Guber polls: Tension as waiting game intensifies across 28 States

Results of the governorship election held across 28 States in the country are being awaited.

Supporters of the various candidates and political parties are soaked in tension as the final announcement of results lingers.

All the serving and outgoing governors are also in hot seats, thinking of what may eventually become of their political career.

Two dominant political parties, the PDP and the APC have candidates in the entire 28 states for Saturday’s election but will have to do more work to win some states where the Labour Party, LP, have candidates.

In Akwa Ibom, Akan Udofia is the APC candidate. Other states are: Abia – Ikechi Emenike, Adamawa – Aishatu Dairu Binani , Bauchi – Sadique Abubakar, Kaduna – Uba Sani, Gombe – Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Delta – Ovie Omo-Agege, Borno – Babagana Zulum, Cross River – Bassey Otu, Jigawa – Umar Namadi, Kano – Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Ebonyi – Ogbonna Nwifuru, Enugu – Uche Nnaji, Katsina – Dikko Umaru Radda, Kebbi – Nasiru Idris, Kwara -AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ogun – Dapo Abiodun, Nasarawa – Abdullahi Sule, Plateau -Netanwe Yilwatda, Rivers – Tonye Cole, Yobe -Mala Buni, Zamfara – Muhammad Bello, and Oyo – Teslim Folarin.

The PDP candidates across the country are: Okechukwu Ahiwe – Abia, Umaru Fintiri – Adamawa., Umo Bassey – Akwa Ibom., Ibrahim Mohammed – Bauchi, Titus Uba – Benue, Mohammed Ali Jafari – Borno, Sheriff Oborevwori – Delta, Peter Mbah – Enugu, Muhammad Barde – Gombe, Mustapha Sule-Lamido – Jigawa, Isa Ashiru Kudan – Kaduna, Muhammed Abacha – Kano, Aminu Bande – Kebbi, Abdullah Yahman – Kwara, Abdul-Azeez Adediran – Lagos. David Ombugadu – Nassarawa, Segun Sowunmi – Ogun, Seyi Makinde – Oyo, Caleb Mutfwang – Plateau, Siminialayi Fubara – Rivers, Sa’adu Umar – Sokoto.

But the LP have serious contenders in some states- Lagos- Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Abia- Alex Otti, Enugu- Chijioke Edeoga, among others.

Track news reports that the exercise witnessed voter apathy in all the states of the federation, a development blamed on the outcome of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

However, many die hard supporters still made it a point of duty to file out for the exercise.

While the election was violent in some states, it was relatively peaceful in a few States.

Lagos, Delta, Benue, Osun, Niger, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, among others, are some of the states where thuggery and shootings took the centre stage.

As of the time of filing this report, the outcome of the polls is still too close to call in most of the States.

In Lagos, Kwara and Oyo States, the incumbent governors are believed to be on their way to victory. However, in Enugu, Abia, and Benue States, the ruling party, PDP, are said to be struggling, with LP, APGA and APC, respectively, in early lead. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State is still uncertain of victory.

For Ebonyi State, it is a close call between the APC, APGA and the PDP. However, the two opposition parties are crying out over alleged hijacking of voting materials by the Governor David Umahi-led APC administration.

In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike is said to be succeeding in his move to install a successor, with the former transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi crying out that his party, the APC was contesting against the PDP, the INEC and the police. He added that there was a total failure of governance in the country.

Kaduna, which is one of the states of interest remains undecided, with the PDP accusing Governor Nasir El-Rufai of massive vote buying.

In the next hours, governors-elect would have emerged across the 28 States, bringing to an end weeks of anxiety and tension