As the 2027 general elections appear on the horizon, fresh tremors are being felt within the hallowed chambers of Nigeria’s National Assembly. A significant political realignment is underway as at least eleven incumbent senators reportedly prepare to relinquish their seats in the Red Chamber to vie for executive leadership within their respective states.
This burgeoning trend, documented by The Sun, underscores a strategic shift among federal legislators. These seasoned politicians aim to leverage their legislative experience, extensive national networks, and formidable political capital to transition from the realm of lawmaking to the executive helm of state governance.
In Kano State, the political landscape is dominated by the stature of the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin. Despite the fluid dynamics of Kano’s politics, including Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent transition to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Jibrin remains a formidable contender. His enduring grassroots structure and a decade-long legacy of empowerment programmes have fortified a support base that transcends traditional partisan divides.
Similarly, in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, affectionately known as “Yayi,” has emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun. As the influential Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Adeola wields significant leverage in federal fiscal matters. Within the APC, he is increasingly viewed as the standard-bearer for the Ogun West power-rotation movement, a cause that has gained significant traction in the region.
The North-Central zone is witnessing its own share of drama, notably in Nasarawa State, where Senator Aliyu Wadada has formally declared his intent to seek the governorship. His recent return to the APC is widely interpreted as a tactical manoeuvre to consolidate his influence and secure the party’s machinery ahead of the primary season.
In Kwara State, the contest remains a delicate balancing act. Both Senator Saliu Mustapha and Senator Suleiman Sadiq Umar are prominently mentioned as aspirants. Analysts suggest that the state’s complex zoning arrangements will ultimately serve as the arbiter of their political fates.
Further north, in Bauchi State, a spirited rivalry is brewing between Senators Shehu Buba Umar and Abdul Ahmed Ningi. Their potential clash promises one of the most closely watched races in the region, pitting two experienced legislators against one another in a bid for the state’s highest office.
While some remain coy, Senator Abdulfatah Buhari of Oyo State has taken a definitive step by announcing he will not seek re-election to the Senate. Instead, he is focusing his entire political machinery on the quest for the Oyo State Government House.
Elsewhere, the names of Senator Tahir Monguno in Borno and Senator Barinada Mpigi in Rivers are being increasingly linked to gubernatorial blueprints.
The impending entry of these federal lawmakers into the state-level arena sets the stage for a monumental confrontation in 2027. It signals a shift where the battle for state power will not only be fought between local titans but will be heavily influenced by the weight and wisdom of those who have mastered the art of governance at the federal level.
