Power and Probity in Nigeria After 2019 Elections

Published below are the names of all contestants for The Presidency, the Senate and the Office of the Governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in the 2019 General Elections. The reason for publishing the names is to deliberately popularise the contestants by making their names available on the virtual space and, therefore, more easily accessible and verifiable. It is also about nationalising contestants information as well as making their names part of permanent record accessible by the people rather than exclusively big bureaucracies. All these considerations make this list to have a different meaning from the bureaucratic reckoning with the names as would be the case at the party headquarters or at the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC). The assumption is that if the contestants know that the people know them individually and beyond their local areas and distinctly from the institutional identity of the spaces they will be occupying, they will be more sensitive to the questions of due diligence and probity.

Lack of probity in the management of public resources in Nigeria is, for a leading transnational advocacy voice such as MacArthur Foundation,  the greatest threat to stability in the country. With support from it, (MacArthur Foundation) administered by the Centre for Information Technology and Development, (CITAD), a cohort of influencers is onto mainstreaming probity consciousness across the society. This list is, therefore, not about exposing, naming or shaming any persons or parties or political players in an entry point such as this but centralising the agency factor in the politics of probity and accountability as antithesis of corruption.

It is very interesting how this the age-old structure-agency debate came up very powerfully just before this list was published in the sharp exchanges between the two leading presidential candidates in the country: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, (APC). President Buhari had said on December 25^th, 2018 that it is the system rather than his person that explains the slow pace of the anti-corruption war to the point where his regime is being called ‘Baba Go Slow’. 

But, for Atiku Abubakar, the trouble with the anti-corruption war in the past four years is the Buhari political personality, not the Nigerian system. While acknowledging that there are problems with the system, he nevertheless points at corruption allegations the president could have dealt with decisively but for the nature of his person. He contrasts that with the administration in which he was Vice-President, citing cases where that administration dealt with clear cases of corruption.

The president replied, insisting on the correctness of his position, arguing that Atiku would be in jail by now if it were not for the ineffectual pace of the Nigerian system. To that argument, former Vice-President responded by listing the transformation of hitherto poor relations of the president who are now fabulously wealthy because of privileged connection to power.

What is of interest to this particular documentation in that debate between the two presidential candidates on December 25^th and 26^th, 2018 is how it brings the agency issue to the table on mainstreaming corruption in Nigeria. Although most social scientists today subscribe to the position that agency and structure are co-constitutive of reality, few disagree that the human agency can provoke phenomenal change in spite of structures. This is the point why even before the debate between the two candidates, this first of a series privileged popular awareness the agency of those who would be exercising the most power over public resources from 2019 – 2023. As named earlier, the most concentrated spaces of public resources in Nigeria are certainly The Presidency, The Senate and the Office of the Governor. The Senate and not the House of Representatives is included here because, although both chambers decide the budget, it is, nevertheless the Senate which confirms all those who administer the budget. This ranges from ministers to board members, ambassadors and sundry such offices. There is thus the need to know who exactly these people are heading for these spaces in the aftermath of the February 2019 elections.

So, this phase of ‘Contestants on Corruption’ has three messages. The first is, as electors, the people, are the last screening post. Two, it is more effective to concentrate attention on where public resources are concentrated than just rail blindly against corruption and three, it is tactically useful to know those who would be exercising this allocative authority for the 2019 – 2023 term of office.

 The list has been restricted to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) because these are the leading parties in Nigeria by current strength. As there is no guarantee that only these two parties would win all the positions in the coming election, it means that this list would be continuously updated to reflect the electoral outcome after the February elections.

Finally, it is worth recalling at this point that this documentation is part of an overarching project which privileges turning to media reporting of corruption to establish what have been said on, about, for and against corruption in contemporary Nigeria. What have been so said is considered strategic to the idea of mainstreaming anti-corruption and pro-accountability consciousness because it gives Nigerians an idea of the corruption sensibility of the political leaders who would be elected in 2019 and would preside over the spaces where allocative power over public resources will be concentrated in Nigeria from 2019 – 2023.

A Short Note on How This Was Compiled

A team of carefully selected resource persons followed the party primaries in the APC and the PDP and took notes of emerging names. Then they combed the newspapers and the social media to cross check what they had. A preliminary list emerged. A panel of veterans in the coverage of the two political parties as well as academics sat over the preliminary list, especially in the states where the primaries had degenerated into irreconcilable differences.  In addition to their own insight into the dynamics playing out in such states, there were telephone contacts with established sources in specific states who corroborated or corrected the existing list. 

In spite of such checks, there is no guarantee that this list is hundred percent correct or up to date. Some are still in court while INEC has barred some states completely because they didn’t follow guidelines. In yet some other states, it is the judgment of the court that barred one party or certain candidate from parading him or herself as the senatorial candidate. The decision to go ahead and publish this was taken when a panellist said at a point that in some of the states, even INEC is not that sure who the candidates are. He was referring to Ogun State, for example, where the case has just moved to the Supreme Court. But neither is the situation in states such as Adamawa, Benue or Kwara any less different in terms of pending court actions. This might as well still be one of the most up to date list of contestants in the three spaces of power we are, understandably, concerned. The list will, therefore, continue to be updated from this moment till after the election when winners emerge.

 Presidency:

1. All Progressives Congress, (APC) – Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

2. People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) – Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

 

The Senate

Abia State

APC Abia North: Dr Orji Uzo Kalu Abia Central: Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu Abia South: Sir Marc Wabara

PDP Abia North: Sen. Mao Ohuabunwan Abia Central: Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe Abia South: Sen. Theodore Orji

 Adamawa State

APC Adamawa North: Binta Garba Adamawa Central: Aishatu Ahmed (Binani) Adamawa South: Alhaji Mohammed Mo’ Idi Allaah

PDP Adamawa North:Mohammed Abubakar Wamkai Adamawa Central: Hanging litigation Adamawa South: Rev Binos Yaro

Akwa Ibom State

APC A’Ibom North: Godswill Akpabio A’Ibom Central: Etim Bassey A’Ibom South: Obong Inibehe Okorie

PDP A’Ibom North: Dr Chris Ekpeyong A’Ibom Central: Albert Bassey Akpan A’Ibom South: Mrs Akon Ayokenyi

Anambra State

APC Anambra North: Mrs Margaret Okadigbo Anambra Central: Sen. Uche Ekwenife Anambra South: Sen. Andy Uba

PDP Anambra North: Sen. Stella Oduah Anambra Central: Mr Charles Odunukwe Anambra South: Chris Ubah

Bauchi State

APC Bauchi North: Adamu Bulkachuwa Bauchi Central: , Halliru Dauda Jika Bauchi South: Lawal Yahaya Gumau

PDP Bauchi North: Suleiman Nazeef Gamawa Bauchi Central: Hamma Misau Bauchi South: Garba Dahiru

 Bayelsa State

APC Bayelsa East: Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo Bayelsa Central: Chief Festus Daumiebi Bayelsa West: Capt. Mathew Karimo

PDP Bayelsa East: Mrs Blessing Izagara Bayelsa Central: Hon. Douye Diri Bayelsa West: Mr Lawrence Ewrudjiakpo

Benue State

APC: Benue North: Hon.  Olubebe Mimi Azape Benue West: Senator George Akume Benue South: Chief Stephen Lawani

PDP Benue North: Hon. Gabriel Suswam Benue West:  Hon. Oker Jev Benue South: Hon. Abba Moro

Borno State

APC: Borno North: Habu Kyari Borno Central: Kassim Shettima Borno South:  Ali Ndume

PDP Borno North: Being determined in court Borno Central:  Abba Aji Borno South:  Kudia Satumari

Cross Rivers State

APC: Cross Rivers North: Mr Wably Nyiam Cross Rivers Central: Senator Victor Ndoma Egba SAN Cross Rivers South: Sen. Bassey Otu

PDP Cross Rivers North: Rose Okoh Cross Rivers Central:  Dr Sandy Onor Cross Rivers South:  Sen. Gershom Bassey

Delta State

APC: Delta North: Mrs Doris Ubor Delta Central: Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege Delta South: Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan

PDP Delta North: Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi Delta Central: Hon. Evelyn Oboro Delta South:  Sen. James Manager

Ebonyi State

APC: Ebonyi North: Mr Mathias Adum Ebonyi West:  Inconclusive primaries Ebonyi South:  Inconclusive primaries

PDP Ebonyi North: Dr. Sam Egwu Ebonyi Central: Sen. Sunny Ogbuorji Ebonyi South:  Mr Michael Nnachi

Edo State

APC Edo North: Francis Alimekhane Edo Central:  Hon John Inegbedione Edo South:  Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon

PDP Edo North: Hon. Abubakar Momoh Edo Central:  Sen. Clifford Ordia Edo South:  Sen. Mathew Uroghide

 Ekiti State

APC Ekiti North: Olubunmi Adetumbi Ekiti Central:  Opeyemi Bamidele Ekiti South:  Dayo Adeyeye

PDP Ekiti North: Sen. Duto Faseyi Ekiti Central: Barr Ayo Adewale Ekiti South: Mrs Biodun Olujimi

Enugu State

APC Enugu North: Hon. Eugene Odoh Enugu East: Mr Lawrence Eze Enugu West: Mrs Juliet Nwagwu

PDP Enugu North: Sen. Chukuma Utazi Enugu East:  Dr Chimaroke Nnamani Enugu West: Sen. Ike Ekweremadu

Gombe State

APC Gombe North: Alh Saidu Alkali Gombe Central: Alh Moh’d Danjuma Goje Gombe South:  Col. B. K. Amos rtd

PDP Gombe North: Ibrahim DanKwambo Gombe Central: Nasiru Abubakar Nono Gombe South:  Hajia Binta Bello

Imo State

APC Imo North: Benjamin Owajumogu Imo Central:  Rochas Okorocha Imo South:  Hon. Emma Ojinere

PDP Imo North: Hon Patrick Ndubueze Imo Central: Hon Jones Onyereri Imo South:  Ezenwa Onyebuchi

Jigawa State

APC Jigawa North: Danladi Sankara Jigawa Central: Sabo Nakudu Jigawa South:  Ibrahim Hassan Hadeija

PDP Jigawa North: Nasiru Roni Jigawa Central: Mustapha Sule Lamido Jigawa South: Ubale Shitu

Kaduna State

APC Kaduna North: Suleiman Kwaru Kaduna Central: Uba Sani Kaduna South:  Yusuf Barnabas Bala (Bantex)

PDP Kaduna North: Suleiman Hunkuyi Kaduna Central:  Lawan Adamu, (Mr. LA) Kaduna South:  Danjuma Laah

Kano State

APC Kano North: Jibrin Barau Kano Central: Ibrahim Shekarau Kano South:  Senator Kabiru Gaya

PDP Kano North: Ahmed Garba Bichi Kano Central: Aliyu Sani MadakiGini Kano South:  Abdullahi Sani Rogo

 Katsina State

APC Katsina North: Ahmed Babba Kaita Katsina Central: Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya Katsina South:  Bello Mandiya

PDP Katsina North: Hamisu Gambo Katsina Central: Usman Mani Nasarawa Katsina South: Shehu Inuwa Imam

Kebbi State

APC Kebbi North: Dr Yahaya Abdullahi Kebbi Central: Adamu Aliero Kebbi South: Bala Ibn Na-Allah

PDP Kebbi North: Bello Suru Kebbi Central: Abubakar Shehu Mohammed (GEDA) Kebbi South:  Benjamin Dikki

Kogi State

APC Kogi East: Jibrin Isah Echocho Kogi Central: Yakubu Oseni Kogi West: Smart Adeyemi

PDP Kogi East: Attai Aidoko Kogi Central: Ahmed Ogembe Kogi West: Dino Melaye

Kwara State

APC Kwara North: Saliu Mustapha Kwara Central:  Unclear Kwara South:  Unclear

PDP Kwara North: Hon. Zakari Mohammed Kwara Central:  Sen. Bukola Saraki Kwara South:   Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim

Lagos State

APC Lagos East: Hon. Adebayo Oshinowo Lagos Central: Senator Oluremi Tinubu Lagos West:  Olamilekan Adeola

PDP Lagos East: Mrs Abiodun Oyewusi Lagos Central:  Mr Adesunbo Onitiri Lagos West: Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Nasarawa State

APC Nasarawa North: Hon. Godiya Akwashiki Nasarawa West: Sen. Abdullahi Adamu Nasarawa South:  Tanko Al-Makura

PDP Nasarawa North: Mr Michael Abdul Nasarawa West: Aliyu Tafida Nasarawa South: Sen. Sulieman Adokwe

Niger State

APC Niger North: Zakari Jikantoro Niger East:  Sani Musa Niger South: Muhammed Bima

PDP Niger North: Alhaji Sani Cuba Niger East: Ishyaku Ibrahim, (SAN) Niger South: Hon. Shehu Baba Agiae

 Ogun State

APC Ogun East: Ramoni Olalekan Mustapha Ogun Central:  Ibikunle Amosun Ogun West:  Tolu Odebiyi

PDP Ogun North: Ogun Central: Ogun South:

Ondo State

APC: Ondo North: Robert Ajayi  Boroffice Ondo Central:  Omotayo Donald Ondo South:  Barr Morayo Lebi

PDP Ondo North: Olusegun Alonge Ondo Central:  Nicholas Tofowomo Ondo South:  Yele Omogunwa

Osun State

APC Osun East: Dr Ajibola Basiru Osun Central:  Hon. Ajibola Famurewa Osun West:  Dr. Adelere Oriolowo

PDP Osun East: Chief Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi Osun Central:  Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa Osun West: Chief Lere Oyewumi

Oyo State

APC: Oyo North: Fatai Buhari Oyo Central: Sen. Teslim Folarin Oyo South:  Abiola Ajimobi

PDP Oyo North: Hon. Milikat Akande-Adeola Oyo Central:  Chief Bisi Ilaka Oyo South:  Chief Bayo Lawal

Plateau State

APC Plateau North: Rufus Bature Plateau Central:  David Pardang Plateau South:  Ignatius Longjan

PDP Plateau North: I D Gyang Plateau Central: Dimka Hezekiah Plateau South:  Barrister Peter Nyam Gai

Rivers State

APC By the verdict of the Supreme Court, APC has been barred from filing any candidate for all elective positions

PDP Rivers South-East: Hon. Barry Mpigi Rivers East: Sen. George Thompson Sekibo Rivers South-West: Hon. Betty Apiafi

Sokoto State

APC Sokoto North: Magatakarda Wamakko Sokoto Central:  Gobir Ibrahim Sokoto South:  Ibrahim Abdullahi

PDP Sokoto North: Being decided in court Sokoto Central:  Rt. Hon. Maidaji Gada Sokoto South:  Senator Abdullahi Danbaba Danbuwa

Taraba State:

APC Taraba North: Ahmed Yusuf Taraba Central: Yusuf A Yusuf Taraba South: Gen Ishaya Bauka (rtd)

PDP Taraba North: Shuiabu Lau Taraba Central: Dahiru Bako Taraba South: Emmanuel Bawcha

Yobe State

APC Yobe North: Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan Yobe Central: Ibrahim Gaidam Yobe South: Ibrahim Bomoi

PDP Yobe North: Sharif Abdullahi Yobe Central: Abba Gana Kaka Yobe South: Senator Hassan Dambu

Zamfara State

APC The party has been barred by INEC from presenting any candidates for all the 2019 elections including the Senatorial polls for its inability to abide by the rules and regulations, specifically, conducting its primaries for elective positions within the stipulated time frame.

PDP Zamfara North: Alhaji Sahabi Yau Kaura Zamfara Central: Alhaji Hassan Nasiha Zamfara South: Alhaji Abu Makau Damri

 Governorship Contestants

Abia State

APC – Okechukwu Ogah

PDP – Okezie Ikpeazu

Adamawa State

APC – Gov. Jibrilla Bindo

PDP – Ahmadu Fintiri

Akwa Ibom State

APC – Nsima Ekere

PDP – Gov. Udom Emmanuel

Anambra State: Election not due here yet

Bauchi State

APC – Gov Mohammed Abubakar

PDP –   Bala Muhammed

Bayelsa State: Election not due here yet

Benue State

APC – Barr Emmanuel Jime

PDP – Gov Samuel Ortom

Borno State

APC – Prof. Babagana Umara-Zulum

PDP – Muhammed Imam

Cross Rivers State

APC – Sen. John Owan Enoh

PDP – Prof. Ben Ayade

Delta State

APC – Great Ogboru

PDP – Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa

Ebonyi State

APC – Sen. Sunny Ogboji

PDP – Gov David Umahi

Edo State: Election not due here yet

Ekiti State: Election not due here yet

Enugu State

APC – Sen. Ayogu Eze

PDP – Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

Gombe State

APC – Inuwa Yahaya

PDP – Bayero Nafada

Imo State

APC – Hon. Emeka Ihedioha

PDP – Sen. Hope Uzodinma

 Jigawa State

APC – Gov. Badaru Abubakar

PDP – Aminu Ringim

Kaduna State

APC – Gov. Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai

PDP –  Isa Ashiru

 Kano State

APC – Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje

PDP – Abba Kabiru Yusuf

 Katsina State

APC – Gov. Aminu Masari

PDP – Sen. Lado Danmarke

Kebbi State

APC – Gov. Atiku Bagudu

PDP – Isa Galaudu

Kogi State: Election not due yet

Kwara State

APC – Abdulrahman Abdurazaq

PDP – Razak Atunwa

Lagos State

APC – Babajide Sanwo-Olu

PDP –Jimi Agbaje

Nasarawa State

APC – Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf

PDP: Hon. David Ombugado

Niger State

APC – Abubakar Sani Bello

PDP – Umar Nasko

Ogun State

APC – Dapo Abiodun

PDP – Ladi Adebutu

Ondo State: Election not due here yet

Osun State: Election not due here yet

Oyo State

APC – Adebayo Adelabu

PDP – Seyi Makinde

 Plateau State

APC – Barr. Simon Lalong

PDP – Sen. Jeremiah Useni

Rivers State

APC – Tonye Cole

PDP – Nyesome Wike

Sokoto State

APC – Ahmad Aliyu

PDP – Aminu Tambuwal

Taraba State

APC – Sani Abubakar Danladi

PDP – Gov. Darius Ishaku

 Yobe State

APC – Maimala Buni

PDP – Umar Iliya Damagun

Zamfara State

APC – No candidate

PDP – Mutawellen Maradun