2015 Elections: Meet TEN Niger State Governorship Contenders [Photos]

As the 2015 general elections gather momentum, aspirants have started indicating their desires to run for the Niger State governorship seat, currently occupied by the incumbent, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

Niger State Government House

Some of the front-line governorship aspirants in Niger State for 2015 general elections under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, include: Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, Sen. Nuhu Aliyu, Alhaji Moh’d Bawa Rijau, Alhaji Matane, Dr. Mustaph Abdulsalam, Dr. Mustapha Bello, as well as Alhaji Mohammed Babangida. While four of the aspirants all hail from Niger North Senatorial District, known as zone C of the state, where the governorship has been zoned to, one of the aspirant is from zone A.

Among the opposition All progressives Congress, APC, those eyeing the state Government House are: Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, Senator Ibrahim Musa, Barr. David Umaru.

Continue below for a summary of their profiles & more:

Prislla Dennis of National Mirror takes a look at the major contenders for the Niger State Government House under the platforms of the two major political parties, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC

Hon Ahmed Musa Ibeto

Ibeto is the deputy to Governor Aliyu, serving a second term with his principal. He hopes to take over the baton from Aliyu come 2015. Though, Ibeto has not yet openly declared his ambition to occupy the seat, his principal publicly, last year said his deputy, alongside two other aspirants from zone C have approached him on their aspirations.

Ibeto is a seasoned politician and former member of the House of House of Representative under the PDP between 2003 and 2007. He afterward, jointly ran for the governorship ticket with Governor Aliyu and won and has remained in office till date.

Incidentally, political watchers said he is believed to be cashing in on the zoning arrangement in Niger to push for his aspiration, since Ibetos’ senatorial district, zone C is the next in line to produce the next executive governor in 2015. Under the zoning fomular, zone A produced Engr. Abdulkadir Kure from 1999 to 2007; and zone B that produced the incumbent, Aliyu, from 2007 to 2015.

Senator Nuhu Aliyu

Senator Aliyu, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, is one of the aspirants that has visibly made his desire to occupy the governorship seat, come 2015 known. A three-term senator on the platform of the ruling PDP, who represented his senatorial district, zone C in the upper chamber of the National Assembly from 1999 to 2011, Aliyu told journalists during an interview that he would like to run for the seat based on request from notable personalities, whose names he declined to disclose, who he said had prompted him to vie for the seat and contribute his quota to the growth and development of the state.

Hon. Mohammed Bawa Rijau

Rijau was a former Commissioner of Finance and currently, mans the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. He is the son of a strong PDP chieftain in the state during the administration of Governor Kure, Alhaji Bawa Rijau. Believed to be basking in euphoria of his father’s political dynasty, especially in Kontagora area of zone C to actualise his governorship ambition, Rijau’s desire to occupy the seat is an open secret.

Alhaji Ahmed Matane

Matane is a former Niger State Head of Service, HoS, but in the last cabinet reshuffle, he was moved to man the state Ministry of Agriculture. During the time he served as the HoS, it was rumoured that he may be Governor Aliyu’s anointed candidate for the seat from zone C.

Dr. Mustapha Bello

Dr. Bello was the former Minister of Commerce and Investment, who resigned his position to contest the state governorship election against former Governor Kure in 2003 under the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, and lost. He is presently the Executive Secretary, The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). With his posters dotting strategic places in the state, he is regarded as one of the top contenders for the governorship seat in 2015.

Dr. Mustapha Abdulsalam

Dr. Abdullsalam, is a medical doctor and is currently the Chief Medical Director, CMD, of Mustaph Clinic, Minna. A former governorship candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP in Niger State in 1992, the health practitioner hails from zone A and is known to have insisted on contesting the election on the platform of the ruling PDP, despite the fact that, the seat has been zoned to zone C. Abdulsalam, who is taking a shot at the governorship seat for the third time, last year said he would not mortgage his governorship ambition on the altar of zoning, adding that zoning arrangement was not recognised by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and therefore was not binding on him.

Alhaji Mohammed Babangida

Babangida, the first son of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who hails from Wushishi Local Government Area of zone C, is a political neophyte in the murky waters of politics of Niger State. He is also the chairman, El- Amin International Schools, based in Minna, capital of Niger State. Rumoured to have the backing of the Presidency, in order to get him to deliver the state in 2015 presidential election, Babangida is a top polo player. His campaign posters have also dotted strategic locations in the state capital with many cars customised with his pictures and posters.

From the opposition APC, the following aspirants have emerged: 

Barrister David Umar

Umar is a lawyer, who made his debut in Niger State political scene, when he contested in the governorship election in 2007 under the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and lost to incumbent Governor Aliyu. He again contested against Aliyu in 2011, and lost.

He, like Aliyu, hails from Niger East Senatorial district; zone B, dominated by the Gwari-speaking people. The wealthy politician is the only aspirant, so far that published what he called a ‘social contract,’ through which, the people can judge his performance, if he eventually wins the race. Umars’ political profile is not tied to any godfather, but his strength is said to be in his organisational skill.

Abubakar Sani Bello

Bello is a wealthy business man and son of former military governor of the old Kano State, retired Col. Sani Bello. Abubakar, popularly known as Abu Lolo, a former Commissioner for Commerce and Investment in the Governor Aliyu administration, resigned his appointment and went back to face his business. Analysts said he is being considered to pick the APC ticket in the 2015 governorship election. He has the financial muscle to join the governorship race.

Senator Ibrahim Musa

A new entrant in the politics and governorship race of Niger State, Senator Musa is presently representing, the Niger North senatorial district, zone C at the Senate. He it was who dislodged three term Senator Aliyu in 2011 and emerged winner in the senatorial election.

Credit: National Mirror