Bankole and Daniel
SEVERAL days of suspense ended yesterday for many would-be candidates in the April elections.
The lists of prospective candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) late on Sunday have become public in many states.
In most cases, there were no surprises; some were shocking; and others were just exciting.
In Ibadan, a court warned INEC not to recognise Governor Alao-Akala and others, pending the determination of a suit before it.
Top on the list of casualties are House Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Ogun State, Governor Gbenga Daniel (who lost his bid for the Senate) and Gboyega Isiaka(hitherto self-acclaimed PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State). Mrs. Lola Abiola-Edewor, the daughter of the late acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential poll, may have lost her bid for the Senate. So are Senator Annie Okonkwo, Nicholas Ukachukwu (Anambra South), the widow of the late President of the Senate, Mrs. Margery Okadigbo(Anambra North), Gen. Lawrence Onoja, the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Chukwuma Onyema; the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Anayo Nnebe and a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Dr. Tony Nwoye (Anambra East/West).
Among the lucky ones are: Senate President David Mark; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Enugu Governor Sullivan Chime, Dr. Andy Uba (Anambra South Senatorial District); ex-Minister John Emeka (Anambra North Senatorial District); Gen. Adetunji Idowu Olurin (PDP governorship candidate for Ogun State); Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye (deputy governorship candidate of the PDP for Ogun State); Usman Albishir; Maina Maaji Lawan; Jibril Isah (PDP governorship candidate in Kogi); Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello; Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West); Obidigwe Chizor; Nurudeen Abatemi (Kogi Central Senatorial District); and Emmanuel Dangana (Kogi East Senatorial District); Balarabe Musa (PRP Governorship candidate in Kaduna).
According to a top source in INEC, seven issues determined the fate of the candidates. They are:
•Validly held congresses by parties and supervised by INEC;
•Court order directing INEC on acceptance of nomination of certain candidates as the case with Ogun and Osun states;
•Candidates who emerged from some states where valid congresses were not conducted to elect state Executive Committees of a party;
•Court order compelling INEC to recognise the state Executive Committee of a party, like the case in Anambra State;
•Anybody that emerges from the primary that INEC did not supervise might be excluded from the list of candidates. This is the scenario in Katsina State;
•Those candidates elected from fresh primaries outside the timeline for primary election by parties might not be allowed to contest;
•Waiver for rerun primaries and replacement as directed by INEC, such as the assassination of the ANPP governorship candidate, Modu Gubio, in Borno State.
The source also added: “We were guided by the decision of the court in some states. We decided to obey existing court orders until otherwise vacated by the Appellate Court. This is exactly what happened in the case of Ogun State.
Mohammed, the son of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, the head of state who ruled with a iron hand between 1993 and 1998, made the list. He is to fly the governorship flag of the Congress for Progressive (CPC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s party, in Kano.
A woman is a candidate in the Kwara Senatorial District. Senator Gbemi Saraki, the incumbent, is running for governor and, in some circles, her candidature has been rejected on account of her gender.
In Ogun, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s camp may have carried the day, trouncing the Governor Gbenga Daniel faction in the battle for the tickets of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The situation is expected to be clearer today as President Goodluck Jonathan campaigns in Ibadan, where he is likely to give the party’s flags to its candidates in the Southwest.
Many states were yet to paste the lists yesterday. Here is the picture of the lists in some states:
Ondo State:INEC released the names of National Assembly and House of Representatives candidates.
INEC’s State Administrative Secretary Dr. Samson Awujoola, who pasted the lists on the wall of its office in Akure, the state capital, said only 17 political parties would participate in the House of Representatives and National Assembly elections.
Labour Party (LP) has Prof. Robert Ajayi Boroficce as the senatorial candidate from Northern District, Dr. Ayo Akinyelure (Central) and Hon. Kunlere Boluwaji (Southern Senatorial District).
On the House of Representatives list of LP are: Omosule Eniolorunda (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Ifedayo Abegunde (Akure North/South), Debo Ologunagba (Akoko Southeast/Akoko Southwest), Nomiye Oloye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo), Moshood Bakare (Idanre/Ifedore), Olatunji Oladele (Okitipupa/Irele), Akinlaja Joseph (Ondo East/West), Ganny Dauda (Akoko Northeast/Northwest) and Johnson Adeoba (Ile-Oluji/ Oke-igbo and Odigbo).
PDP has the following candidates: Sen. Bode Olajumoke (Northern Senatorial District), who is eyeing the seat for the second time, former Governor Olusegun Agagu (South) and Sen. Gbenga Ogunniya (Central).
For the House of Representatives, PDP has Agboola Ajayi (Ilaje/Ese-Odo), Omolafe Adedayo (Akure North/South), Albert Akintoye (Okitipupa/Irele), Fidelis Omowa (Akoko Southeast/Southwest), Oladoyinbo-Ojomo Alaba (Owo/Ose), Fawehinmi Temitayo (Ondo East/West), Fasawe Oluyomi (Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo), Gbenga Elegbekeye (Akoko Northeast/ Northwest) and Niyi Jones Akinyugha (Idanre/Ifedore).
For Senate, the Action Congress of Nigeria (AAN) has Dr. Paul Akintelure (South), Michael Akintade (Ondo Central) and Dr. Olu Agunloye (Ondo North).
House of Representatives prospective candidates are: Adedeji Omotola (Ile Oluji/Okeigbo), Akintimehin Adewale (Okitipupa/Irele), Adekambi Olufemi (Owo/Ose), Adefarati Adeyemi (Akoko Southeast/Akoko Southwest), Boboye Falilat (Akure North/South), Rawa Felix (Ilaje/Ese-Odo), Chief Ogundolie Oluwagbotemi (Ondo East/Ondo West) and Ayodele Akinmoyo (Idanre/Ifedore).
For CPC, there are Atenuberu Egamosi (Ondo Southern Senatorial Candidate), Pius Olubunmi (Ondo North) and Akinluwa Henry (Ondo central). The House of Representatives’ election are: Arala Raimi Idowu (Owo/Ose), Obolo Olusola (Ese-Odo/Ilaje), Agunbiade Olusoji Anthony (Akure South/North).
Olusegun Adeoye Odigbo (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo), Olabanji Ayiloge (Idanre/Ifedore), Akindele Olabamidele (Okitipupa/Irele) and Alhaji Alabi Momoh Yusuf (Akoko Northwest/Northeast).
ACPN, Kwara State Governor strongman Dr Olusola Saraki’s party, has presented Ibitoye Joseph for House of Representatives in Akure South/North.
The National Transformation Party has Falusi Michael Olufemi (Ondo Central Senatorial District) and Jimoh Akinsola Saliu (Ondo South). Ogunlakaka Oduntola is its candidate for House of Representatives in Akure North/South.
The SDMP has candidates for only the House of Representatives. They are: Akarakiri Thomas (Akure South/North) and Abbey Johnson (Akoko Southwest/East). Mr. Ogbu Chika is the flag-bearer of APGA for Ondo Central Senatorial District and Ranti Fawehinmi is ARP Ondo Central Senatorial District.
The lists of House of Assembly candidates will be released today.
Akwa Ibom
Governor Godswill Akpabio is the PDP flagbearer.
Akpabio is expected to run with Obong Nsima Ekere.
According to the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Maria Owi, 26 political parties submitted lists of their candidates.
Others cleared for the contest include Senator John Udoedehe (ACN); Larry Esin (CPC); Sam Ewang, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); David Ekanem, (APGA).
INEC also cleared Emmanuel Asuquo for ARP; Edet Inwang (PPA); Akpan Okon (ADP); Bassey Offiong (SDMP); Asuquo Ekanem (AD) and Uko Daniel Frank (NNPP).
The Senatorial candidates for the PDP Ikot Ekpene include Aloysius Akpan Etok (Ikot Ekpene); Ita Enang (Uyo) and Helen Esuene (Eket).
Enugu
Chime is to pair with his deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi.
As soon as the news of the development was broken, thousands of people trooped into the streets in wild jubilation.
Commercial motorcyclists blared their horns. Civil servants burst into songs, praising God. Many stormed the INEC office to see the lists.
Others who made the INEC list include Dan Shere of the People for Democratic Change (PDC), who will run with Kanayo Graham Oguakwa. Pastor Ikechukwu Omenkeukwu is to pair with Victoria Ogbonne Onuorah on the ACN platform; Emma Ugwu of CPC is to run with Chukwuemeka Ayogu. Paul Okafor of ANPP is to run with Stephen Ogbonna Ejim. Okey Ezea of LP will run with Chris Michael Odo.
Also listed are: Nkechi Offor of National Liberation Party (NLP), who is to pair with Emma Aniakor; Charles Ibeh of CDC’s running mate is Sunday Amaechi Exea; Jonathan Nweke of Hope Democratic Party is to run with Tochukwu Alozo and Chinedum Odumjemba of National Conscience Party (NCP).
APGA, considered to be a force in the Southeast, is not listed.
The list of the National Assembly candidates and that of the House of Assembly were not posted at the party headquarters. They were sent to their constituencies.
Kano
Mohammed Abacha’s running mate is Alhaji Hussaini Abdullahi Garba.
Other candidates include the incumbent Deputy Governor Abdullahi Tijani Mohammed Gwarzo, who is the governorship candidate of the ACN. Abdullahi is to run with Alhaji Muhammed Nasir Muktar, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in 1986, during the military administration of Air Vice Marshall Ndatsu Umaru.
PDP’s candidate for the gubernatorial election is Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who picked his former deputy governor between 1999 and 2003, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as his running mate.
The ANPP governorship candidate is Alhaji Salihu Muhammed Sagir, who picked Commissioner for Science and Technology Bashir Shehu Galandanci as his running mate.
On the list of senatorial candidates are incumbent Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (ANPP, Kano South), Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North). Aminudeen Abba Ibrahim (Kano Central).
PDP has incumbent Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo (Kano North), Alhaji Aliyu Sa’idu (Kano South) and Alhaji Bashir Garba Mohammed (Kano Central).
ACN is featuring Hajiya Naja’atu Muhammed (Kano Central), Ibrahim Barde Gaya (Kano South) and Muhuyi Magaji (Kano North).
The CPC has Major General Abdulmalik Jibril (Kano North), Suleiman Halilu (Kano Central) and a former Commissioner for Education in the Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s administration, Alhaji Usman Alhaji (Kano South).
For the House of Representatives, ANPP, which is the ruling party in Kano State, is fielding 13 of the 24 incumbent lawmakers.
Reacting to the inclusion of Abacha’s name in the INEC’s list displayed at the Kano office of the electoral body, the Director General of Mohammed Abacha Campaign Organisation, Dr. Suleiman Mohammed Manbo, told reporters that INEC upheld the rule of law and internal democracy, in its quest to conduct free, fair and credible elections. There was controversy over the decision of the CPC’s Board of Trustees to replace Abacha with another candidate.
ACN’s Gwarzo said democracy was at work, commending his supporters for remaining steadfast.
Imo
The governorship candidates of the PDP, ACN and APGA are Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Owelle Rochas Okorochas.
Ohakim’s running mate is Prof Viola Onwuliri. Senator Araraume picked the former Speaker of the House, Hon. Noel Agwuocha Chukwukadebia. Okorocha is to go to battle with Jude Agbaso, the younger brother of the 2007 APGA governorship candidate, Chief Martin Agbaso.
Listed in a handwritten paper pasted at the INEC office on Port Harcourt Road, Owerri yesterday are other governorship candidates: Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba (CPC), Chief Robert Opara (APP), Pastor Martins Eronini, Chikezie of the Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP) and Chief Lemchi Ahamefule (ANPP).
The list of senatorial candidates and the House of Representatives had not been displayed, as of the time of filing this report at about 5p.m.
Kwara
INEC has cleared ACN governorship candidate Dele Belgore (SAN) and four others: AbdulFatah Ahmed (PDP), Gbenga Olawepo (DPP), Alhaji Khaleel Bolaji (ANPP) and Senator Gbemisola Saraki (ACPN).
CPC has AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (NDPP), Omogori Owo and National Conscience Party (NCP) Akande Olusola.
Governor Bukola Saraki is for Kwara Central Senatorial District.
In all, INEC gave 304 candidates a clean bill of health.
In a statement yesterday, INEC spokesperson Jacob Ayanda said 35 candidates were listed for governorship and deputy governorship seats; 24 House of Assembly; three senatorial candidates and six House of Representatives members.
The PDP gubernatorial candidate picked a former Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, who is from Ilorin, Kwara Central, as his running mate. The DPP candidate picked the younger brother of the late Governor Mohammed Lawal, Alhaji Bashir Lawal, as his running mate.
The ACPN candidate picked Mr Awan Moses Bio from Kwara North as her deputy. The ANPP candidate picked Alhaji Idris Abdullahi.
Senator Simeon Ajibola and a former governor, Alhaji Muhammed Shaba Lafiaji, also of PDP, were cleared to contest the senatorial election in Kwara South and North.
The ACPN is to field Lola Ashiru, an architect, for Kwara South Senatorial District, Alhaji Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi (Kwara North) and Yisa Rukiyat Ajoke (Kwara Central).
Cross River
Seven candidates are to contest the governorship election.
They are: Liyel Imoke, his deputy Mr Efiok Cobham of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Etubom Nya Asuquo of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mr. Goddie Akpama of the Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA), Pastor Iheke Awa Solomon (ANPP) and Mrs. Stella Eno of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
Others are Senator Matthew Mbu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Dr Theo Onyuku (LP).
The lists for the National and State Assembly aspirants were not displayed at the INEC headquarters in Calabar.