Former governors, serving senators and political heavyweights will today battle for 109 senatorial tickets of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the main opposition party holds its National Assembly primaries across the federation. Some APC senators have opted out of the race to pursue governorship ambition. Senate Minority Leader and former Governor of Benue State, George Akume, is expected to pick the APC zone B senatorial ticket while former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, is primed for victory in Anambra Central.
In Kwara, former Governors Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central) and Sha’aba Lafiagi (Kwara North) look good for victory. In Lagos, Senators Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) and Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) are the candidates to beat in their senatorial zones.
Mrs. Tinubu is the wife of the APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu. Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, is poised to pick the Sokoto Central ticket while former permanent secretary, Abubakar Danbaba Danbuwa, is tipped to replace Senator Dahiru Tambuwal in Sokoto South. Senator Tambuwal lost the APC governorship primaries on Thursday to House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
In Nasarawa State, former governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu will face a fierce battle from former General Officer Commanding (GCO) 1 Division, Kaduna, General Ahmed Abokie (rtd) for the APC ticket. Senator Musa Nagogo may get a return ticket for the Nasarawa North. Also in Gombe State, a former governor, Danjuma Goje, is running for the Gombe Central senatorial ticket.
None of the incumbent senators is contesting the APC ticket in Ogun State as Senators Gbenga Obadara, Adegbenga Kaka and Akin Odunsi have defected to the newly registered Social Democratic Party (SDP) on whose platform they will run. In Rivers State, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe, who just lost out in the governorship race, is favoured to pick the ticket for the Rivers East Senatorial District.
Senator Wilson Ake will pick the Rivers West Senatorial District slot. A chartered accountant, Femi Olaore, may emerge as candidate for the Oyo South ticket, which Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, who has defected to Accord Party, occupies. In Jigawa, former deputy governor, Ubale Shitu, is expected to pick the Jigawa North senatorial ticket. In Ekiti, the three serving senators Tony Adeniyi (Ekiti South), Olubunmi Adetumbi (Ekiti North) and Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central) are primed to pick the ticket in today’s primaries.
Despite the security challenges in Borno, politicians are jostling to win the Senate seats today. In Borno Central, serving Senator Ahmed Zannah is contesting while Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume may emerge as the candidate for the Borno South. In Edo, Senator Ehigie Uzamere (Edo South) will face a tough challenge from the Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon. Senator Domingo Obende, currently seeking reelection to represent Edo North, will slug it out with the Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. In Osun State, two of the senators, Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) and Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central), may retain their seats while Hussein Mudashiru (Osun West) has lost out.
He will be replaced today by former governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke. In Zamfara, Senators Rufa’i Ahmed Sani (Zamfara West), Sahabi Ya’u (Zamfara North) and Kabiru Garba Marafa are expected to pick the tickets with the support of Governor Abdulaziz Yari.
In Katsina State, two of the serving senators – Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South) and Hadi Sirika (Katsina North) – are contesting in the senatorial race. Also, Senator Ibrahim Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) has been endorsed by the stakeholders in Kano State while in Adamawa State, Senator Bindawa Jibrilla is sure of picking the Adamawa senatorial ticket.
Credit: New Telegraph
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