The off-cycle governorship elections in three states namely; Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States is a litmus test for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC either to further deepen the distrust its activities in 2023 general election earned it or save whatever is left of its credibility
By Miracle Egbo
For the political observers, the off-cycle season gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States is going to be litmus test for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to either redeem its battered image because of self-inflicted distrust by the electorate or further expose its folly in the conduct of elections in the country. It was gathered there is grand plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to emasculate the three states through kinetic approach as evidenced in the number of political thugs allegedly imported into the states by the ruling party to help in deciding the outcome of the election in its favour.
Investigation at the propping of this medium revealed that APC in all the three states are really trying to stay afloat by employing all sorts of kinetic methods to see its candidates through in an election that would enable the electorate to vent their anger through ballot on what they are going through no thanks to economic reality that has made existential poverty their lot. According to facts at the disposal of Tentacle, the desperation of APC in the election gave expression through the efforts it is making to make sure that the outcome of the election favours it.
Imo State
In free and fair election, the candidate of APC in the race, Governor Hope Uzodinma is going to come out distant last because the electorate is of the view that he was imposed on them by the Supreme Court in an election that he came third. According to the electorates, worse still, since his imposition on the state by the Supreme Court, peace took a flight, a situation they do not want to continue. The verdict on him by the most electorate in the state appeared to have made the governor jittery that he is gripping every available straw to stay afloat thereby exploring kinetic and non kinetic approach in his quest to remain in power in the state.
His current face-off with the workers in the state has further plummet his political fortunes. The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC chapter in the state accused the governor of owing them salaries up to 42 months, an allegation Uzodinma has vehemently denied daring them to come out and provide evidences that they are being owed. The face-off came to head when the President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero at the prodding of the governor was brutalized by the security operatives which made the labour body to declare indefinite industrial action that has brought the state to its knees. The outburst of the governor alleging that Ajaero was partisan, a statement that further infuriated the labour body making the sister union of NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC to join in the fray, the consequence was total as the governor appears to have eaten his words by admitting that the attack on the President of NLC is unfortunate and regrettable.
The candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Samuel Anyawu and Labour Party, LP, Athan Achaonu are already leveraging on the mistakes of APC in governing the state. An informed source insisted that if there is free and fair election, the candidate of LP might be coasting home to victory because of the obidient movement in the state. According to sources what happened in February 25, 2023 during the presidential election when the electorate in the state massively voted for LP is in the offing. Another thing going for LP is that its candidate is physically challenged, and there is possibility of sympathy vote for him in the state coupled with the fact that Christians in the state might have pitched their tents with the party as reaction to Muslim Muslim ticket at the national.
PDP candidate in the race is not a pushover because he has got the political clout to clinch victory at the polls but one thing that is going against his ambition is the cleavages in his party in the state. It was gathered the party is not going to the election with one voice.
In Imo state, the three political parties that would shape happenings in the election are LP, APC and PDP, and if there is level playing field, the incumbent may likely receive the treatment meted to its party in Osun State where Adegboyega Oyetola was shown the door despite the fact he was the incumbent as at the time of the election.
Bayelsa State
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state appears to be the candidate to beat in the race. He is the candidate of PDP in the race, and his stellar performance for the past three years is contagious. His opening of hinterland roads in the state that have defied construction before his administration has clearly endeared him to the electorate in the state.
Diri’s chances of winning are being buoyed by the gale of support that he is getting. Former President Goodluck Jonathan who incidentally is from the state at public function has publicly endorsed the second term bid of the governor, insisting that he has performed to earn second term. He said that his outstanding provision of infrastructure in the state is commendable and should be encouraged the more reason he should be supported for his second term bid. Apart from Jonathan’s endorsement, the LP in the state appears to have collapsed its structure for the governor. Udenge Eradiri, the candidate of LP has accused the chairman of the party in the state of allegedly collecting N100, 000,000 to support the governor at the polls. Eradiri said that his party in the state is not supporting his ambition to become the governor of the state.
Timipre Sylva, the candidate of APC onset had issues in his ambition. The judiciary was talking back and forth in his ambition. In one breath, the judiciary said that he is not qualified in another he is being cleared to pursue his ambition. Smarting from the political bruises inflicted on him by the judiciary initially, he is now confronting the rejection of the revered Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark who said that he should perish his ambition of becoming governor of the state. Clark’s verdict on the ambition of Sylva, according to investigation appeared to have dampened the enthusiasm his campaign enjoyed hitherto. Sources revealed that the electorate in the state may have made up their decision to support the incumbent governor at the poll.
Kogi State
The governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello who is not in the ballot in the election has a candidate that he is vehemently supporting, his party’s candidate in the race. Usman Ododo, his cousin who is the candidate of APC in the race is said to be enjoying the support of the government in his campaign. The electorate in the state is of the opinion that support for Ododo is another way of approving third term for the governor who would leave office next year. The governor who said that his performance in the past eight years is a good advertisement for his candidate in the race, adding that continuity is what the state needs now not to sustain the good works his administration has initiated. The verdict of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah on Governor Bello is said to have adversary effect on the chances of his stooge whom he wants to succeed him. The revered clergy man said that the governor is bad advertisement for the youths in the country, advising him to retrace his steps before it is too late. Bishop Kukah said that insecurity escalation has been allegedly traced to the door step of the governor; situation he said is not good for the country’s democracy.
The candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Murtala Ajaka, is said to have a very formidable chances as the constituency where he comes from has the largest number of electorate who are earnestly rooting for him. Ajaka has accused the governor of being responsible for the series of attack targeted at him personally and his campaign team. All the odds, according to source appear to have favoured him in the race because he has been the victim.
Dino Melaye, the candidate of PDP in the race may likely be the dark horse as he is said to be leveraging on the cult like fellowship of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan whose triumph at the Appeal Court has changed the political calculation in the state. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is said to be moblising her senatorial district, Kogi East, which has the highest number of voters in the state for the candidate of her party, Melaye. The mistake of APC in choosing the lackey of the incumbent governor as its candidate is reminiscent of what happened in Plateau during the Jona Jang administration on the platform of PDP which cost the party dearly at the favour of APC. The same is about to repeat itself in Kogi State.
Senator Akpoti-Udughan is said to be campaigning vigorously for the candidate of her party, Melaye who may likely upset the apple cart in the political equation in the state. Again, the fact that the zone that Melaye comes from has never produced governor since 1999 is an added advantage because he is said to be in alliance with the zone with the largest number of voters in prosecuting the possibility of becoming governor in the state.
The candidate of Labour party in Kogi, Okeme Adejo is political dynamite that may shock the big weights in the state if there is free and fair election. Adejo is said to be leveraging on the sterling performance of his party during presidential election of 2023. The Obidient movement is being galvanized in the state pull the political surprise at the poll.
Whatever is the case, the neutrality of the electoral umpire in the race would go long way in determining the real winner that is too close to call in Kogi State.
