2015 governorship: Big battle in Kwara

Date: 2015-01-04

With the 2015 governorship election just about 40 days away, Remi Adelowo in this report takes a look at the chances of the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and factors that would likely determine the outcome of the polls in Kwara state

KWARA 2015: Ahmed looks sure bet for second term Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has one major hurdle to cross in his quest for a second term in office.

Stating that the 2015 governorship election in Kwara State would be a straight contest between Ahmed, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP candidate, Senator Simeon Ajibola, is like reiterating the obvious.

Ajibola's emergence as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was as shocking as it was unexpected.

In the run-up to the PDP governorship primaries, the third term senator was not in the reckoning as a major contender for the ticket. Though an experienced political gladiator in the state who cut his tutelage under the revered strongman of Kwara politics, late Dr. Olusola Saraki, only very few people believed he could defeat other formidable aspirants boasting alleged strong backing from high quarters.

This category of aspirants including Prof. Abdulrahman Oba, the Chairman of Federal Character Commission (FCC), former Presidential Adviser, Senator Suleiman Ajadi, wealthy businessman, Jani Ibrahim, Senator Gbemisola Saraki and Mr. Dele Belgore, believed to be the favoured aspirant of Hajia Bola Shagaya, an influential player in the corridors of power.

Days before the primaries held, Belgore was seen as the man to beat, even as many of the aspirants reportedly faulting the process put in place to conduct the election, which they alleged, was skewed to arrive at a pre-determined outcome.

But after much hue and cry, the primaries finally held, with Ajibola beating all comers for the ticket.

Factors that would shape 2015 contest

With the election just about 40 days away, there are indications that factors, including incumbency, religion, party platform, popularity and achievements of the two major contestants would largely determine who emerges victorious on February 21.

How the three senatorial zones may vote

In Kwara South where Ahmed and Ajibola both hail from, it is not unlikely that there could be a split of votes between the two candidates in the area.

Another likely scenario is a slim victory for the PDP candidate due to religious factor as many people in the area are predominantly Christians.

Another school of thought is, however, of the belief that the incumbent governor will win the zone with a large margin due to the alleged poor performance of Ajibola, whose aspiration for a third term in the Senate was allegedly opposed by many political stakeholders in the zone until the intervention of the governor and the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki.

In Kwara Central and Kwara North, both dominated by Muslims, Ahmed appears the favourite to win the two zones.

The Central zone, which constitutes about 52 percent of the state's voting strength, would very likely pitch its tent with the APC candidate in solidarity with Saraki, (an Ilorin indigene), who has effectively taken over his late father's political empire.

Added to this is the influence of the traditional institution in the zone, which from historical references, had always queued behind the Saraki political dynasty in the battle for the soul of the politics of the state.

Sources also posit that the 2015 election scenario in Kwara North would follow the voting pattern in the Central zone.

Would this election prognosis remain unchanged by the time the election gets under way on February 21? Time would tell.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Nupe     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     COVID     Marafan Shonga     SGBN     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Adesina Simon Sodiya     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Obasanjo     Aisha Buhari     Abegunde Goke     Abdulazeez Uthman     Ibrahim Akaje     Sa\'adu Gambari     Bolaji Abdullahi     Oluranti Idowu     Rafiu Ajakaye     Lola Ashiru     Kwarareports.com     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Abdul Jimoh Mohammed     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Sam Okaula     Wale Oladepo     Babata     Abubakar Ndakene     Alabi Lawal     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Funke Adedoyin     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Trader Moni     Dele Belgore     Lawal Olohungbebe     Ayo Adeyemi     Tanke Flyover Bridge     Jumoke Gafar     Balogun Gambari     Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu     Okedare     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Frootify     Mohammed Danjuma     Ilorin General Hospital     Garba Ado Sanni     Tafida     Amusa Bello     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Dan Masanin     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Tunji Olawuyi     Peter Obi     Donatus Ejidike     Kwara State University Of Education     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Unicontinental Construction Company     Rex Olawoye     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Revenue Court     Lithium     Bluenile Associates     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     11th Galadima     Woro     Ileloke     Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Jimoh Bashir     Maigidasanma     Olatinwo     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     John Kehinde Salako     Sherif Sagaya     Igbaja     TVC Female National Debate     Quran     Al-Ilory     Bursary    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Patience Jonathan     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Owo Isowo     Mike Omotosho     Erubu Oba Zubair     Durbar Festival     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Radio SBS     Olabimpe Olani     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Egbejila     Presidential Election     Yusuf Arowosaye     Ajuloopin     Fatimat Saliu     Abubakar Aliagan     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     University Road     Paul Olawoore     BECE     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Risikat Lawal     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Sebastine Obasi     Olofa Of Offa     Olateju Lukman     Musa Aibinu     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Undergraduate Bursary     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     Oluranti Idowu     Ibrahim Abiodun     Raimi Iyanda     Oluwole Dupe     Kayode Ishola     Zaratu Umar     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     Monthly Sanitation     Femi Agbaje     Kwara Liberation Group     Otoge     Abdul Jimoh Mohammed     Halimah Perogi     Lateef Fagbemi     Isiaka Gold     Dasuki Belgore     Jumoke Gafar     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     FOMWAN     Ayobami Akanbi     Okin Group     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Ilorin Central Mosque     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Okanlawon Musa     Oko-Erin     KWTV     Mohammed Abdulahi     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Adanla-Irese     Jimba Babatunde     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     Sa\'ad Alanamu     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     GRA     Onilu     Tunde Kazeem     Oke-Kura     SAPZ Project     Clara Nwachukwu     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Kehinde Boyede     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman