Ahead of the 2027 general elections, about 10 serving governors are believed to be planning to move into the upper chamber upon completing their eight-year-tenure of four-year term each, Blueprint has gathered.
Currently, Blueprint.ng checks revealed that 10 out of the 109 senators in the red chamber are former governors from across the country.
It was also gathered that two of the governors serving their second term are yet to decide whether to contest for presidency or completely step aside.
The list of governors in their second term include: Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa state, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state.
…Makinde, Uzodimma, Sanwo-Olu
Of the 12 listed above, Blueprint learnt that while Governor Makinde of Oyo state has his eyes on the presidency, and has started working towards its realisation, Governor Uzodinma, who was sworn in for a second term in January 15, 2024, will occupy the seat beyond 2027.
For Governor Sanwo-Olu, it is unclear whether he will pursue any senatorial ambition after his tenure.
Political observers said Sanwo-Olu is undecided because his predecessors like former Governor Babatunde Fashola and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, a one-term governor, did not contest for Senate after their tenure.
From Ogun state to Adamawa, Yobe to Gombe states, among others, sources revealed how some current state chief executives, like some of their predecessors, are planning to retire to the Senate in 2027.
…AbdulRazaq
For Governor AbdulRazaq, who is currently in the mid-term of his second year tenure in office, speculations are rife he would be retiring to the Senate just like many other past governors including one of his predecessors, Senator Bukola Saraki.
Although AbdulRazaq has not made his intention public on this move, there are permutations within the folds of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) that his successor should emerge from Kwara North senatorial district of the state.
AbdulRazaq, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has matched some of the records of former Senate President Saraki in terms of political positions, except being in the Senate.
The governor is believed to be eyeing the seat of the Kwara Central senatorial district currently being occupied by Senator Saliu Mustapha, the Turaki of Ilorin.
Many observers of the unfolding political development in the state are of the view that seeking an election into same position come 2027 may be a hard nut to crack for the incumbent governor except there is a time-honoured agreement within the APC fold.
Many also believe that except Mustapha who also hails from Ilorin and Kwara Central with AbdulRazaq relinquishes his position in anticipation of higher elective office like governor, AbdulRazaq’s speculated desire of retiring into the Senate, may face an uphill task.
…Zulum in Borno
In Borno, there are strong indications that Governor Zulum may also contest for the Senate in 2027 to replace Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, currently representing Borno Central senatorial district or Barrister Mohammed Tahir Monguno, the current Chief Whip of the Senate, representing Northern Borno senatorial district.
The two lawmakers, according to our findings, are also nursing the ambition of succeeding Zulum in 2027.
It was however gathered that the incumbent governor could contest if any of the two federal lawmakers eventually picked the APC governorship ticket.
A source said: “The Governor is from Zulum village in Monguno Local Government in Northern Senatorial District. He can contest there if Kaka Shehu becomes the APC 2027 candidate. Zulum can also contest under Mafa which is in Central Borno Senatorial District where he was born, grew up and schooled.”
…Call for Diri’s return to Senate
In Bayelsa, it was gathered that a group loyal to the incumbent Governor Diri was already calling on him to return to the Senate.
Prior to his emergence as governor, Diri was the senator representing Bayelsa Central senatorial district from 2019 to 2020.
…Bala of Bauchi
In Bauchi state, it was gathered that Governor Mohammed has the ambition of also returning to the Senate as a second choice if the idea of running as a vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) didn’t work out.
The governor recently backed down on his presidential ambition following the party’s decision to zone the presidential ticket to the South.
Before his emergence as governor, Mohammed, a former FCT minister, served as the senator representing Bauchi Senatorial District from 2007 to 2010 on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), where he held positions such as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation and secretary of the Northern Senators’ Forum.
…Sule yet to decide
In Nasarawa, one of our correspondents reports that there are calls by traditional leaders, stakeholders across party lines, past and present political appointees and elected office holders, religious leaders, youths and women groups in the Nasarawa North senatorial district on the governor to throw his hat in the ring for the Senate contest.
However, the governor, in an exclusive interview with Blueprint, declared that he has not made up his mind on what next after his tenure.
He said the major concern for him now is to focus on his mandate and deliver good governance to the people, ensure the completion of the ongoing projects initiated by his administration to make life better for people of the state.
“As one who believes in destiny, I am cautious when making plans. Because as man plans, God alone disposes. God alone knows what we will become as mere mortals and when.
“I am yet to make up my mind as my focus remains to deliver on our promises as a party, the APC and as a government to our people,” Sule said.
Besides, the governor said: “In addition, I’m a farmer currently operating a farm with the highest number of Green Houses in the state. I farm different kinds of vegetables including cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, onions, etc. It is a venture that gives me extreme pleasure.
“I also have a strong interest in improving my Islamic knowledge especially in Hadith. Having said that, I came from the private sector as a professional engineer in the oil and gas industry as well as an executive in the Corporate World both in Nigeria and abroad. There is also already an offer to come and consult for a company that needs a turnaround.
“We are redoubling our efforts especially with the much improved revenue coming into the state from the centre, courtesy of the Tinubu-led reforms at the federal level.”
… Govs should resign before contesting – CISLAC
Commenting on the planned move, a rights activist and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, condemned the development, describing it as unfair.
He said any sitting governor who wants to contest an election should resign his position.
Rafsanjani said notwithstanding the governors’ constitutional right to contest for the Senate as incumbents, their enormous power, resources and political structures would be used to displace others who might be in contest with them.
“For us, we see it as unfair to use such enormous power in their care and the political control as incumbent governors to displace other contenders at the party’s primary. The same happens during the general election. As a sitting governor, there is no strong opposition party that can contest against a sitting governor in the state.
“So, as a country we need to do something about this, allowing an incumbent governor to contest election against a less powerful citizen is unfair. It is neither they step aside or resign from their office before contesting, that should be the proper thing, otherwise they will always have advantage over others,” said the CISLAC boss.
The human rights activist also observed that most constituents do not have access to former governors, who are now senators.
He said: “Secondly, I think it is unfair that after serving as a governor for 8 years, whether you have performed well or not, they will employ the state machinery and resources to force themselves into the Senate, and when they get to the Senate they are not active.
“Most of them there appear to be inactive. Even their constituents do not have access to them. These former governors in the Senate cannot come down to the level of ordinary voters to discuss issues with them. In most cases, most of these former governors in the Senate do not make themselves available to their people; they still see themselves wielding that executive powers.”