

    Things you might have to lend INEC

    One common theme during the elections was the lack of preparedness by the election body. The performance of INEC was below par, considering the ₦305 billion budgeted by the federal government for the elections. 

    Voters at several polling units in the South East, North East and South South complained of excess voters. They even mentioned that their polling units had just one Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine. Others in polling units across the country had to lend INEC officials some personal items to conduct the elections. Below is a list of items you might need to carry along in case INEC decides to do a repeat.

    Wi-Fi

    Before you think this is unusual, remember this lady from a unit in Gwarimpa, Abuja, who had to switch on her 5G for INEC officials to complete the exercise at her PU. At some polling units, officials cited lack of internet as the reason they would not upload the election result. 

    Bottle of Ink

    Don’t be surprised; you might have to lend INEC officials some ink. 

    Power supply

    During the February 25 elections, voting continued until midnight in some places. Since you can’t rely on the national grid to provide a steady power supply, an alternative might be necessary. So carry your torches, generators or car headlights to your polling units.

    Refreshment

    INEC officials were rumoured to have been on call for over 24 hours without food or drinks that should have been allocated during the preparation for the exercise. If the INEC officials at your polling unit wear long faces, try offering them a loaf of bread. They might be hungry but shy. 

    Remember to move in groups as you go out on March 18 to vote again. Stay away from lonely roads. Raise the alarm at first sight of violence and be your brother’s keeper. In the meantime, encourage people to come out and vote on Saturday. If they need reasons to vote, Citizen listed some here. You won’t get another chance at it for the next four years, so please go out and cast your vote.

    Contributor

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  • Don’t Throw Away Your PVCs Yet. Here’s Why

    Don’t Throw Away Your PVCs Yet. Here’s Why

    Millions of Nigerians, us included, believed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when it said it would adhere strictly to the Electoral Act, deploy the use of the BVAS and upload results in real-time to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). 

    [INEC chair Mahmood Yakubu / Punch]

    What played out was the opposite. Across the country, results were not uploaded in real time as promised. Nine days after the general elections, results are still being uploaded to IReV, calling INEC’s competence and integrity to question as it has already declared a winner.

    INEC’s failings have led to an atmosphere of distrust and may have the effect of creating voter apathy. There’ve even been reports of people destroying their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC). 

    https://twitter.com/youngskidmusic/status/1630697781957476356

    Destroying your PVC is the wrong approach. In a few hundred words, we hope to convince you why you should still use your PVC to vote on March 11.

    You are in the majority

    There’s a common expression, “majority carries the vote.” It means that in a democracy, the people’s choice of a leader should reflect whoever gathers the most votes. While the president-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared the winner, the victory is disputed in court following protests by the opposition parties over election irregularities.

    [President-elect, Bola Tinubu]

    Opposition votes combined outnumber the winner by nearly 6 million. The importance of this should be evident. It sends a message that despite irregularities, the people can still have their say with their ballots. Abstaining from elections because they don’t go as planned is the equivalent of cutting your nose to spite your face. Remember, the matter is still in court. Whether you turn up or not, elections will proceed. 

    Higher voter turnout reduces the chances of rigging

    You’ve heard this one before, and it’s true. The more people turn out, the less likely the possibility of rigging elections. The saying that there’s strength in numbers carries more weight than you realise.

    The 2019 elections had a 35% voter turnout. This meant 65% of eligible voters didn’t vote. When INEC planned the election, it did so with the assumption that everyone would come out to vote. Millions of unused ballot papers are susceptible to manipulation when the majority don’t come out to vote.

    [Ballot papers / Guardian Nigeria]

    If, on the other hand, voter turnout is in the high eighties or nineties, there’ll be fewer available ballots to swing the election in favour of any one candidate.

    Higher voter turnout is also a thug’s nightmare. A determined voter populace keeping watch at their polling unit will be tough to intimidate because how many people you fit beat? Besides, citizens are better informed and prepared based on how things played out in the February 25 election. So don’t be afraid. Go out and vote.

    State elections are more important than you realise

    All eyes were on the February 25 elections, and understandably too. It’s the top job, and you want whoever gets that seat to merit it because leading Nigeria today is not a job for the fainthearted. 

    However, it’s a mistake to think it all starts and ends with who gets to be president. Arguably, governorship elections are just as important. Your governor can wake up one morning and ban okadas rendering thousands of people jobless. Governors can increase tuition fees of state universities on a whim. They can decide that local government elections won’t hold.

    They are also, as we’ve seen now, very capable of using the powers of their office to sway elections in “interesting” ways. As citizens, it’s in your best interest to vote for candidates not based on ethnic considerations but also based on their character and competence. If a candidate has a history of owing salaries or pensions, for example, a vote on March 11 will make clear that such impunities will no longer be tolerated. Coming out to vote on March 11 will send a message that citizens won’t be dissuaded.

    We’re all learning lessons from the conduct of our elections, but the critical point is that regardless of everything, you should come out to vote on March 11. It’s hard, but it’s necessary. You won’t get this chance again for another four years.

    Stephen Agwaibor

    , , ,

  • What’s in Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Four-Year Report Card?

    What’s in Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Four-Year Report Card?

    Next Saturday, the current governor of Lagos state will be seeking re-election. But how has he fared over the past four years? Here’s what his report card looks like.

    Year One

    He banned motorcycles in Lagos

    In January 2020, less than a year into his tenure, Governor Sanwo-Olu decided that commercial motorcycles were no longer a part of the mega plan he had for Lagos and that they just had to go. It didn’t matter that the state had a terrible traffic situation, or that most people had no alternative.

    The result: Lagosians had to trek… everywhere. Ride-hailing companies like Gokada, Max, and Opay laid off thousands of people, leaving them without a means of livelihood.

    Closed down the Eko bridge

    On March 11, 2020, Sanwo-Olu closed down the Eko Bridge in the early hours of the day without prior notice, causing a lot of people to be stuck in traffic in other areas. 

    The result: Commute became harder for people and the traffic got worse. The bridge was later reopened, but it was closed again after a fire gutted a section of it last year. It’s remained closed ever since.

    The Lekki shootings happened under his watch

    On the 3rd day of the ENDSARS protest, the 20th of October, Sanwo-Olu announced a curfew that would start at 4 p.m. This was ignoring the fact that it was a weekday and many people were outside. People kicked back against it, and the curfew was moved to 8 p.m. By 7 p.m., Sanwo-Olu called in the army and they arrived at the toll gate.  

    The result: Dozens of people were massacred at the gates and Sanwo-Olu still denies any involvement in the incident.

    Year Two

    He told people to roll up their windows when they got robbed

    In 2021, after the Eko bridge was finally reopened, insecurity had gone up in Lagos and people were getting robbed in traffic on the bridge. What did he say? “Roll up your windows and stay safe.” 

    Year Three

    He “increased” the salaries of civil servants in Lagos

    In October 2022, Sanwo-Olu announced that he was going to increase the salary of civil servants in Lagos by the end of the month.

    Result: 2022 is gone, and 2023 is here, but the pay raise is yet to be implemented. Why that is the case, it’s currently unclear.

    He asked containers to stop falling off the Ojuelegba bridge

    Who knew that all we needed to do was to just ask nicely and containers would stop falling? 

    Containers falling off bridges have been an issue for so long in Lagos. Since 2015, at least 20 people have been killed in accidents involving containers in Lagos State. Instead of erecting a simple barrier on these bridges to prevent huge trucks from using them at all, he simply said he’s not going to tolerate containers falling off bridges anymore. We’re sure the containers won’t try it again.

    He bought 62 fire trucks for the Lagos state fire service

    This is commendable considering how often fire outbreaks happen in markets and different areas of Lagos. Sanwo-Olu inaugurated 200 fire trucks in October 2022 to be used by the fire service authorities in the state for quick response to fire outbreaks. 

    Year Four

    He commissioned Lagos’s first light rail

    Earlier this year, Sanwo-Olu commissioned the first phase of the Lagos Blue Line with President Muhammadu Buhari. It’s a light rail system that had been planned as far back as 1983 before it was scrapped by the same person, Muhammadu Buhari. The line runs from Okokomaiko to Marina, and we were told to expect two more lines after this one.

    This is expected to ease up traffic within Lagos over time. But a few days ago, fire razed a section of the blue line and the fire service was reported to be super late to the incident.

    Overall Grade:  E 

    Why? Despite the pockets of work he did here and there, he oversaw one of the worst cases of human rights abuse this country has seen in the past few years.

    Sheriff Alimi

    , , ,

  • Dead Candidate and Things to Expect in Abia Election

    Dead Candidate and Things to Expect in Abia Election

    On March 11, 2023,  Abia state residents will cast votes in the governorship election to pick a new captain to steer the state for the next four years.

    [Abia State. BusinessDay]

    Thirty-six people are vying for the governor’s office in Abia state. However, based on opinion polls, a few candidates are ahead of the pack. These include Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP), Uchenna Ikonne* of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Gregory Ibe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ikechi Emenike of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Eyinnaya Nwafor of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

    Ikonne was due to represent the PDP but unfortunately suffered a cardiac arrest that led to his death on January 25, 2023. In line with the Electoral Act, the PDP scheduled February 4, 2023, to pick a replacement candidate. The replacement candidate is Ambrose Okechukwu Ahaiwe.

    Here are some other things to know.

    Current leadership

    Abia’s current governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, is a PDP governor in his second term and, therefore, ineligible to contest in 2023. He’s famous for being part of the breakaway group of governors known as the G5, who oppose the presidential aspiration of a fellow party member, Atiku Abubakar. His tenure expires on May 29, 2023.

    [Okezie Ikpeazu: Vanguard]

    Abia state’s house of assembly consists of 24 members elected into 24 constituencies. The PDP overwhelmingly dominates the assembly. Its current speaker is Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji.

    ALSO READ: What Happens When a Nigerian Candidate Dies During Elections?

    Interesting facts about Abia state

    In December 2015, when the current administration had been in office for seven months, its debt stock was ₦41.7 billion. As of March 2022, Abia state’s debt stood at ₦91.4 billion — more than double the state’s debt in 2015.

    Did you also know that the latest multidimensional poverty index (MPI) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) ranks Abia the third least poor state with less than 30 per cent of its citizens in multidimensional poverty? Only Ondo and Lagos post better MPIs.

    [Screenshot of MPI by state. NBS]

    What do Abia residents think of the coming governorship election?

    Amarachi

    “I reside in Umu Agu, Umuahia North local government area (LGA). I’m hoping that the coming governorship election is free and fair. I have no idea who I’ll be voting for because the person I’d have supported, Prof. Uchenna Ikonne, is deceased.

    “What I want whoever’s coming in to prioritise above other things are the roads. Although the present government has already done major parts that connect to the city, there’s still more to be done.”

    Kingsley**

    “For now, based on the latest happenings, I think the PDP has lost their grip. It’d be hard for them to be victorious in the forthcoming election. For me, the race is between the LP, YPP and APGA. I didn’t include the APC because they’re dealing with an internal crisis with two candidates, Ikechi Emenike and Uche Ogar, claiming to represent them.

    “I see it as God’s way of liberating the state, although it’s unfortunate it came at the cost of an innocent man’s life because Ikonne was a good man. What I think this state needs is someone who has no links with godfatherism, which is what Abia state suffers from.

    “I hope whoever wins focuses on paying unpaid pensions and salaries as well as building infrastructure.”

    Adaku

    “I live in Aba but I’m not really into politics. But as a citizen, I hope the people’s choice gets elected. To be honest I’ve never voted before. If I’m to vote, my choice would be Eyinnaya Nwafor. The reason is that he’s an engineer and Aba needs a lot of reconstruction. I believe this can only be done by a professional.

    “There are so many things I hope get prioritised when the next administration comes in. One is the construction of the roads. Roads in Aba are terrible, people are suffering. Secondly, the construction of markets. There’s so much chaos in the markets we have. People are paying so much money in tickets but are not getting anything in return. Hawkers are paying as much as ₦1,000 daily for tickets, they should look into this. Also, we need good public hospitals. The private hospitals are very expensive.

    “Electricity is an issue. For the past six months we’ve not seen light where I live. These are things I hope the coming administration will take care of.”

    ** Respondent chose to remain anonymous

    Are you signed up for our Game of Votes newsletter yet? We help you make sense of news jargon and keep you up-to-date, especially with election news. Make the subscription of a lifetime here.

    Stephen Agwaibor

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  • What You Should Know About Osun Governorship Election

    What You Should Know About Osun Governorship Election

    In democracies worldwide, an election is usually the best chance for groups of people to determine their own future. The Osun State governorship election will present voters with such an opportunity on Saturday, July 16th, 2022. 

    Here’s everything you need to know about this election.

    Why’s it taking place before 2023?

    Just like the June 18th, 2022 Ekiti State governorship election, the Osun State governorship election is one of a handful of governorship elections in Nigeria that doesn’t happen at the same time as the nationwide general elections. The Osun election fell out of sync with the regular timetable after the Supreme Court overturned Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s 2007 victory in favour of Rauf Aregbesola in 2010. 

    Is an incumbent governor involved?

    Yes. 

    Gboyega Oyetola will participate in the Osun governorship election

    The incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola, is contesting for a second term in office as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His biggest obstacle, yet again, is Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whom he narrowly beat in 2018.

    ALSO READ: Why These Nigerian States Have Off-Cycle Governorship Elections

    How many candidates are contesting?

    Nigeria has 18 political parties; 15 of them will participate in the Osun State governorship election. The three parties that won’t participate are Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    All 15 governorship candidates are male, but there are six female deputy governorship candidates in the race. No woman has ever been elected governor in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.

    Osun governorship election candidates

    Osun governorship election candidates

    Source: INEC

    How many people are voting?

    There are 1,955,657 voters eligible to vote in the Osun State governorship election. But only about 1,479,595 (75.7%) have collected their permanent voter’s cards (PVC) as of Sunday, July 10th, 2022. 

    Number 7

    The upcoming contest is the seventh governorship election in Osun State since its creation in 1991. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has deployed 21,000 police officers to the state to ensure a peaceful process. 

    When will the winner be sworn in?

    The winner of the Osun State governorship election will be sworn in on November 27th, 2022.

    INEC advise voters on Osun governorship election

    ALSO READ: A Reminder That 2023 Is Not Just About Who Becomes President

    Samson Toromade

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  • Why These Nigerian States Have Off-Cycle Governorship Elections

    Why These Nigerian States Have Off-Cycle Governorship Elections

    When Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, all 36 state governorship elections happened at the same time, and all governors were sworn in on May 29 of each election year. But eight states won’t participate in the governorship elections in 2023 like everyone else. 

    Why?

    A Nigerian governor’s term runs for four years but disruption can occur if a court overturns the result after they’ve been sworn in. For example, if a court determines that another contestant actually won the election, the previous winner is removed from office, and the four-year term is renewed for the new winner. This is how states get out of sync with the rest of the country’s electoral calendar.

    Here’s a rundown of how these eight states reached that point of no return.

    Anambra

    Anambra was the first state in Nigeria to break off the regular timeline for governorship elections. Chris Ngige won the 2003 governorship election but his opponent, Peter Obi, contested the result in court. 

    Why These Nigerian States Have Off-Cycle Governorship Elections

    An election tribunal agreed with Obi’s petition and annulled Ngige’s victory in August 2005. Ngige fought this at the Court of Appeal where he lost again in a March 2006 ruling, paving the way for Obi to become governor. Since then, Anambra governorship elections have been conducted in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

    Bayelsa

    Why These Nigerian States Have Off-Cycle Governorship Elections

    When Timipre Sylva was elected the governor of Bayelsa State in 2007, his opponent, Ebitimi Amgbare, wasn’t pleased so he challenged him in court. Amgbare lost at the tribunal, but the Appeal Court agreed with him and ordered a fresh election in 2008. Sylva won the second election and returned to office.

    Edo

    Why These Nigerian States Have Off-Cycle Governorship Elections

    Oserheimen Osunbor left his two-term tenure as a senator to be elected the governor of Edo State in 2007. But his reign was short-lived when a tribunal and the Court of Appeal re-examined the election and handed victory to Adams Oshiomhole in 2008.

    Ekiti

    Why These Nigerian States Have Off-Cycle Governorship Elections

    Segun Oni became the governor of Ekiti State in 2007. His main opponent, Kayode Fayemi, challenged the result and won when the Court of Appeal ordered Oni’s removal in 2010, resetting the governorship election clock for Ekiti.

    ALSO READ: A Reminder That 2023 Is Not Just About Who Becomes President

    Imo

    Why These Nigerian States Have Off-Cycle Governorship Elections

    Imo’s governorship election timeline didn’t get disrupted until after the last general elections in 2019. Emeka Ihedioha was elected the state governor, but the result was contested by Hope Uzodinma who finished fourth with almost less than double Ihedioha’s number of votes. Yet, the Supreme Court awarded the victory of the election to Uzodinma in January 2020, thereby resetting Imo’s future election timeline.

    Kogi

    Kogi’s timeline disruption is the most unique on this list. Ibrahim Idris won his re-election into office as governor in 2007, but the election was cancelled because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrongly excluded another candidate, Abubakar Audu, from the ballot. 

    A new election was conducted while the state’s Speaker of the House of Assembly, Clarence Olafemi, filled the position of acting governor. Idris won the election again and returned to office two months later.

    Ondo

    Ondo State’s fractured timeline didn’t happen until after the 2007 governorship election. Olusegun Agagu won that election for his second term in office, but the election tribunal and Court of Appeal overturned it in favour of Olusegun Mimiko in 2009.

    Osun 

    Osun State’s timeline also veered off-track after the 2007 governorship election that was initially won by Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Rauf Aregbesola fought the result for three years before the Court of Appeal recognised him as the real winner in 2010.

    ALSO READ: Zikoko’s Responsible Voter Starter Kit for 2023 Elections

    Samson Toromade

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  • What You Should Know About the Ekiti State Governorship Election

    What You Should Know About the Ekiti State Governorship Election

    Voters in Ekiti State will get the chance to elect a new governor on Saturday, June 18th 2022. We put together the most important things to know about this election.

    Why’s it taking place before 2023?

    The Ekiti State governorship election is one of a handful of governorship elections in Nigeria that doesn’t happen at the same time as the general elections. Ekiti’s election timeline was disrupted when a Court of Appeal nullified the result of the 2007 election in 2010, thereby resetting the clock for every subsequent Ekiti State governor’s four-year term.

    Is there an incumbent governor involved?

    No. The current governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, is serving his second term in office, so there’s no incumbent involved in the upcoming election.

    What You Should Know About the Ekiti State Governorship Election

    But a former governor is involved

    Segun Oni was Ekiti State governor between 2007 and 2010 when the Court of Appeal overturned his victory for Fayemi’s first term in office. 

    What You Should Know About the Ekiti State Governorship Election

    Oni is running for a second term in office as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He also contested for the position in 2018 but failed to win the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    How many candidates are contesting?

    A total of 16 candidates will participate in the election. 14 of them are male and two are female. There are also nine male deputy governorship candidates and seven female deputy governorship candidates.

    When will the winner be sworn in?

    The winner of the election will be sworn in on October 15th 2022.

    Bonus fun fact

    No sitting governor in Ekiti State has ever won re-election immediately. Only Ayodele Fayose and Fayemi have served two terms in office, but they were first defeated in their first attempts and had to leave the office to retry later. 

    Fayose was impeached during his first term between 2003 and 2006, and won a second term in 2014. Fayemi was contesting for a second term in 2014, after becoming governor in 2010, but lost to Fayose in 2014 before he returned to win back the office in 2018.

    What You Should Know About the Ekiti State Governorship Election

     Oni would hope to join this exclusive club of returnee two-term governors.

    ALSO READ: Time Is Running Out for You to Register for Your PVC

    Samson Toromade

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