#EdoDecides2024: 15 notable govs who lost states to opposition parties
Since the end of the military regime and the subsequent adoption of democratic rule, Nigeria’s political space has been embroiled in a series of drama, ranging from disloyalty among political parties’ members to severe accusations of corruption, and nepotism, among others.
For any ruling party, there’s no cast-iron guarantee that any of its candidates will win an election and continue to sit at the helm of affairs of the state.
However, for an incumbent or outgoing governor to lose his seat of power (Government House) to the candidate of an opposition party, in some cases – arch-rivals- could be linked to various factors.
Such factors include poor governance, court rulings, changes in voter sentiment, coalition, godfatherism, and economic and security challenges, among others.
Recently, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the just-concluded 2024 Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, lost to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Okpebholo was announced as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, having amassed 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
The third force, the Labour Party, did not spring the much-expected surprise as its candidate, Olumide Akpata, managed to get a scanty 22,763 votes.
This is one of the many instances in which a governor lost to a member of the opposition, as Okpebholo is billed to take over the reign of affairs at the Osadebe House.
In this piece, PUNCH Online highlights some governors who failed to deliver the leadership mantle to candidates of their parties and eventually lost to the opposition.
See the list below:
Edo State (2024) – Godwin Obaseki (PDP) lost to Monday Okpebholo (APC).
Bauchi State (2019) – Mohammed Abubakar (APC) lost to Bala Mohammed (PDP).
Oyo State (2019) – Abiola Ajimobi (APC) lost to Seyi Makinde (PDP).
Kwara State (2019) – Abdulfatah Ahmed (PDP) lost to AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (APC).
Kano State (2023) – Abdullahi Ganduje (APC) lost to Abba Yusuf (NNPP).
Abia State (2023): Okezie Ikpeazu (PDP) lost to Alex Otti (Labour Party.)
Osun State (2022) – Gboyega Oyetola (APC) lost to Ademola Adeleke (PDP).
Adamawa State (2019) – Jibrilla Bindow (APC) lost to Ahmadu Fintiri (PDP).
Zamfara State (2019) – Abdulaziz Yari (APC) lost to Bello Matawalle (PDP).
Jigawa State (2015) – Sule Lamido (PDP) lost to Muhammadu Badaru (APC).
Nasarawa State (2011) – Aliyu Doma (PDP) lost to Umaru Al-Makura (APC).
Niger State (2015) – Mu’azu Aliyu (PDP) lost to Abubakar Bello (APC).
Kaduna State (2015) – Ramalan Yero (PDP) lost to Nasir El-Rufai (APC).
Katsina State (2015) – Ibrahim Shema (PDP) lost to Aminu Masari (APC).
Ekiti State (2018) – Ayo Fayose (PDP) lost to Kayode Fayemi (APC).
