“Engineer Musa Wada is a beginner, is a novice, is a walkover, he’s structural defective in Kogi East politics, this and that, some of these new direction sycophants on social space called supporters are not good students of history in Kogi politics.
“Was Alhaji Ibrahim Idris not a novice and a beginner in 2003 when he defeated the late Almighty Prince Abubakar Audu? Was governor Yahaya Bello not a novice and a beginner in 2015 when he gave late Prince Abubakar Audu a run for his money and fame in 2015 primary election that saw him come second and as fate will have it, he become a governor?
“Engineer Wada defeated a former governor with structure; defeated a son of a former governor and a political godfather; defeated a two-time member House of Representatives and two-time Senator to clinch the party’s ticket. With all these some people still think he does not stand any chance in the November 16 poll. His chances are as bright as a star,” he maintained.
The decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, simultaneously on November 16, 2019, has made both states centre of political activities with the two leading political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gearing up for epic battle in both states. While the PDP is in the opposition in Kogi state and challenging the incumbent governor the state Governor Yahaya Bello, the APC is in the opposition in Bayelsa state and seeking to take over the reign of power from the PDP following the completion of the second term of the incumbent governor of the state, Seriake Dickson, who was elected on the platform of the PDP. Both parties recently concluded the party primaries electing flag bearers for the polls setting the stage for these epic battles.
Bello’s chances of re-election
The incumbent governor of Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello won the APC governorship primary election in his bid to secure a second term in office. Bello’s closest rival, Babatunde Irukera, polled 109 votes against the incumbent governor’s 3,091 votes.
This is perhaps the first political battle for the man who became governor in 2015 on a platter of gold following the sudden death of the APC’s governorship candidate in the race Prince Audu Abubakar, a former governor of the state. Notably, analysts have expressed reservation over Bello’s chances at re-election. They perceive the governor as carrying some baggage that may work against him at the polls.
This school of thought see many odds against Bello. The way the governor has managed the state in the last four years, they insist would no doubt impact greatly on his chances in the November 16 poll.
While a few pundits that are familiar with Kogi politics observed that the power of incumbency, federal might, and the recent bailout fund approved by President Muhammadu Buhari may strengthen and enhance the embattled governor’s chances, however, others insist that it would not make much difference.
For them, beyond latching on to power of incumbency and federal might, there was an urgent need for the governor to ensure that all the aggrieved members of his party are pacified so the party can go to the polls with a common front.
Onoja as running mate
Interestingly, after his emergence, many expected that Bello would have picked or would allow some of the aspirants who lost at the primary election to recommend the running mate. However, to the surprise of most party faithful the governor picked his friend and Chief of Staff Edward Onoja as his running mate.
Onoja, a trained banker, is not just the most influential appointee in Bello’s cabinet, but he is unarguably the most influential politician in Kogi east, a senatorial district that largely determines who gets what in any political contest in the state. However, whether Onoja’s popularity and influences would amount to victory in an election is a different kettle of fish entirely as some of the issues that would play out in the November 16 governorship election appears to be beyond any individual.
Analysts are also of the view that even though Onoja hails from Kogi East, his standing with the most populous senatorial district would go a long way in determining if they want their son to be a running mate or governorship candidate, who stands a chance to be elected governor.
This is as the chief of staff has been accused of being part of all anti-people policies of the Bello-led administration in the last four years.
Wada as the dark horse
Notably, the candidate of the PDP the forthcoming polls was not considered one of the frontline contenders at the party primary election. Engineer Musa Wada’s victory in a contest that involved a former governor, Captain Idris Wada; a serving Senator Dino Melaye, who represents Kogi West in the National Assembly; and son of the former governor, Ibrahim Idris; among other, took many unawares.
However, in a political upset, the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, trained engineer, polled 748 votes to beat 12 other aspirants with former governor’s son polling the second highest votes with 710 votes, while former governor came third with 345.
Wada, who hails from Igala in Kogi East, is an in-law to former Governor Ibrahim Idris, and a brother to former Governor Idris Wada. His victory and emergence as the PDP flag bearer enforced the saying that no one is an underdog in a free, fair, and credible election.
Bracing for battle
In an attempt to pacify the aggrieved, PDP leadership requested all aspirants in the just concluded primary election to recommend names of party faithful to be considered as running mate and the party decided on Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro, a member of the House of Representatives, who Blueprint Weekend investigation revealed was the choice most of the aspirants.
Pundits have, however, said that the ability of Wada and PDP to foster peace between the Wadas, the former governors, Ibrahim and Idris would go a long way in determining the success in the November 16 governorship election.