As the preparation for the 2027 elections gather momentum, OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU takes a look at the race for the various Government Houses across the 36 States and writes on 15 senators who have thrown or about to throw their hats into the governorship race ring of their various States.
Barely one year to the 2027 general elections, political gladiators have continued to prepare ahead of the general elections schedule for that election year, as no fewer than 15 Senators from nine different states are making the move to pick their parties’ tickets to govern their respective States.
As preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, there are signs that more serving members of the red chamber may throw their hats into the ring to jostle for the governorship of their states, as significant alignment and realignment continue to emerge daily.
From Bauchi to Borno, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Kwara, Kano and Yobe states, the battle for the helmsmen of these states continue to intensify as these senators set their sights on the governorship positions of their respective states.
Recall that the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, only in Friday announced that presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on February 20, 2027, while governorship and state Assembly elections holds on March 6, 2027.
The angling for Government Houses across the country is a pointer to an evolving political strategy where federal lawmakers seek to transmute from legislative authority at the federal level to executive control at the state level, relying on their national visibility, political networks, huge financial chest, access to influence and of course local relevance at the grassroot.
From Kano State, the Deputy Senate President is regarded as a central figure in the battle for the state’s Government House, despite the recent political developments, including the defection of the governor of the State, Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Jubrin, many political observers who chose to be anonymous said, is a major factor in the equation in the unfolding succession contest.
They argued that what the senator has going for him in the race are his extensive grassroots network and connection, with years of scholarship and empowerment initiatives, which have over the years sustained his popularity and give him the leverage as a key player in the Kano governorship race.
Ogun State is experiencing almost the same build-up, the only difference being that the governor of the Gateway State is on the last home stretch of his second term in office.
And on the block is Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as ‘Yayi,’ who is the emerging leading aspirant. Yayi chairs the powerful Senate Committee on
Appropriations and wields significant influence in national budgeting processes.
Aside from his representation which probably is yet to be equalled by any senator in the 10th Senate and his billion-naira empowerment programmes, he enjoys the support of many in the APC, against the background of the fact that since the creation of Ogun State 50 years ago, his zone, Ogun West, is yet to produce a governor for the Gateway State.
Prominent APC stalwarts across the three senatorial zones of the state are said to be rallying behind him as a possible successor to Governor Dapo Abiodun. And his ambition has continued to gather momentum and strength with his long-standing advocacy for power rotation, encapsulated in the ‘Ogun West for Governor’ movement.
With his extension of his empowerment largesse beyond the borders of his Ogun West enclave, to other senatorial districts of the State, as well as his entrenched political movement across the three senatorial districts of Ogun West, Central and East, he may have been in pole position to achieve his 2027 ambition of governing the famous Gateway State.
From Ogun the train berths in neighbouring Oyo State with its complexity in the race, where two serving senators from the APC are angling for the sole governorship ticket of the party.
Three-term Senator Abdulfatah Omotayo Buhari representing Oyo North senatorial district has signified his intention not to return to the Senate but has declared his ambition to take a shot at the Agodi Government House.
Also taking a short at the Agodi Government House is former Secretary to the State Government, SSG and first term senator, Sharafadeen Alli, the senator representing Oyo South senatorial district in the National Assembly, gearing up to contest under the APC banner.
Alli, a former chairman of Ibadan North Local Government Area and former Chief of Staff to former governor and incumbent Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, has been involved in various poverty alleviation programmes to bring succour to his Constituents.
With empowerment programmes training youths in information communication technology, ICT, the distribution of point-of-sale, PoS, machines with cash and empowering farmers with farm inputs to promote food security, Alli has firmly established himself as a formidable contender for the governorship of Oyo State.
Like the South-West, the North Central is getting ready as a political hotspot zone. In Nasarawa State, Senator Aliyu Wadada has publicly made his intention to contend for the State Government House known.
His recent return to the APC is widely seen by political analysts as a strategic move aimed at consolidating support and aligning himself with the ruling party’s structures ahead of the primaries, especially against the backdrop of the incumbent governor on the home stretch of his second tenure.
Another senator being speculated to be eyeing the Government House in Nasarawa State is Senator Mohammed Onawo, representing Nasarawa South senatorial district.
His ambition, however, is still shrouded in conjecture as he has yet to make any official public declaration.
A complex scenario is presenting itself in Kwara State, where two serving senators, like in Oyo State, are strong contenders for the governorship. Governor AbdulFatah AbdulAzeez is also on the last lap of his second term tenure as Governor.
The two major contenders for the Kwara Government House are Senators Saliu Mustapha and Suleiman Sadiq Umar, both of who are exploring the state’s sensitive zoning arrangement, which is expected to play significant role in who emerges the flag bearer and gets stakeholders’ backing.
In Bauchi State, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi and APC’s Senator Shehu Buba Umar have positioned themselves as early frontrunners.
The duo, using their vast their legislative experience and deep political networks and deep pockets are already mobilising support across key constituencies.
Ningi, a political heavyweight representing Bauchi Central senatorial district, is intending to contest under the PDP, rallying party structures and youth groups behind his candidacy.
His credentials for the race include his long track record in the National Assembly and commitment to continuity in governance, which he said are reasons enough for the PDP to entrust him with the state’s top job.
Bauchi South Senator Buba, though yet to formally make an official announcement about his ambition, is under intense pressure from APC stakeholders to join the race. Grassroots mobilisation to support his ambition is already in place, with support groups springing up and consultations ongoing.
The Bauchi governorship battle between the duo promises to be interesting and keenly contested race.
In Borno State, where the incumbent governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum is also on the home stretch of his second term, the senators representing Borno Central and Borno North, Kaka-Shehu Lawan and Mohammed Tahir Monguno respectively, both of the APC, have thrown their hats into the governorship race ring.
Both contenders are yet to publicly declare their ambition, but their supporters, who are not hiding in expressing the ambitions of their candidates through social media handles, with neither of the senators refuting the clamour by their supporters have continued to work underground.
Another pointer is their active involvement in most of the activities of the incumbent Governor Zulum in most areas of the state. Political pundits believe this move to be what they called the duo’s “grand method of mastery of issues surrounding governance ahead of the fulfilment of their ambitions”.
Also said to be eyeing Rivers Government House is the senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Barinada Mpigi, although he is yet to declare his ambition, it was gathered that he will contest in the 2027 governorship election in the State, likely on the PDP platform.
Apart from his being the most ranking senator from Rivers and leader of the State National Assembly caucus, the Ogoni-born lawmaker, who hails from the same senatorial district as the incumbent Governor
Siminalayi Fubara, is one of the closest allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Yobe State present the most intriguing contention, as the three serving senators from the state are in the race for governorship ticket under the banner of the APC.
The three contenders for the Yobe Government House include former Senate President Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai and Musa Mustapha Kulas.
One of Nigeria’s prominent politicians, Lawan has been in the National Assembly for over two decades, starting his National Assembly journey from the House of Representatives, before eventually becoming the President of the 9th Senate.
Also showing interest in the governorship race, Senator Ibrahim Mohammad Bomai, representing Yobe South, has since his election delivered tangible dividends of democracy in infrastructure development, youth empowerment, healthcare, and education to his constituents.
Yobe East Senatorial district representative, Musa Mustapha (Kulas) whose good work ethic and commitment to service are worthy of emulation, has yet to impress his constituents with his performance, yet he has thrown his hat into the ring.
The entrance of these federal legislators into the governorship race of their various states has added impetus to the expectations that the 2027 elections will be a fierce battle for relevance between the experience of federal legislators and the dexterity of established state-level political actors.
