11 Governors Bent on Imposing Candidate For 2015 PDP Primaries (1)

Liyel Imoke & Godswill Akpabio

It is no longer news that the just concluded PDP Delegate Elections left a stalemate in many states across Nigeria and as the race towards 2015 gathers momentum, many incumbent governors are either running for Senate or trying to impose favoured politicians to succeed them.

It is now an open secret that 11 governors today have caused battles as they attempt to dictate who steps into one political office or not. Here is a window to what is going on in these states.

(1) In Cross River State, what started out as a joke by Gov. Liyel Imoke, singlehandedly deciding to zone the Governorship ticket to the north for equity and fairness, has now emanated into a political stalemate threatening to consume the state if wisdom is not cautiously and swiftly applied.
That act from the beginning has been applauded by many people in the state until when other political positions, such as the Senate, House of Representative etc began to crop up from behind. As at now, tensions in Cross River State are so high that camps which have since emerged have taken the fight to Abuja.
These anomalies were so bad that the opposing camp to the Governor was accused of having an upper hand during the delegate election, a position that the executive is bent of squashing. The thug-of-war-is ongoing and the masses are almost unsure where the muscles will fail.

Meanwhile, the Governor is now perceived as someone who has joined the league of those  wanting to handpick people to step into political position, though he is yet to publicly speak on the matter.

(2) Godswill Akpabio/Akwa Ibom State

Godswill Akpabio, the high performing governor of Akwa Ibom State may not be able to match his excellent performance as governor with his desire to become a senator and choose his successor if current trend continues. Akpabio has expressed his desire to represent Akwa Ibom North West/Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, a seat currently occupied by Senator Aloysius Etok. He has also anointed his immediate past SSG, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as his successor. As at today, all notable political leaders in the state are opposed to him except Senator Aniete Okon. Even the team that brought him to office, led by his former SSG, Obong Umana Umana, and former Finance Commissioner, Mr. B

Commissioner, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, is against him. Apart from that, majority of Ibibio, who are the most populated ethnic group in the state feel that a man from the minority (Annang) should not be allowed to impose his will on the majority and they believe that if PDP leadership bows to his will, most other leaders could look to the All Progressives Congress (APC) which could imperil President Jonathan's chances in the state. The irony of the Akwa Ibom situation is that Akpabio emerged as governor in spite of the then incumbent Governor Victor Attah, who was opposed to his aspiration.

Meanwhile, Akpabio may win the battle of the PDP primaries but may not win the war thereafter.


More States to follow...