Politics
Serial Contestants In Nigeria’s Electoral System

The three failed attempts by President Muhammadu Buhari to become the President before he eventually won in 2015 has become a classic example of how people should be resilient in their endeavour or political ventures.
A National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, made a caricature of the President’s serial attempts in his Abeokuta outburst few weeks ago when he said in Yoruba, ‘he tried the first time, he failed; he tried the second time, he failed; he tried again the third time, he failed. He even cried on national television but I told him to wipe his tears because crying wasn’t the next thing…’
That video, made a few days to the anticipated APC presidential primary, went viral prompting a rebuttal from the Presidency and a clarification from Tinubu that he didn’t mean to denigrate the President.
However, what is instructive is that Buhari contested the presidential election three times and failed until he won the fourth time after the merger that produced the APC. Likewise, in Nigeria’s four-cycle elections, at the state and federal levels, there are some Nigerians who have been contesting elections but have yet to win. Some are seen only during election season, while some have become a part of the Nigerian life whether or not it is election season.
Atiku: One of the popular names that readily come to mind is former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, who is currently the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the February 25, 2023 election. Interestingly, the forthcoming election would be Atiku’s sixth attempt at becoming Nigeria’s president. In some instances, he lost during the primary and in some other instances, he flew the party’s flag but lost the main election. His first attempt at the number one seat was the popular 1993 election won by the late MKO Abiola. Atiku contested the primary of the Social Democratic Party but lost the ticket to Abiola. Some good news however; in the fourth republic that started in 1999, he won the governorship election in Adamawa State but left that to become President Olusegun Obasanjo’s deputy, a position he occupied for eight years.
After falling out with Obasanjo over his bid to succeed him as president in 2007, Atiku joined the Action Congress and flew the party’s flag but lost the election and came third. Before the 2011 election, he had joined the PDP and contested the primary against the then incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan but he also lost to Jonathan. Ahead of the 2015 election when the ACN had morphed into the APC, he contested against Buhari in the primary and lost again. He later defected back to the PDP and flew the party’s flag in the 2019 election but lost again to Buhari. Now, he remains the candidate of the PDP for the forthcoming election. Having defected from one party to another about five times, his supporters are hopeful he would win this time round as they project that this might be his last chance to contest, considering his age. He’d clock 76 in November.
READ ALSO: 2023 Presidency: Why Tinubu Nominated Masari As Running Mate Revealed
Ribadu: The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, is also another aspirant who has contested the presidency and the governorship of Adamawa State a few times but has yet to win. In the 2011 presidential election, Ribadu was the candidate of the ACN but he lost the election. Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Ribadu dumped the ACN for the PDP and emerged as the governorship candidate of the party for the 2015 election. He defeated six other aspirants, including the acting governor of the state, Bala Ngilari, to pick the ticket but he lost the election to Jibrilla Bindow of the APC. Again, the former EFCC boss dumped the PDP for the APC and contested the governorship ticket against Bindow for the 2019 election but lost the ticket. He remained in the APC and contested the governorship ticket again in May 2022 but lost to the only female aspirant in the primary, Senator Aishatu Binani. In all, Ribadu has contested the presidency once and the governorship ticket/seat thrice.
Agbaje: A popular face in Lagos governorship contest is Mr Jimi Agbaje, a pharmacist. He has contested the governorship election in the state for about four times but didn’t win. He started with the Action Congress in 2007 and was interested in contesting the election on the party’s platform when Tinubu, who was about concluding his second term as the governor, indicated interest in another person, Babatunde Fashola. Agbaje then defected to the Democratic Peoples Alliance to contest the main election but lost to Fashola. In 2011, he joined the PDP and for the second time contested against Fashola. He lost again. In the 2015 and 2019 governorship elections, he contested against Akinwumi Ambode and Babajide Sanwo-Olu – both candidates of the APC – respectively but lost the elections. At the moment, Agbaje seems to have taken a break as he didn’t contest the primary of any party ahead of the 2023 elections.
Kwankwaso: A former two-term governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is also taking a third shot at the presidency. Kwankwaso, who once served as the Minister of Defence, contested the primary of the APC ahead of the 2015 election, but lost the ticket to Buhari. In 2019, having defected to the PDP, he lost the ticket to Atiku. After leaving the PDP in protest against he said he was treated by the party, he’s currently the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party. His supporters are hopeful he will win the election in 2023.
Utomi: A professor of political economist, Prof Pat Utomi, is a passionate Nigerian who has also contested presidential and governorship primaries/elections a few times. In 2007, he was the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress but lost the election to the late Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP. Also, in 2011, Utomi emerged as the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party but he again lost the election to Jonathan of the PDP. Meanwhile, in 2019, the don went back to his state, Delta, and sought to be the governor under the platform of the APC, of which he was a founding member. He however lost the ticket to Great Ogboru as the party recognised the faction that produced Ogboru as against his emergence in another primary. Responding to criticisms that he contested a governorship election having tried to be president, Utomi said there was nothing wrong with his quest, since both were about service to the people. In the ongoing electioneering, however, Utomi was a presidential aspirant in the Labour Party but stepped down for former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, who is now the party’s candidate.
Otti: After his exit as the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank in 2014, Mr Alex Otti joined politics and contested the governorship seat in his home state of Abia. He contested on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance but lost to Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP. However, the Court of Appeal in December 2015 declared him as the winner and sacked Ikpeazu, but that decision was later overturned by the Supreme Court in 2020. Again in 2019, he contested the election but lost to the PDP. In 2020, he dumped APGA for the APC. In the ongoing electioneering, however, having dumped the APC for the Labour Party a few weeks to the primaries, he is the candidate of the Labour Party for the 2023 governorship election in the state. He has assured the people of the state he wouldn’t take salary if elected the governor of the state, among other primaries.
Akpanudoedehe: The immediate past secretary of the APC caretaker committee, Senator James Akpanudoedehe, has also been on the field for some time. He served as the Minister of State for the FCT under Yar’Adua. In 2011, he was the candidate of the ACN for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State but lost the election to Senator Godswill Akpabio, who won his reelection. In 2015, he recontested on the platform of the APC but lost the ticket to Umana Umana. In 2019, again he lost the APC governorship ticket to Nsima Ekere, who eventually lost the main election to the incumbent, Udom Emmanuel. Currently, Akpanudoedehe has secured the ticket of the NNPP for the 2023 governorship election, and has expressed hope he would win the election. He left the APC a few weeks ago after he was allegedly denied the party’s ticket.
READ ALSO: 2023: Atiku’s Promise To PDP Governors Before Picking Okowa As Running Mate Revealed
Meanwhile, is it important to note that there is no limit to how many times any individual could vie for an office, according to the 1999 constitution (As amended), however it is of interest how politicians move from one party to another to realise their ambitions.
PUNCH
Politics
FULL LIST: Borno Tops In Voter Online Pre-registrations

Borno State has recorded the highest number of voter online pre-registrations nationwide as of Week Nine, according to newly released data from the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday.
Out of a total of 8,003,196 Nigerians who completed the pre-registration process, Borno accounted for 826,130 entries, the highest figure recorded across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Osun State follows with 646,580 pre-registrations, while Lagos is next with 604,819. Kebbi registered 581,135, slightly ahead of Kaduna, which recorded 510,490. Ogun is close behind with 510,062, and Kano comes next with 421,941. Kogi also posted high numbers, registering 361,233, while Zamfara and Yobe followed with 304,065 and 292,714, respectively.
Jigawa added 284,384 pre-registrations, with the FCT recording 228,264. Oyo followed closely with 224,713. Katsina registered 205,933, while Sokoto and Nasarawa posted 209,392 and 183,519, respectively.
READ ALSO:Tinubu Nominates New Minister
Bauchi recorded 181,671, ahead of Delta, which registered 160,188. Kwara contributed 142,084, followed by Cross River with 119,773 and Ekiti with 114,244.
Imo State recorded 109,245 pre-registrations, with Niger adding 107,153 and Gombe logging 103,150. Plateau followed with 93,963, while Rivers and Adamawa registered 82,840 and 80,556, respectively. Taraba posted 65,684, Akwa Ibom 60,638, Benue 53,747, and Bayelsa 52,957.
At the lower end of the table, Enugu registered 25,541 voters, followed by Ondo with 17,618, Ebonyi with 13,979, Edo with 11,570, and Abia with 11,221, the lowest figure in the country.
Also, INEC announced that a total of 1,710,450 voters have completed their CVR nationwide as of week eight, combining both online pre-registration (956,566) and physical registration (753,884).
READ ALSO:Acting INEC Chair Outlines Preparations or Anambra Poll
In accordance with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC confirmed that registration activities in Anambra State remain suspended until after the governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
Until recently, states in the South-West, particularly Osun, Lagos, and Ogun, had consistently led the CVR process since the exercise commenced on August 18, 2025.
However, recent data indicated an uptick in participation from northern states, especially Borno and Kebbi, amid renewed mobilisation campaigns.
It was reported that community-based organisations, religious leaders, and local officials in several northern states intensified sensitisation efforts to boost awareness and encourage eligible residents to register.
Politics
Tenebe Fingers Edo APC Chieftains As Plot To Replace Him As Chair Thickens

Plot to replace Jarrett Tenebe as State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State is gathering momentum going by series of social media posts shared by Tenebe, as monitored by our correspondent.
It was gathered that Senator representing Edo North at the red chamber, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Minister of Regional Development, Hon. Abubarkar Momoh, are not keen to support Tenebe’s re-election as Edo APC Chairman.
Tenebe’s absence at last week’s empowerment programme of Senator Oshiomhole gave credence to the cold war in Edo North APC.
However, as the plot to remove Tenebe gathered moment, the Edo APC chair, it was gathered, is fighting back following suspension of Etsako East Ward 9 Chairman of the party, Mallam Adamu Ototobor, who is a loyalist to those opposing Tenebe’s return as APC Chairman.
READ ALSO:By-elections: Edo APC Tackles PDP Over Call For REC, Others Redeployment
The cold war amongst the Edo APC bigwigs became evident when Tenebe, in series of social media posts, made allusion to the plot to replace him as Edo APC Chairman by accusing Momoh of scheming to take control of the Edo APC by working with a ‘dangerous click’.
Tenebe had said in one of his posts: “Minister of Regional Development, Hon Abubakar Momoh, I have led the party to the best of my ability, I can as well leave the party to you and your dangerous click, there is already a place in history for people like me.” (Sic)
The APC chairman further posted: “I supported you during your House of Representatives election when you were rigged out by this new click.
“If that was a crime, just know that there is a place for people like me and I know that was why I helped you.
“I encouraged people from other political parties who lost their ways to swell our fold in APC. If that’s my crime, Abubakar Momoh, I will leave the party for you and your new click, just know I am fulfilled.
READ ALSO:Jonathan’s Ex-aide Dumps PDP For APC
“In this party, I have lent a voice to those who cannot speak; I have fought for the oppressed, possibly the reason why Momoh and his ‘usl…’ click wants me out.
“During the last local government council organised by Governor Godwin Obaseki, I traveled with my team on canoe, which could have capsized but this time, Abubakar Momoh was moving from one air condition office to his air conditioned home with his family.
“Today all is set, Jarrett is no longer capable, him and his ‘usel…’, wicked click wants me out. I will leave so that peace will reign.”
Momoh, in his reaction, said Tenebe should be allowed to exhaust himself, adding that he would not join issues with the Edo APC chairman.
Politics
Okpebholo’s Eight-year Tenure Non-negotiable, Says Commissioner

Edo State Commissioner for Youth, Honourable Charity Amayanvbo, has said that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s eight-year leadership mandate is non-negotiable, describing his administration as one that has rekindled hope and unity among Edo people.
Amayanvbo made the statement in Benin City during a courtesy visit by Comrade Kelly Okungbowa, popularly known as Ebo Stone, founder of the Youth for Youth movement.
According to the Commissioner, both the Binis and Edo youths are solidly behind Okpebholo, whose leadership style, he said, has restored dignity to traditional institutions and reaffirmed respect for the revered Oba of Benin Kingdom.
READ ALSO:Stop Using Edo Money For Federal Roads, Residents Tell Okpebholo
“Governor Monday Okpebholo has restored the confidence of the people in government. He has brought back dignity to our traditional institutions and rekindled the hope of Edo youths. His eight years in office are non-negotiable,” Amayanvbo asserted.
The Youth commissioner commended the governor for what he described as “unprecedented infrastructural strides, especially in Edo South, citing major projects such as the Ramat Park Flyover, the Second Flyover at Adesuwa Road, and the ongoing statewide road rehabilitation as clear evidence of visionary leadership.”
He also lauded the governor for restoring the authority of the Benin Traditional Council and for his bold call to the Edo State House of Assembly to investigate the Mosium for West Africa (MOWA) projects — a move Amayanvbo described as “transparent and accountable governance in action.”
READ ALSO:Okpebholo, Idahosa Bag UNIBEN Distinguished Service, Leadership Awards
Comparing Okpebholo’s performance with that of his predecessor, former Governor Godwin Obaseki, Amayanvbo remarked that Okpebholo had “done what a Benin man could not achieve.”
He urged Edo youths to rally around the governor, pledging continued support for his developmental vision aimed at building a greater Edo State.
In his response, Comrade Kelly Okungbowa (Ebo Stone) hailed Hon. Amayanvbo for his fatherly leadership and reaffirmed his movement’s loyalty to the Governor.
He pledged to mobilize Edo youths to deliver a 2.5 million-vote bloc in support of both Governor Okpebholo and President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring that the Youth for Youth movement would stand firmly behind the Governor’s “non-negotiable mandate.”
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