Will bandwagon effect come into force?

It is assumed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 polls will have a massive influence on March 9 election; which is why the polls were so ordered to take advantage of its bandwagon effect. Will this expected bandwagon effect come into force on Saturday? Overall there are still some interesting battles which […]

It is assumed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 polls will have a massive influence on March 9 election; which is why the polls were so ordered to take advantage of its bandwagon effect. Will this expected bandwagon effect come into force on Saturday? Overall there are still some interesting battles which outcomes analysts are eagerly looking forward to. They include Ogun, Imo, Anambra and Kaduna, among others. In Ogun state, the PDP won the presidential election while its governorship candidate who by the way is disowned by PDP’s national headquarters but recognised by INEC, Senator Buruju Kashamu is reputed to have a deep war chest and popular somehow.  He and others managed to win the state for Atiku. Incumbent and outgoing Governor Ibikunle Amosun clinched a senatorial seat under the banner of APC. But the governor is supporting APM’s candidate rather than the APC’s official candidate, Dapo Abiodun, to take over from him.  Who will triumph between Amosun’s Abdulkabir Akinlade and official APC’s candidates? Can Kashamu’s PDP take advantage of the impending split votes within the APC fold?

It is exactly the same scenario in Imo state with APC’s Governor Rochas Okorocha, except that the PDP currently has an edge in that state.  So who will emerge victorious on Saturday, Governor Okorocha’s proxy candidate Uche Nwosu, APC’s official candidate Ifeanyi Ararume or PDP’s Emeka Ihedioha?  APGA’s Ikedi Ohakim may spring a surprise though. In Anambra State, PDP won the presidential election and clinched all three senate seats save Anambra South that was won by YPP. But the governor is of APGA and he needs APGA members in the state assembly for smooth governance.

‘Fiery’ Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai has been fighting one political battle or other from onset, so to speak. This culminated in decamping of some APC stalwarts. The governor himself confessed that there is no love lost between him and the Christian communities. This was reflected in the presidential and national assembly elections; so much so that El Rufai chose a Muslim as his running mate for this race. Thus, his, is a Muslim/Muslim ticket this time around. This is a courageous and revolutionary move, the first in the history of Kaduna state. This Saturday’s poll would be a referendum on Governor El Rufai as a person not APC per se.  Should the governor return, it will be big congratulations to him.

For Alhaji Atiku’s north east state of Adamawa, it will be interesting to see if he can unseat APC’s Governor Bindow, who he is said to have installed when they were both in the APC. It was thought that the governor would decamp with Atiku to PDP but he did not.  Atiku won his state in the presidential election. Will Governor Bindow fall or return on Saturday? That is a question which answer is blowing in the air.  In the north central state of Plateau where the PDP and APC votes were almost split, the governorship post could go either way. Will Benue state’s Governor Ortom triumph over his godfathers a second time this Saturday? Time will tell.

 

Victoria Ngozi Ikeano, Lafia, Nasarawa State.