A number of second-term governors are spread across the North-West, North-East, North-Central, and South-West zones of the country. While some have openly stated their next steps, some have kept their plans wrapped beneath the surface. In this report, General Editor Politics, Taiwo ADISA, with reports from Mohammed SABIU ISAAC SHOBAYO, BIOLA AZEEZ, unveils the political pathways being charted by the second-term governors ahead of the next general election.

The release of the notice of elections for the 2027 polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is no doubt piling pressure on several political actors. Some of them are second-term governors, who, even though they are barred from seeking a third term in office, must now come into the open as to the way forward in their political lives. From the North-East to the North-Central, to South-West and the South-East, second-term governors are making their plans openly and in close quarters. What is clear, however, is that the die is cast and whatever they have up their sleeves must be rolled out between now and May 30, save for the governors whose elections are off-season. For the second term governors, the options are clearly spelt out- they could retire from politics (a rare development) or continue to be relevant. Some would want to play the role of godfathers, or statesmen in their states, others would join the race to the Senate, while others would want to be part of the presidential campaign, such that they would secure a befitting appointment after the election. A number of the outgoing governors are already mapping out their paths, with investigations showing that no fewer than ten of them have shown an indication to contest Senate seats.

The Senate is already being dubbed a retirement home for former governors, as 13 of them are currently in the Red Chamber. These include the former governor of Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Daniel (South- West) and former Abia governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, from the South-East. From the North Central, we have the former Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje, another former governor of the state, Hassan Dakwambo, former Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, and former Niger State governor, Senator Sani Bello. There are three from the South-South, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State, and Senator Seriake Dickson, former governor of Bayelsa State. There are four former governors from the North West, and they include Senator Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko also of Sokoto State, and Senator Abdulaziz Yari, the former governor of Zamfara State. While there are no indications that any of the governors who are serving Senators are planning to withdraw their membership of the Red Chamber, reports are already indicating that no fewer than 10 serving governors might join the chamber in the forthcoming dispensation. The number of former governors serving in the Senate would have indeed been more but for the decision of the former governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, to leave the Red Chamber and take up the post of Minister of Works under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

There are indications that the governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule and that of Kwara State, Abudulrahman Abdulrazak, are already making plans for senatorial contests, while the same has also been said about the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun. The possible destinations of the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, however, remain unclear as of press time. Except for the governors of the North-West, who are all first-time governors, second-term governors in the North-East, North Central, and South-West are busy charting the way forward, with many of them already confiding in their closest associates.

GOVERNOR Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa State)

What we have seen thus far in the Nigerian polity is that only a few governors have turned down the chance of relocating to the Senate after serving out their second term of office. Indeed, reports indicate that only a small percentage of second-term governors had retired to the comfort of their homes or returned to their careers after serving out their terms, and as it’s becoming clear by the day, the 2027 scenario has shown that a number of the second-term governors are eyeing the Senate as the next destination.

In the North Central geopolitical zone, only two of the governors, Engr. Abdullahi Sule and Governor Abudulrahman Abdulrazak of Nasarawa and Kwara States, respectively, are in their second term in office.

Since the beginning of this dispensation, two governors from Nasarawa State have been elected to the Senate after their tenure of office. Senator Abdullahi Adam, who governed the state from 1999 to 2007, was elected to the Red Chamber immediately after his tenure. Similarly, Umaru Tanko Almakura joined the Senate after serving as governor in 2019.

There are indications that Abubakar Sule, the current governor of Nasarawa State, may follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and run for the Nasarawa North Senatorial election as he approaches the end of his second term in office next year. However, there are a number of conjectures to this effect. Though the governor has not publicly declared his desire, groups in the senatorial zone have been stirring support for him. Recently, a group known as “Youth Vanguard” passed a vote of confidence on the governor to run for the Senate.

Presently, the senatorial seat for Nasarawa North is vacant due to the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to indicate whether there will be a by-election in that seat before the current assembly winds down in June 2027. Despite all the insinuations and pressures from various quarters for the governor to run for the Senate, the incumbent governor has kept his composure in the face of numerous suggestions and the demand that he run for the Senate in 2027.

A source close to the governor who craved anonymity said the governor has not told anyone of his next plan after office, but quickly added that there are pressures on him to run for the Senate. “But let’s wait for what will play out in the next three weeks,” the source said.

Governor Abudulrahman Abdulrazak (Kwara State)

Sometime in 2025, a group of politicians under the aegis of the Kwara Central Elders Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced their endorsement of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for Senate to represent the Kwara Central senatorial district in the National Assembly come 2027.

The move by the people was based on the political calculations that the present occupier of the seat, Senator Saliu Mustapha, would be contesting for the Kwara governorship position in the 2027 general election, thus opening the chances for the governor to head to the Senate.

The group, led by Alhaji Mustapha Kobe, has publicly called for the Senate ticket to be ceded to Governor Abdulrazaq, urging party leaders to allow him to replace Senator Mustapha. The group has reportedly toured all four local government areas in the senatorial district, canvassing support for a zoning adjustment that would move the ticket from Ilorin East—Mustapha’s base—to Ilorin West, the governor’s home local government.

However, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has not, for once, said anything about his move or aspiration after leaving office, after he might have served the state for two terms of eight years. The governor, who said he was not interested in building a political dynasty after his tenure, added that he is only keen on completing projects by his administration.

While all the governors in the North West are first-term governors who are seeking re-election in 2027, the scenario in the North East is a bit different, in the North East geopolitical zone, where only Taraba State governor, Agbu Kefas, is serving his first term and seeking re-election in 2027. The following governors, Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Senator Bala Muhammad of Bauchi, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Governor Mala Buni of Yobe State, and Governor Fintiri of Adamawa State, will be completing their second terms in office in May 2027 and will have to design their political future. So the question is, what’s next after the office?

Findings by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that all five governors in the zone are interested in remaining politically relevant, with a majority of them said to be warming up to seek election into the Senate. It was gathered that a few others are also eyeing ministerial slots in case the party they belong to wins the presidential election.

Even though they are very cautious in making it official in view of the ongoing realignment and alliances in their respective states, especially on the issue of succession, findings revealed that many of the second-term governors have hinted to their political associates about what they intend to do after completing their tenure.

Gov Babagana Zulum (Borno State)

For instance, in Borno State, Zulum has not officially declared for the Senate, but from his body language and off-record assertions, it was gathered that he had made it known to his associates that he wants to run for Senate, but his main preoccupation now is who succeeds him as governor.

Sources, however, have indicated that there are unmistakable indications that the governor wants to seek election into the Senate on one hand, while also having a big say in who succeeds him in 2027. One scenario suggests that he may seek to run for the Borno Central Senatorial District, using Mafa Local Government Area as his birthplace. The seat is currently held by Kaka Shehu Lawan, who has expressed interest in contesting the governorship election in 2027. The Senator, a close ally of the governor, is a prominent politician in the state. It is believed that once the governor picked him as the candidate of the party automatically, Zulum would replace the Senator in the Red Chamber.

Another indication is that Zulum, who is originally from Monguno Local Government Area, could contest for the Senate in Borno North Senatorial District. The district is currently represented by Tahir Monguno, who has also indicated interest in the 2027 governorship race. Tahir, like Kaka, is another Zulum associate. Observers believed that if Zulum picks up interest in his gubernatorial ambition, the governor might just replace him in the Senate.

Gov Bala Muhammad (Bauchi State)

In the case of Bauchi State, there are permutations that he might be vying for the Senate, too. Recall that Mohammed was elected to the Senate in the 7th Assembly and won his governorship election from the Senate. But a close aide of the governor who pleaded anonymity contended that the governor has cautioned his close aides to leave the matter as it is in view of the fact that his party was working behind the scenes to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fields a credible candidate in 2027. Sources said that a prominent Nigerian from the South- South is being taunted to accept the presidential ticket and that if he accepts to run, the Bauchi State governor is being favored to be his running mate.

Another account has it that there are others who are wooing him to stand for the vice president slot in case a serving governor in the South- West picks the presidential ticket of the PDP. However, recent reports about the governor have indicated that he might be negotiating with the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) and that the party’s hierarchy was already considering his planned defection.

Sources have, however, said that if Bala Mohammed fails to secure the vice presidential slot, he might return to pick the senatorial ticket. Findings revealed that in that case, he would pick the Southern Senatorial district ticket. It was also gathered that the governor would have to slug it out with the current Senator in the seat, Shehu Umar Buba.

Gov Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe State)

There are reports that the governor of For Gombe State wants to seek election in the Senate, but that he has a major obstacle in Senator Danjuma Goje, a former governor, who currently occupies that seat. Even though he has not officially made his intention known, a close source confided in the Nigerian Tribune that consultations are ongoing between the camp of the governor and the serving Senator. It was gathered that the serving senator is being convinced to leave the stage and allow the governor to replace him. This is based on the premise that Goje had hinted at retiring from the Senate sometime back, having been in the chamber since leaving office as a governor in 2007. Another source remarked that Goje is being persuaded to leave the seat for a ministerial appointment.

Gov Ahmadu Umar Fintiri (Adamawa State)

Feelers from Adamawa State indicate that Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri has perfected plans to contest for the Northern senatorial seat come 2027. It is believed that the governor’s choice and support for the present Senator, Rev. Amos Yohanna, was predicated on the plan to create a leeway for himself when the time to head to the senate comes in 2027.

Though his candidate initially lost the election to the candidate of the APC, the governor was able to get his candidate to the Senate through the court, so Rev Amos Yohanna is the present Senator representing the Northern senatorial zone. With Fintiri formally defecting to the ruling APC and the many reasons given for his defection, it is now becoming clear that the Northern senatorial seat is becoming a no-go area for any other candidate. Observers believed that because of his popularity in the zone, the governor would find an easy ride to the Senate from the zone.

Gov Mai Mala Buni (Yobe State)

There are no clear indications that the governor of Yobe State, Mala Buni, is positioning to pick a Senate seat from the state. The former Interim national chairman of the APC is believed to be setting himself up as a leader who would play national politics from the zone, ostensibly after ensuring he produced a successor in the state. Thus, unlike his counterparts from the zone, Buni is strategically positioning himself in national politics so that once his party forms government at the centre, he will be given a ministerial appointment or any other befitting appointment. A source said that his main ambition is to become a minister. A party stalwart in the state noted, “I think the governor is done with elective office. He wants to take a shot at the centre, maybe a minister.”

Governor Dapo Abiodun (Ogun State)

Tell-tale signs in Ogun State’s political scenario are indicative of the fact that Governor Dapo Abiodun plans to retire to the Senate after his second term in office. He hails from Ogun West senatorial district and could be on a collision course with the incumbent Senator and former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who incidentally has indicated interest in returning to the Red Chamber. It promises to be a battle ahead as the days of the primaries draw closer.

Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo State)

A lot of permutations have been woven around the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde. Some have linked him with the contest for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while some other factors have linked him with a vice-presidential ticket in an alliance with the former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Reports have also indicated that the governor, who is eligible to contest senatorial seats in either Oyo South or Oyo Central Senatorial district, could pick the senatorial ticket as a last resort. The crisis rocking the PDP and his ambition to produce a successor from among “his team” are, however, said to be his main preoccupation for now.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State)

The peculiar political situation in Lagos State makes it difficult for any office holder to immediately dictate his next political move, as indications have emerged that the incumbent governor would have to await further “directives” before charting the way forward. None of the former governors of Lagos State has served in the Senate after their terms in office, and no one is sure whether Sanwo-Olu’s case would come with a difference. (TRIBUNE)