Governorship election: States to watch as Nigerians head to the polls
The presidential election may have come and gone, but the poll cycle is not yet complete until Nigerians cast their votes for the governorship and local government elections. The exercise which is expected to hold Saturday, March 9 will decide those who will become governors in all states of the federation.
Accounting for the unique circumstances surrounding the election and how important and strategic some states are in the country, here are some states to watch in the governorship election.
LAGOS
Lagos is the prime state in Nigeria, and the sheer influence of the state is reminiscent of the fact that it is the country’s economic capital. The governorship race will be fierce as APC’s Babajide Sanwo-Olu and PDP’s Jimi Agbaje slug it out. With the mixed reactions that trailed the outcome of the presidential election, there’s a strong indication that victory will not be a walk in the park for the ruling party, APC.
DELTA
Delta state will be highly contested by APC against PDP. The ruling party in the state is PDP, but APC is trying to expand its influence in the South-South region. The incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Okowa of PDP who is running for re-election is not prepared go down without a fight. The race to secure his place as the governor will definitely be spectacular.
OGUN
The clash of interest between the outgoing governor of Ogun state, Ibikunle Amosun and his party, APC has created a fallout that prompted his suspension. It will be interesting to watch how events unfold in the state.
RIVERS
Although APC is out of the race in Rivers state for failing to register a gubernatorial candidate before the deadline set by INEC, the state still has so many vested interests. The incumbent governor, Nyesom Wike of PDP and his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi of APC are constantly locking horns in a bitter rivalry. Their power tussle could lead to some drama during the election as Amaechi throws his weight behind Wike’s opposition.
KADUNA
Governor Nasir El-Rufai is seeking reelection in Kaduna state even as the voice of dissent keeps getting louder against him and his party, APC. The state is one of the pillars of the north and the country will be watching closely as events unfold during the election.
OYO
Oyo state is perhaps the state in the Southwest where the two predominant parties, APC and PDP are going head to head with each other. A lot of people from the state are likely going to cast a protest vote against APC, the party of the outgoing governor, Abiola Ajimobi. There are no guarantees that this could sway the result in favour of the opposition, but that’s a possibility to keep in mind as the election begins in the morning.
