Simongm:



Winning Six out of Seven local government is what you just called luck. Now I see reasons why I need not to argue with you again.

The dynamics of the State Government elections is fundamentally different from the Senatorial elections. Votes from Dekina LG alone will surpass whatever block votes Dino gets from Kogi West. Remember, Dino was competing against Smart who himself was grossly unpopular so using that as a yardstick is somewhat flawed.

id911:


I don't hate him, he's a very gentle person and not flamboyant in his lifestyle. What I'm saying is, someone more popular should be nominated to fly the PDP's flag to defeat the incumbent Governor

And who exactly is the candidate that's more popular? Remember that being popular alone doesn't necessary translate to being electable, especially when you factor in tribal dynamics of Kogi State.

PhenomenalMorgan:

I just pity "checks and balances" in this 9th assembly
Anything the executive brings, sharp sharp na so them go stamp am, no containing the excesses of the executive!!!
Like it or not guys like Saraki and shehu sani made the senate what it was supposed to be!!! An institution that checks the executive!!!

Don't mind the ignoramuses. When I say that Democracy isn't designed for a country like Nigeria, people think that I am just spewing rubbish. The level of corruption in Buhari's second term would make the likes of Dezani resemble Mother Teresa.

stephleena:
APC, politicize the offa robbery incident..which made a very big dent on Saraki's political image..


Saraki will be missed in the political scenes.. he gave the entire APC serious nightmares..

He won't be forgotten in a hurry.



Saraki, must have tormented lots of people than I expected.. look at his victims wailing below..

Hehehehehehe..he's coming back again.. he's a master planner.

He will bounce back; give Kwarans 2 yrs they'd start complaining...

ORIENTATION101:
if buhari raise Davido hand in the front of Northerners as his annointed candidate for 2023 election 1 million Atiku can not defeat him.
Buhari is officially the King of North

The North didn't vote for APC but Buhari. A commoner in the North typically says stuff like: "shi kade mu ka sa ni"; translated to mean "It's only him we know." Buhari raising a Southerner's hand wouldn't yield anything as the North is afraid of a repeat of the Jonathan era.

agabusta:
Oshiomhole!

Someone who couldn't deliver Edo State, despite having a sitting governor?

I am a resident of VGC and can say authoritatively that Osinbajo lost because he's considered to be a non-entity. Prior to becoming VP, he wasn't know, so don't expect us to go grovelling towards him simply because he comes around with siren. Remember we are all big boys and can't get intimidated by a tea boy in the Villa.

I remember once the Estate Association wrote a letter to him asking for his assistance to help get the Lagos State Govt to fix a blocked drainage that had been a source of flooding in the past. His response 'you should have written the letter to the Governor of Lagos State.' Is this the sort of man you want us to vote for?

Achuwa1:
Tinubu connived with the North to break the back of those that will contend presidential elections with him in 2023 but doesn't know that the North knows what they are doing to carry him along for now pending 2023.
(1)there is an audio tape on Rocha's ambition for senate,likely he will lose his case in court & probably didn't deliver imo for APC
(2) Akpabio was played & he lost so won't be vying for senate President coz that's Tinubu slot to bring but Akpabio will be kept busy with Efcc
(3)Rotimi Amaechi couldn't deliver Rivers for APC neither did he bring money so don't have a say when it will come to decision making.
(4) Tinubu also made sure ondo is lost to PDP so that akeredolu wont also have a say coz he couldn't deliver his state for PMB.
But The North will play Tinubu by giving the presidential slot to someone in ss they can control to spite obj & they will use the military to monitor every other head that will role coz DSS are already on alert to keep anyone that misbehaves on check from today.

The North will produce the President in 2023. If APC fields a Southerner, PDP will field a Northerner who would end up carrying the day.

blujoi:
Thank you, Atiku this, Atiku that. Peoples votes were subverted, the electoral process severely compromised and you all are here theorizing.

No mind them; it's the paradox with Nigerians. Rather than tell ourselves the truth, we tend to use baseless analysis to justify criminality. I am from Kogi State and can say for a fact that Buhari needed a miracle to win the State. In this case, the miracle came via rigging and thuggery...

Acidosis:
Yahaya Bello finally had his way. Igala people are a big disappointment. A lot of voters have woefully sold their souls to the devil (Yahaya Bello).

Why don't you collect his money and vote your conscience? Haba!

PDP won in all Okun (Yoruba) land in Kogi. Let's even assume the Ebiras need to vote along ethnic line, who the hell gave Bubu votes in Dekina, Ankpa?? Jeez!

The votes were manipulated. But again, anyone relying on Igalas to deliver are simply misguided.

paq1:

Dino will beat Smart adeyemi even if he is Imprisoned.

Of course; Adeyemi would come third...

Stanley APC South East leader keh. Buhari is foolish oh.

apolonius:


Your analysis lacks real depth other than the harvest of sentiments and half-truths that replete the chants of PDP e-warriors. When it suits your conclusions you factor in critical variables like incumbency, ethnicity, elite consensus and interests, and popular mood; yet you dismiss same when they flaw your premises and generalisations.

I hope you will have the honour to come here and apologise in February. Some of us are students and skilled analyst of power. We are rarely wrong on these things.

'You are rarely wrong' implies that there is a possibility that you may be wrong in this instance. No worries. February is just around the corner. No need to sweat bullets...

apolonius:


Your analysis is simplistic. I do not want Bello to win his re-election bid, I was a vigorous campaigner for Audu/Falake.

The focus here is the presidential election and those who are drunk enough to believe that Atiku will beat Buhari in Kogi. I have just made a point that Buhari will defeat Atiku for those reasons.

Many of those I mentioned have been in politicos before Bello. It’s fraudulent for you to reduce Buhari’s hope for Kogi votes to Bello alone.

So, understand context and focus of people’s contributions.

I believe PDP will defeat Bello in a governorship election if it stops Ibro from imposing any of the Wadas or his son. To imagine that even a goat bearing an Igala name can defeat Bello is to be dreaming. Only a serious and very popular Igala candidate can defeat Bello.

It is your argument that's anchored on simplistic over-generalizations. You assume that the ordinary man on the street of Kogi would separate the message from the messenger - wrong. The question is, what has Buhari done since the last elections to warrant the support of Kogites? Also, note that the 2015 elections has proven that the fact that the ruling party is in control of a state doesn't necessary translate to victory at the polls, which again makes an Atiku victor a plausible reality in States like Kogi where both the Federal and State Government have performed below par.

The names you mentioned are relative featherweights and haven't been tried and tested politically. Let's see how they will translate the matter they have garnered in 3+ years into electoral success. Bello's fate would be determined by the outcome of the Presidential elections. If APC wins, then Bello stays. If PDP wins, then Bello may be better off going on early retirement, as even as you put it, a goat with an Igala name would defeat him at the polls. There is also the intra-political zoning amongst Igalas and the clamour for power shift by the Okuns to consider. February is around the corner and we shall revisit this thread once elections are over.

deomelo:



And who are you? Aviation expert?

Yes oh, at least recent events suggest that I am indeed an aviation expert...

apolonius:


I was born into the heart of Kogi politics. Oh, you expected me to talk of A.T Ahmed and other late hawks in Kogi Central? Or, the Awoniyis, Daniyans, Bayo Ojos, Akanmodes in Kogi West?

Yes, Akanmode worked with him as others like Shehu, Ardo, Adinoyi, Boss Mustapha and co. Don’t forget that he flew AC flag same period. Does history mean current alliance? Are they with him?

Were you expecting me to mention Ahmadu Ada Ali, late P.S Achimugu and Achema in Idah? Adejoh Obaje or who? Emmanuel Unwuchola? Should I talk of Egwuaba in Ibaji or Ineke?

Should I talk of the Alfas in Ankpa,Bob and Isaac or Halima? Should I talk of the late Isah Guiness, Dan Kadiri or Shagada? C. Y Eneche? Dan Egene Adah?

In Ogugu, the Amehs and Agadas?

Robert Audu and Babanawa in Okpo?

These names are largely old, dead, sick and retired. Some like Positive are in ADC, like Adoji the guy you guys hailed until he learnt the ABC of politics.

The current players are more sophiscated than your paper titans.

Your narrative is sentimental, empty, one-sided and just ignorant. Forget paper tigers and focus on critical controllers of bases.

February should come fast!

The so called current players you referred to were thrusted into the Kogi Political Arena by a stroke of fortune. They came in backed by truckloads of goodwill, but fretted it away due to inexperience and frankly speaking arrogance and vindictiveness. The run-ins they had with Dino was unnecessary. The fight with Ogembe was also unnecesary. The constant harrasment of Wada by EFCC was unnecessary. And to add insult to injury, the inability to pay Civil Servant salaries buried whatever positive sentiments Kogites had about Bello and his cohorts.

The same folks you all paper titans, have inbetween them governed Kogi for circa 13 years and have a credible record at the polls. Is it Bello who has never contested an election that would end up dislodging them? Let's see how things play out in February.

The bigger issue is the fact that these girls come into Nigeria under a Visitors Visa only for them to result to working in Strip Clubs or as high class escorts to persons capable of affording their services. The Nigerian Immigration may need to step in to curb the activities of these Prostitutes who see Nigeria as a goldmine. The photo with Osinbajo was a blunder, and shouldn't have been allowed to happen.

apolonius:


Shut up!

I am an Igala from Odu;speak for yourself.

Who is the Igala championing Atiku? Ibro, Wada or Aidoko? Ben Okolo? Are you aware that Echocho, Achuba, the Bewas, IJN, Ogohi-Onu Anyigba, Ibajis, Ahmed Ahmed of Ankpa, Onojas of Ogugu and Gbokeke’s son who now leads Idah LGA are APC determined hawks?

Who is mobilising for your thief from Kogi Central? Yahaya Bello, Ohinoyi who loves Bello enough to dance at his house party or Ohiare?

Who is mobilising for him from Kogi West? Dino the weightless and opportunistic comedian?Are Ogheha, Jemibewon, Akanmode with him? Can he or them stand against Smart Adeyemi, Irukera and the Buba’s replacement from Lokoja?

Buhari will get 65-75 % from Kogi by God’s grace.

He go do you like film trick.LOL!

Your knowledge of Kogi politics is at best very recent. The names you mentioned including Bello are political neophytes who would struggle to win elections in Igala land. Let's see how Bewa would unseat Ikani in Dekina axis, and ahmed ahmed who got into office on the goowill of PDP has sealed his political fate by being seen as a strong advocate of Bello. Who is Gbokeke son compared to the PDP big wigs in Idah? See 2019 elections in Kogi State would end up being a referendum on Bello's leadership, so don't expect massive support for APC unless of course they revert to Plan A, rigging.

The only reason why Buhari may win Kogi Central is because he finally gave them a Governor in Bello. Aside that, there is really nothing to show on ground for the massive support they gave him in 2015. As as per Kogi West, the political heavy weights inclusive of Smart Adeyemi would support Atiku. His alliance with Bello is motivated by his desire to ride on APC's platform to the senate. But Dino has positioned himself as the champion of the masses and would ultimately carry the day. Which Irukera are you talking about? Is it the same Lagos boy who only became aware of Kogi in 2015? The man no dey ground and can't even deliver his ward. The fact that you stated that Akanmode would work against Atiku goes to show that your knowledge of Kogi politics is very recent. Are you aware that Akanmode was Atiku's Deputy Chief of Staff when he was VP?

My Brother, Buhari would be a difficult sell for Kogites in 2019 due the fact that he imposed a clueless Governor on them. That's what it ultimately boils down to.

Peter Obi stands no chance. If the choice of VP would be a politician, it would have to be one with significant clout in the SE. As things stand, Peter Obi is inconsequential in Anambra politics, hence the basis for ruling him out of contention for the VP slot. Also if you hand over Nigeria to two businessmen, it's only a matter of time before we experience total system collapse...

deomelo:
Virgin Nigeria closed and packed up under his boss in 2012, Dana air crash transpired under his boss and 16 years of PDP did nothing to rescue the airline industry in Nigeria all because of corruption and gross incompetence while clowns and kabu kabu writers like Abati looked the other way, not they have so much to say and knowledge to share because other people are trying to revitalize and bring back what they destroyed.

If you call this revitalization, then you clearly don't understand how the aviation business works....

seunmsg:
Fayose stupidly believed that Ekiti people are fools because we gave him a second chance in 2014. The 2014 victory got into his head and he felt he's one kind of political genius that knows it all. He quickly dismantled the united coalition that worked for him and made himself the alpha and omega of everything in the state. He failed to fulfil all his promises to political leaders in his own party and when they complain, he tags them an enemy and start victimising them. People who couldn't stomach such nonsense started leaving the party for him. Instead of retracing his steps, he became more hardened and told everybody that cannot accept his dictatorship to leave the party. More people left.

With his attitude coupled with the fact that he doesn't listen to the opinions of others, his downfall was just a matter of time. To show how stupid and arrogant Fayose can be, he publicly announced his preferred successor almost a year before the election. That alone gave his opponents both within and outside the party enough time to strategies against him. APC quickly reached out to those they knew would be aggrieved after PDP primary and reached a working agreement with them to defect once Fayose succeeds in imposing Eleka.

More foolishly, Fayose choose a candidate from Ikere Ekiti and still went ahead to create problem for him in his hometown by wagging an unnecessary war against Olukere, the traditional and spiritual head of the town. Olukere was arrested and locked up for some days in Ado-Ekiti few months to the election. Fayose's supporters openly celebrated the public humiliation of the traditional ruler without thinking of the political consequences. On election day, Olukere's supporters and the people of Afao-Ikere quarters turned up for APC thereby resulting in an almost equal division of Ikere votes. If Ikere had voted solely for their son, PDP would have won the election.

Apart from his crass arrogance, Fayose is also very stingy. He believed he can always get what he wants from people by manipulating them. In days towards the election, billions of naira was raised from PDP governors but Fayose sat over the money alone. Even Eleka didn't have access to campaign funds. Party members were complaining discretely since nobody could confront him openly. His stinginess also led him not to fulfil his N10,000 promise to motorist that agreed to park their vehicles in government house when Buhari visited the state. Most of the drivers failed to turn up for him on election day.

Finally, he allowed Adeyeye to leave the party. That was the last straw that broke the camels back. Adeyeye was the leader of the party before Jonathan hijacked it for Fayose in 2014. Adeyeye was placated with a ministerial appointment so as not to leave the party. In 2018, Fayose saw no reason to placate him. He instead ordered Mere Olayinka and his lackeys to attack him in the media. The outcome is what we saw last Saturday.

This is very consistent with the narrative I got from one of Fayose's aides. I am also aware that he was advised against his scathing criticism of the President, but chose to ignore sound counsel and was perhaps carried away by the so called mythical status he had apportioned to himself. Frankly speaking, the people of Ekiti were tired of his antics and were keen to support the lesser of the two evils...

It was obvious that she was acting out a script. What she fails to realize is that she's also a dispensable tool in the hands of Politicians, no different from Justice Ayo Salami whose foray into politics led to his ultimate demise.

Well, if the game plan is to have her go after Saraki, Obj etc, it therefore implies that she must be willing to take the plunge for a Leadership that appears to be standing on quicksand.

If he teams up with Kwankwaso, Buhari can't win Kano. And if Buhari doesn't win Kano, it's safe to say that he can't get re-elected.
It would make sense for either Kwankwaso/Shekarau to step down for one another.

TonyeBarcanista:
He won't get ANY significant vote down south, not even in CRS that will be enough to make any difference... He's just wasting his time..

Indeed, his reach and clout are overrated.

madridguy:
2 years to election it was already certain that there was an opposition that wanted to grab power....the energy was everywhere. .

This is exactly my point with people, a year to election, the people planning to grab power have not even arrive on conclusion on candidate to present to Nigerians talkless of start testing his/her popularity.

It's still early days and the dynamics of 2019 is fundamentally different from that of 2015. The opposition this time around is from within the APC itself, and once that unravels be rest assured that it will signal the start of campaign proper.

Dankwambo is a featherweight; you need someone with a populist bent to unseat Buhari...

The fact that we are consuming in excess of 50m liters per month (upped by 15m liters from the Jonathan era) lends credence to the fact that the Subsidy regime under Buhari is soaked in more corruption that what was witnessed under Jonathan.

Some lyrics from Phil Collins Song -- "Both Sides of the Story"

A neighborhood peace is shattered it's the middle of the night
Young faces hide in the shadows
While they watch their mother and father fight
He says she's been unfaithful, she says her love for him has gone
And the brother shrugs to his sister and says
Looks like it's just us from now on'

We always need to hear both sides of the story
We need to hear both sides of the story

CaptainJeffry:
Who might that be?

I suspect Shema of Katsina, with an Iweala as VP....

senatordave1:

Shut up.in 2003 when kwankwaso was in pdp,did buhari not get up to over a million votes? Same thing happened in 2011.all supporters of ganduje and kwamkwaso are first of all buharists.buhari will get more than 3 million in kano.

Buhari of old isn't the same Buhari of today.

Shortyy:
Please mr Minister of power, there hasn't been light in Owerri for almost a week now. Make una do something abeg. To buy fuel no be moi moi again o..

Maybe your light is what's being handed down to us, as we have had stable light in Abuja for over amonth.

CaptainJeffry:
Tanbuwal won't be bad especially when paired with Donald Duke, Peter Obi or Pat Utomi.

Tambuwal has political capital but lacks electoral value; would struggle to give Buhari a run for his money. Existing trends suggest that there may be a dark horse waiting in the wings, which i suspect this time around to be an ex-Governor with a mild temperament.