Politics
Meet The Sons Of Former Govs Who Want To Take Over From Yahaya Bello In Kogi & Their Strategies To Win
Charles Oyelesi
The race to determine the next governor of Kogi state has become more intense.
Two sons of former governors of the state have declared the intention to take over from re-election seeking Governor Bello.
One of the aspirants is already battling with Governor Bello for the gubernatorial ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He is Prince Mona Mustapha Audu.
Mustapha’s father, Prince Abubakar Audu was Governor Kogi state from 1999 to 2003 (this after a truncated rule between January 1992 and November 1993).
The former governor died shortly after winning the November 2015 Kogi gubernatorial election for APC. His death paved way for the emergence of Yahaya Bello who was the first runner up in the party’s primary election to become governor in the stead of the deceased.
The other aspirant seeking to take over from the incumbent is Abubakar Idris, the son of a former two-term governor of Kogi state, Ibrahim Idris.
Abubakar’s father governed Kogi state from 2003 till 2011on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.
The former governor was succeeded in office by his brother-in-law Idris Wada.
Abubakar Idris is aspiring to become the next governor of Kogi state on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.
Both Mustapha Audu and Abubarkar Idris are relying heavily on the political structures that helped their fathers win elections to achieve their ambitions. While Abubakar relies on his father’s backing to secure his party’s gubernatorial ticket, Mustapha is said to be relying heavily on the influence of major players at odds with Governor Bello at the national level of his party to clinch the gubernatorial ticket.
Mustapha is believed to have a strong edge in the scheme of things with passionate backing from top players in the Presidency – and ruling party.
