How some exciting senatorial contests in the North-west will play out

As Nigerians hope for an exciting presidential contest, which analysts say is the closest and perhaps the most unpredictable since the country returned to democratic rule 24 years ago, on February 25, not much is said about the election to elect members to the bi-parliament democratic camera the largest in Africa.

Even though the election to elect 469 members from both houses of the National Assembly – Senate and DPR, as the national parliament is known, will be held together with the presidential election, it is understood that it is an election to elect the country’s leader. has attracted all attention.

But in some cases, the often-overlooked election to elect members of the National Assembly can be as exciting and full of intrigue as the presidential poll. What’s more, in many cases, the success of a party’s candidate in the National Assembly election often reflects the party’s performance in the presidential election.

PREMIUM TIMES looks at several senatorial contests in the North-west region that promise as much excitement as the presidential election. This contest is between old political enemies, former allies, entrenched governor versus godfather, and godfather versus former protégé.

Aleiro vs Bagudu

This promises to be the most exciting senatorial contest in the region. Former governor Adamu Aliero was first elected to the Senate in 2007 to represent Kebbi Central district after completing two terms as governor of the state. But he resigned as a minister in Umoru Yar’Adua’s cabinet. However, he was re-elected to the Senate in 2015.

When Mr. Aliero left the Senate in 2008, he supported his colleague, Abubakar Bagudu to replace him. Mr. Bagudu then became the governor in 2015. In 2015 he remained steadfast in Mr. Aliero’s government and returned to the Senate.

When it became clear that Mr. Bagudu was looking for a senate position at the end of his term as governor, Mr. Aliero, the incumbent senator of the district, decamped to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). As expected, Mr. Bagudu contested the primaries and won while Mr. Aliero emerged as the PDP candidate, pitted against two men – a former governor and an incumbent governor – one at a time.

Tambuwal Vs Danbaba

In Sokoto State, the battle for Sokoto South Senatorial district promises to be a fierce battle between the incumbent governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who is seeking to wrest the position from Ibrahim Danbaba.

Mr. Danbaba was Mr. Tambuwal’s ally in 2015 when the two became All Progressive Congress (APC). So much did Mr. Tambuwal influence Mr. Danbaba that when the governor defected to the PDP ahead of the 2019 election, Mr. Danbaba moved with him to the dismay of his political godfather, Aliyu Wamakko.

But their friendship turned sour. When Mr. Tambuwal contested for the PDP presidential ticket, he appointed Aminu Bodinga, who he said was his most trusted ally as a placeholder for the senatorial position, when Mr. Danbaba learned that his former friend was gunning for the senatorial seat.

He immediately returned to the APC into the hands of Mr. Wamakko and was selected as the APC senatorial candidate for the district, setting the stage for another interesting contest on February 25.

Wamakko Vs Dan Iya

Aliyu Wamakko is perhaps the most influential politician in Sokoto State. another politician as influential as him is former governor Attahiru Bafarawa. Mr. Wamakko has been in the Senate since 2015. His main challenger, Nasiru Dan Iya, is the deputy governor of the state. While Mr. Wamakko represented APC, Mr. Dan Iya represented PDP. The competition for the Sokoto Central seat will be interesting to watch because Mr. Iya, like his principal, Mr. Tambuwal, is a protégé of Mr. Wamakko.

While Mr. Wamakko will struggle to maintain his political credibility, he will be up against an incumbent who also has a vested interest in his position – he is a descendant of Northern Nigeria’s greatest Islamic scholar, Usman Dan Fodio – to replace his former idol.

Babba-Kaita Vs Zango

In Katsina, the contest in President Muhammadu Buhari’s senatorial district promises all the fireworks of a bitter political tussle. The contest was made even more balanced by Mr. Buhari’s aloofness towards the election. If Buhari, who enjoys a cult following in northern Nigeria, launches a campaign for his party’s candidate in his home constituency, the contest will be over before it begins.

But after the acrimonious primary election in the region where many of the president’s allies came out and refused to intervene, some party foot soldiers and influencers defected to the main opposition party, the PDP was throwing the contest for positions in the country. open.

In the senatorial election in North Katsina district (commonly called Daura zone, after the president’s hometown), incumbent senator Ahmed Babba – Kaita will fight to retain the seat against Nasir Zango of APC.

Mr. Zango is the current member of the DPR representing Zango and Baure. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2011.

Mr. Babba-Kaita left the APC, citing persecution by Aminu Masari, the governor of the state. Since then, he has been the most vocal critic of President Buhari and Mr. Masari.

This contest promises to be exciting as the APC will try to capture the zone because it is the presidential zone. The state government will also have a role to play as the governor will humiliate Mr. Babba-Kaita, after his open antagonism against him.

Gaya Vs Sumaila

Kano South Senatorial District is a traditional battleground in the commercial heartland of northern Nigeria. This district has traditionally joined the opposition. But since 2007, one person, Kabiru Gaya, a former state governor, has been elected to the Senate. but that may change this year with the emergence of Kawu Sumaila, another veteran National Assembly member. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2015- as a candidate for the House of Representatives. New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

The contest between the two veterans is one to look forward to. Mr. Sumaila is a renowned grassroots mobilizer and will surely bring his will among the villagers to play in the contest. What’s more, within a year, the NNPP has risen from obscurity to elevate the PDP as the main opposition party in the country. All thanks to the presidential candidate and former governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

But Mr. Gaya is not a thief. It takes a lot of gravitas to remain the sole representative senator in a battleground district for 16 years. And he will pull out all the stops to win the latest challenge.