2023: Why Senator Abaribe may not be able to succeed Ikpeazu

Nigerian Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Abaribe, may not be able to secure an election as governor of Abia State in 2023.

Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe has been a senator for the past 15 years and has lately been a vocal critic of the ruling party, he is also notable for asking President Muhammadu Buhari to resign during a session of the Senate.

It is being argued here that even though Senator Abaribe may be enjoying the support of his constituents due to his publicised stand on national issues, he may not receive the same support in his quest to become the governor of Abia State after Ikpeazu’s tenure in office.

Mr. Abaribe has openly stated his intentions of becoming the governor of Abia State, but his ambitions may not be successful due to the following reason.

The reason is that both Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and the sitting governor of the state, His Excellency Ikpeazu Okezie, are from the same Senatorial District, and Obingwa local government area in Abia State.

Even though Abaribe is constitutionally entitled to seek the Governorship position of Abia State notwithstanding which part of the state he is from, his ambitions may still meet resistance from some other politicians in the state.

This is because Abia State is a state with different Local Government areas, some persons may kick against Obingwa Local Government Area producing another governor. Hence there may be a tussle for another local government area to produce the state’s Governor.

Looking at the past governors of Abia State right from the time of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu down to the sitting governor, none of the governors have come from the same Senatorial District.

Accordingly, in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Abia State, other senatorial districts and local government areas may want to continue the same political tradition and seek to stop Senator Abaribe’s election.