2023: Zulum, 11 others jostle for Borno governorship seat

No fewer than 11 political parties have fielded candidates for the 2023 governorship election in Borno.

The lists of the candidates is contained in a document released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Maiduguri.

INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) in the state, Malam Shuaibu Ibrahim, confirmed the development to our reporter on Thursday in Maiduguri.

According to the Commission, the incumbent governor, Babagana Zulum is seeking re-election under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Major contenders in the race include Zulum leading opponent, Ali Jajari of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Alliance (AA), Babagana Buji.

Others are Alhaji Monguno for Action Democratic Party (ADP); Hassan Musa for Allied People’s Movement (APM), Abdulkadir Umar for Action People’s Party (APP) and Shettima Kakagoni for Boot Party (BP).

While Goni Abdullahi is vying for the seat under the platform of the Labour Party (LP); Umar Mustapha of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Maigawa Muhammad, People Redemption Party (PRP), Modu Abba, Social Democratic Party (PDP), and the only female candidate in the race, Fatima Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The INEC lists indicated that only 12 women of the 287 candidates were contesting for the governorship, National and House of Assembly elections in the state.

They are Fatima Abubakar, a governorship candidate under the platform of the ADC and Maryam Tijjani of the Accord Party (AP), who is vying for Borno Central Senatorial election.

For the House of Representatives only three women of the 56 candidates are contesting the election including Rep. Zainab Gimba of the APC, who is seeking re-election into Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge Federal Constituency.

Others are Aisha Adamu of the SDP, contesting for Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency, and ADC’s Hauwa Abdulrahman for Jere Federal Constituency.

While seven women are among the 193 candidates running for the 28 state constituencies elections.

They include Falmata Saidu of the ADP for Bama II; Bintu Kyari of the ADM for Mobbar state constituency, Dada Tanko of the ADP for Shani state constituency, Hajja Rukkayya of ADP for Dikwa state constituency, and Zainab Ali of APM for Maiduguri state constituency.

While Aisha Abdulkadir and Aisha Nyako are contesting election for Marte and Maiduguri state constituencies under the platforms of APP and YPP, respectively.

Ibrahim, however, said there was pending cases before the courts regarding PDP tickets for Borno Central Senatorial District, Hawul/Askira/Uba Federal Constituency and Jere State Constituency.