AHEAD of the general elections, some estranged political godfathers across the country mostly former governors resurrected their political structures to battle their godsons in different States where they have lost favour politically. Some of them did not stop at that, they threw their hart into the race to test their popularity and strength once more. Majority of them contested senatorial seats, but to their greatest disappointment and surprise, they lost woefully in the elections, while some that were in the good books of their godsons won their seats.With the development, it is now obvious that unless something different happens in the governorship and State assembly elections some of them might be heading to political limbo in the next four years.Senator Chimaroke NnamaniIn Enugu State, what appeared like a final nail on the coffin of Ebeano political group led by former governor and Senator representing Enugu east district Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani occurred during the national assembly election as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) swept all the seats including that of Nnamani. Since he left office as governor and sworn in as Senator in 2007, Nnamani lost out in power equation in the State as his estranged godson and incumbent governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime destabilized his political structure in the State. For almost four years, Nnamani was more of Abuja politician than a stakeholder in the State.Though some of his henchmen like Prince Sam Ejioffor, Barrister Ray Nnaji and Member representing Agwu/Aninri federal constituency, Chief KGB Ogwuaka were mostly around in the state trying to keep his political structure active, but to no avail as they lacked the wherewithal and needed mobilization to keep their supporters intact.At a stage many had thought that Nnamani was no longer interested in politics again, considering his nonchalance to the game especially in the State, but surprisingly closer to the general elections, he defected to People For Democratic Change (PDC) one of the registered, unknown and obscure political parties in the country.Few of his followers especially those who had worked in his government but not favoured by the present government in the State joined him in PDC.They fielded candidates in almost all the elective seats in the State and embarked on vigorous campaign tagged door to door.But the efforts did not save him and his supporters on the day of election as he lost out woefully to his one-time godson and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Gilbert Nnaji.With the outcome of the national assembly elections in the State, many believed that it would take strong alignment and strategic planning for Nnamanis party to make any meaningful impact in the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections.This is because his party governorship candidate and former secretary to the State Government under his administration in the State, Dr. Dan Shere hails from Enugu North Senatorial zone. From the zone is another strong contender, Mr. Okey Ezea who is the governorship candidate of Labour Party. Though Enugu North has the largest population in the State, there are fears that votes from the zone might be shared among Ezea, Shere and incumbent governor and PDP candidate, Mr. Sullivan Chime. In the West zone where Chime hails, there is no strong contender for the office of the governor. In the East senatorial district where Nnamani hails from are Senator Jim Nwobodo, Professor Barth Nnaji, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and others who have axe to grind with Nnamani politically right from his days as governor.As it is now, it appears that Nnamani has finally lost out in the politics of the State for now as his relevance might wane down in days ahead.Senator George AkumeIn Benue State, It was a political misfortune for the former governor of the State and incumbent senator representing Benue North-west district, Senator George Akume who was defeated by his estranged godson and senatorial candidate of PDP, Mr. Terngu Tsegba. Tsegba has been a member of House of Representatives since 1999 courtesy of Akume, but recently pitched tenth with the governor of the State, Mr. Gabriel Suswan to deal with Akume politically. Akume and Suswan have been having political battle before the party primaries that allegedly led to Akumes loss of his return ticket on PDP platform. Akumes defection to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) where he was handed over the party senatorial ticket could not provided him much needed respite to survive politically.Many had thought that his alliance with other aggrieved PDP members in the State such as (rtd) General Lawrence Onoja, Senator Joseph Akaragher, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu and others in (ACN) would spring surprise, but to no avail.With PDP sweeping majority of the seats in the national assembly elections in the state, it is clear that if Suswan wins his second term election, Akumes political relevance might be in jeopardy.Chief Orji Uzor KaluIn Abia State, former governor of the State and estranged godfather of the State politics, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu was taught a bitter political lesson of his life by the combined forces of his estranged successor and governor of the State, Chief Theodore Orji and other major stakeholders in the state who had waited for an opportunity to take their own pound of flesh from him after many years of his political dominance in the State.He lost his senatorial bid to represent Abia North district on the platform of Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) to his estranged ally and third term Senator, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije who was the candidate of PDP in the election. Since 1999, Kalu has been the godfather of politics in the State having been governor for eight years.Many believe that he met his political waterloo when he engaged his successor, Governor Theodore Orji in a battle of supremacy over the control of the party hierarchy which led to Orjis defection to the ruling PDP. While in PDP, Orji reconciled with the party major stakeholders in the State that were over the years Kalus political enemies.It was believed that Kalus entrance in the race was to prove to Orji that he is still relevant politically in the State, but the outcome proved him otherwise. His loss is been seen by many as an end for him in the politics of the State for now. His party failed to win a single seat in the election and it requires frantic efforts for the party to make positive impact in the governorship and State assembly. It is obvious that there are overwhelming forces against him and his party in the State.Majority of the political bigwigs in the State today are in PDP leaving the opposition parties with little or nothing to show. In the opposition, Kalu looks like a lone ranger who efforts might not make the desired impact. His loss might keep him out of the political circle in the State for a while.Governor Ali Modu SherrifIn Borno State, Governor Ali Modu Sherrifs attempt to return to the upper chamber of the national assembly, which he left in 2003 to become governor crashed like a pack as he lost the Borno Central district seat to the ruling PDP candidate. It is the first time since 1999 an incumbent governor will be losing senatorial seat in an election. Many had attributed Sherrifs loss and his partys poor performance in the elections to intra-party crisis rocking the party in the State. Sherrif has been having political differences with the former minority leader in the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ali Muhammed Ndume that made later to defect to PDP with his followers just few months to the general elections. Apart from Ndume, other chieftains of the party in the State are not happy with Sherrif on his choice of his successor.For Sherrif, his defeat was a political blow, after four years in office as Senator and eight years as governor. Already, there are fears that his party might lose the governorship seat in the State if care is not taken and that his loss in the senatorial election was a sign of what will befall him when he leaves office in next month.Chief Achike UdenwaFor former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa it appeared to be a wrong political calculation as his alignment with Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and defection to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) after being schemed out of PDP failed to produce a good result for him during the national assembly election in the State. Udenwa and Ararumes alliance came to many as a great surprise knowing the role allegedly played by Udenwa as governor in 2007 in scuttling Ararumes governorship ambition that later favoured the incumbent, Governor Ikedi Ohakim.Even with his much-talked achievements in his senatorial zone while in office as governor of the State for eight years, he lost the Imo west senatorial district seat to the ruling PDP. Most of his loyalists who worked with him while he was governor had pitched tenth with Ohakim to continue to enjoy patronage from government.Ahead of the governorship election in the State, his party candidate for the election, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume is not being favoured as many believe that the battle might be a straight one between the incumbent governor and candidate of PDP, Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Chief Rochas Okorocha of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)If at the end of day, his party losses out again in the governorship and state assembly elections, it means that Udenwas political future in the State will be blink, unless there is sudden change in power equation that will place him in a vantage position. Though, he hails from Orlu zone like Okorocha, it is believe that his party might align with Okorocha to ensure that Ohakim is defeated. One thing that is certain is that the outcome of the governorship election in the State might go a long way in determining Udenwas political future.Alhaji Adamu AbdullahiIt was a different stroke for former governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi despite having a running battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He won the Nasarawa West Senatorial seat on the platform of PDP. He was able to win the election because of his closeness to his godson and governor of the State, Aliyu Akwe Doma.Since he left office as governor in 2007, he has maintained a cordial relationship with his successor and stood strongly behind him in the time of needs. When the likes of Alhaji Tanko- Al-makura, now CPC governorship candidate in the State was ganging up to deny Doma second term ticket, Abdullahi was among those who supported him and worked hard to ensure his victory in the primaries.Many saw Abdullahis victory in the election as a payback from Doma for the support Abdullahi has given to him since he assumed office. The victory will revive Abdullahi and brighten his political chances in the State and national level especially if Doma wins his election for second term in office on Tuesday.Chief Joshua DariyeIn Plateau Central district, former governor of the State and Senatorial candidate of Labour Party in the district, Mr. Joshua Dariye will be fighting the battle of his political life on Tuesday to if he could remain relevant in the politics of the State. Dariye defected to Labour Party after having political differences with Governor Jonah Jang. He is being seen by many as the rallying point for opposition in the State as he leads the Labour Party to epic battle in the governorship, state assembly and senatorial seat election in the State on Tuesday. If the outcome of the past two elections in the State so far is anything to go by, Dariye needs extra efforts to be able to win the election. If at the end of the contest, he loses out, he will join his colleagues who have lost out to remain in political limbo. Chief Olagunsoye OyinlolaIn Osun State, It was like a double political tragedy for the former governor of the State and senatorial candidate of PDP in Osun Central district, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was defeated by the candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the election.The defeat came to Oyinlola not long after he lost the governorship seat in Court to the ACN governorship candidate in the State in 2007 and now incumbent governor of the State, Chief Rauf Aregbesola.The defeat of Oyinlola and other PDP candidates in the elections marked the end of PDP reign in the State as it is now clear that ACN government is in firm control of the State. So for Oyinlola and his cohorts in PDP, it is a journey to political darkness unless the PDP led Federal government looks their way in terms of political appointments at national level.Senator Saminu TurakiIt is the same fate for the former governor of Jigawa State and Senator representing Jigawa North district, Alhaji Saminu Turaki. Turaki who was elected governor on the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 1999 defected to PDP in 2007 after two-terms in office as governor. He won a Senatorial seat in 2007 after supporting Alhaji Sule Lamido to become the governor of the State. His political differences with Lamido caused him his return ticket on PDP platform. He quickly defected to ACN where he sought re-election to the Senate, but lost as PDP swept all the seats in the elections in the State.Before the election, there has been battle for supremacy between his supporters and that of the governor. With his defeat in the election, all these will be a thing of the past. Apart from losing the election, he still has a pending case pending at EFCC. So it might be a tough battle for him in the days ahead as his political future has diminished for now.For now, Lamido has proved to him and his supporters that he is in-charge.Reverend Jolly NyameIn Taraba State, former governor of the State, Reverend Jolly Nyame who had been having political differences with his estranged godson and governor of the State, Alhaji Danbaba Suntai contested for the Taraba North senatorial district on the platform of ACN to prove to his godson that he was still a force to reckon with in the State politically, but to his shock he lost to the PDP candidate, Haija Aisha Jumai Alhassan.With Alhassan victory in the poll, she became the first woman from the State to win election into national assembly. Nyames defeat came to many as a surprise considering that his party has made strong in road into State before the elections.Before his defeat in the poll, he has been having a lingering case with EFCC on the account of his stewardship as governor of the state.Chief Olusegun Agagu and Senator Adamu AlieroThe same political woe befell former governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun Agagu and his Kebbi counterpart Senator Adamu Aliero. Agagu who lost his second term seat in office as governor of the State to Mr. Olusegun Mimiko of Labour Party (LP) some years ago at Appeal Court contested the senatorial seat of Ondo South and lost to the candidate of (LP). Before the election, Agagu has been making frantic effort through the judiciary to see if he can retrieve the governorship seat which he alleged was taken from him illegally by the Court verdict that removed him from office. Many have seen his defeat and that of other PDP candidates in the elections as the end of PDP reign in the State for now. Aliero on the hand was governor of Kebbi State for eight years on the platform of ANPP, before defected to PDP in 2007 and won the senatorial seat of Kebbi Central. While in the Senate, he was appointed minister by Late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua and was removed by President Goodluck Jonathan after Yar Aduas demise. With this development, Aliero lost out in power equation at national level and at state level. Not too long after political differences erupted between him and his godson and governor of the State, Alhaji Usman Dangakari.As a result of this, Aliero and his supporters defected to Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) on which platform he contested the senatorial seat and lost to PDP candidate, Atiku Bagudu. If his party fails to win the governorship election in the State, it means that his political future will remain uncertain unless he goes back to reconcile his differences with the governor.Senator Bukar Abba IbrahimFor former governor of Yobe State and senator representing Yobe East, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim, it was a different tune as he won his re-election to the upper chamber. His success in the poll was attributed to the cordial relationship he enjoys with the State government. He won his seat alongside his wife Khadija Ibrahim in the House of Representatives. For political survival, Senator Ibrahim has maintained cordial relationship and understanding with the State governor, Ibrahim Giedam for so long now and it paid off for him during the party primaries and the election as the governor threw his weight behind him during the elections.Senator Ahmed Sani YerimaIn Zamfara State, the former governor of the State and Senator representing Zamfara west, Alhaji Ahmed Sani Yerima proved to his estranged political godson and governor of the State, Aliyu Mahmud Shinkafi that he is still a force to reckon with in the State as he won his re-election on the platform of the opposition party (ANPP)Before the election, it was known that Yerima and Shinkafi had strong political differences to the extent that their supporters have clashed on several occasions in the past. Many had thought that like in other states that governor Shinkafi would deploy State resources to ensure that Yerima loses out, but Yerima has proved a hard nut to crack for Shinkafi by winning his re-election.Yerima did not only win his seat, his party grabbed others seats in the House of Representatives. Many attributed PDP poor performance in the State during the elections to intra-party crisis that has bedeviled the party following governor Shinkafis defection to the party.
Click here to read full news..
