By Augustine Madu-West (Kano), Oladele Ogunsola (Ibadan), Emmanuel Nzomiwu (Enugu) and Segun Adeleye (Abeokuta)
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi (left); Action Congress of Nigeria Senatorial candidate, Ondo North, Olu Agunloye (middle); and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, shortly after Soyinka’s visit to the Governor in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.
Some old war horses made the cut on the list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday, among them Governors Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu).
The power tussle in the run-in to the ballot in April also played out well for greenhorns in states such as Kano, where the INEC cleared Mohammed, son of the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, to vie for the Governorship on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
In Ogun, Adetunji Olurin, the protégé of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was listed as the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Oyo INEC Public Relations Officer, Ayodele Folami, said only the nomination forms submitted by parties were sent in from Abuja and pasted in the state.
Listed are Alao-Akala (PDP), Isiaka Ajimobi (Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN), Olatunji Adewale (All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP), Babatunde Tijani (Alliance for Democracy, AD), and Rashidi Ladoja (Accord Party, AP).
Others are Olalere Samson, Adeniji Ademola, Olona Yinka, Azeez Adeduntan, Moroof Boladale, Adekola Bolorunduro, Ojo Sola, and Adebayo Shittu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN), United Nigeria Peoples Congress (UNPP), Labour Party (LP), Africa Political System (APS), National Conscience Party (NCP), National Transformation Party (NTP), and (CPC) respectively.
Those named as Senatorial candidates are Jumoke Akinjide (Oyo Central), Hosea Agboola (Oyo North), and Kamorudeen Adedibu (Oyo South).
All candidates chosen by the state PDP faction led by Dejo Afolabi, which is loyal to Alao-Akala, made the list.
In Kano, Mohammed Abacha was cleared to contest with former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (PDP) and Deputy Governor Abdullahi Gwarzo (ACN).
Woman activist Naja’atu Mohammed is among three ACN Senatorial candidates cleared. Serving Senator Kabiru Gaya picked the ANPP ticket.
A total 24 ANPP candidates were Okayed for the House of Representatives, the same number for the PDP and the ACN; the CPC has 23.
In Enugu Chime made the list along with his Deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi.
Before the display of the list, there had been apprehension in the camp of Chime over the order of an Abuja High Court, which restrained the PDP and INEC from dealing with Chime and 37 others as Enugu PDP candidates.
Justice Abdu Kafarati ordered the PDP and the INEC to recognise Anayo Onwuegbu as the PDP candidate, pending the determination of the suit by Onwuegbu and 38 others.
Explaining why Chime’s name was published in spite of the court order, Enugu Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Josiah Uwazuruonye, said it was an interim order made to last for seven days unless the court extends it.
He added: “This may be the deciding factor and you also know that if the matter is in a High Court, it is also not conclusive there.
“Whoever loses may decide to go to appeal and then the road is also straight to Supreme Court. So, the journey is still far.”
Uwazuruonye advised the successful candidates to campaign in a peaceful manner, without acts capable of breaching peace, to ensure a hitch free election in April.
Other Governorship candidates cleared include Okechukwu Ezea (LP), and Dan Shere of People for Democratic Change (PDC), a new platform of the Ebeano political structure Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, who was Enugu Governor between 1999 and 2007.
In Ogun, the INEC approved Olurin as PDP Governorship candidate, in an announcement made by the state REC, Martins Okunfolami.
He said Bankole may follow the tradition of House of Representatives Speakers who did not make it back to Abuja.
In his place, Peter Alawode, who will contest as the representative of Abeokuta Federal Constituency.
Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello will run as Ogun Central Senatorial District candidate, on a list that was a wholesale adoption of the list sent to Abuja by Obasanjo.
Addressing journalists, who laid siege to the Abeokuta office after a mild protest around 5:45pm on Monday, Okunfolami announced the name of Toheeb Odunowo as the Senatorial candidate for Ogun East, instead of Daniel who had sought the ticket.
Former Ijebu East Council Chairman, Tunde Oladunjoye, is the running mate of Olurin, a retired General who once served as military Administrator in Oyo and Ekiti.
Daniel is locked in a running battle with Obasanjo, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman.
His latest outburst on Sunday was that the political animosity between him and Obasanjo would be a fight to the finish.
Daniel, who inaugurated the campaign committees for the candidates on his list to the INEC, added that he had fought many battles, relishing how he dealt with the people who stole government vouchers a year ago.
Ibikunle Amosun made the list as the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) while Gbenga Kaka displaced two time runner, Bisi Adegbuyi, as the Senatorial candidate of the ACN in Ogun East.
Former ACN National Youth leader, Segun Adesegun, is the running mate of Amosun.
Gbenga Obadara, one of the early runners for the Governorship seat before the advent of Amosun, is the Ogun Central Senatorial District candidate.