2027: Borno governorship race pumps up new faces

•As Opposition courts young politicians to unsettle ruling APC

From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

New faces have emerged in the political space of Borno State, scaling up the lists of aspirants eyeing the governorship seat at the Maiduguri Government House as the 2027 electioneering gets underway.

The new entrants, mostly from the main political parties; the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), are expected to announce their aspirations as soon as political activities begin, sources from the two political parties told Daily Sun.

 

 

Both APC and PDP have been in hot contest for the Borno governorship seat since 1999 when Nigeria returned to civil rule. But the APC, which metamorphosed from All Peoples Party (APP) to All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to its present form- APC, has been in firm control of the state. They have never lost the governorship since 1999. And the battle for the number one seat has always been between it and the PDP.

However, in 2023, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Labour Party (LP) also made significant entry into the governorship contest. But their entrance was not huge enough to stir political storm in the camps of APC and its arch-rival, the PDP.

As the 2027 electioneering clock ticks, Daily Sun gathered reliably that top politicians in Borno have started political permutations regarding the chances of any of the hopefuls. Political analysts described a dozen of names mentioned by many politicians as contenders for the governorship race as mix of new and old political foxes.

Among the new entrants whose name frequently pumps up in APC is Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno. Monguno is one of the oldest members of APC from the defunct ANPP. Daily Sun learnt that some old members of the party are canvassing for his endorsement for the 2027 race.

Monguno, a lawyer, was a commissioner in the state before his election into the House of Representatives representing Marte/ Monguno/Ngazai Federal Constituency from 2007 to 2023.

In 2023, he was elected into the senate, to represent Borno North Senatorial District. He recently became the Senate Chief Whip. Two APC stalwarts described him as “a loyal party member and one not known with controversy.”

Another likely contender is a two- time governorship candidate of the PDP, Matawale Kashim Imam. He is back to the political trenches but in APC. The long-time friend of President Bola Tinubu has been giving some financial support to his party, the APC both in Borno and Yobe states. The former Parliamentary Liaison Officer to President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-TETfund Chairman is rekindling his ambition to occupy the number one seat, his political allies told Daily Sun. His supporters claimed his governorship ambition will receive the blessing of the traditional rulers and Borno elders, whose voices are believed to be critical in the choice of the man who will run the affairs of the state.

Among the contenders is Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture. A long-time political ally of Vice President Kashim Shettima. Senator Kyari was a frontline contestant at the 2019 APC governorship primaries. He later picked the Borno North Senatorial ticket which he won and was a senator until 2023 when President Tinubu appointed him as a minister.

Abubakar Kyari has over two decades of political experience. He was a former commissioner in the state, a House of Representatives member and later appointed as Chief of Staff to Governor Kashim Shettima in 2016.

Another leading contender is Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and senator representing Borno Central in the senate. Ka’Shehu, as he is fondly called in the state, was initially tipped to be the APC flag bearer in the 2019 and successor to the then Governor Shettima but a last-minute political manoeuvring changed the game. His political journey started when he was appointed Special Adviser to Shettima in 2015. He later became the Commissioner for Justice. As the state Attorney- General, he led the reorganisation and coordination of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a youth volunteering movement against insurgents in the state. Some party members described him as fearless, hard working and loyal. He also served as justice commissioner under Governor Babagana Zulum (2019-2023) until his election to the Borno Central senatorial seat which became vacant following the appointment of the former occupier, Senator Kashim Shettima as Vice President. He is currently the chairman Senate Committee on Special Duties.

Equally in the race is retired Permanent Secretary, Chartered Accountant, scholar and businessman, Dr Mohammed Kyari Dikwa. The founder of Al-Ansar University and schools, Al-Ansar Radio and Al-Ansar Mosque. He declared to run for the governor of Borno in 2019 on the platform of APC but later dropped the ambition. His aides said he is ready for the 2027 race.

In the opposition party, PDP, is Alhaji Idrissa Mamman Durkwa, an account and finance consultant. He contested the APC governorship primaries in 2019 which produced Zulum. He alleged manipulation in the conduct of the primaries and later defected to PDP. Daily Sun can confirm that Idrissa is holding consultations with some aggrieved young but vibrant politicians across his party, PDP and APC for a coalition to give the ruling party a tough fight in 2027. However, the lingering crisis in his party remains a big clog to the actualisation of his governorship ambition.

As the 2027 governorship race continues to generate discussions among residents, with electioneering season drawing closer and the second tenure of the incumbent governor, Professor Zulum winding down, more names are likely to be thrown up before the end of this year.