
The battle for senatorial tickets ahead of next year’s elections has pitted governors against senators nursing re-election in many states.
The governors, who belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are completing their second terms on May 29, next year.
While some senators have decided to halt their aspirations to give the governors a leeway, others have resolved to slug it out with them at the primaries.
There is tension between some governors and senators, based on the fact that the governors may muscle them out because they control the party machinery and the majority of delegates.
The pattern of struggle, intrigues and resentment appears the same across the states.
In Niger State, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, who has unfolded his ambition for the senatorial ticket on the platform of APC in Niger North District, will be locking horns at the shadow poll with Senator Sabi Abdullahi, who was rejected in the 2019 elections.
In Taraba State, Governor Ishiaku Darius, a PDP chieftain, was challenging Senator Emmanuel Bwacha for the Taraba South ticket.
However, a few weeks ago, Bwacha defected to the APC to seek the governorship ticket.
In Kebbi, sources said the Progressives Governors Forum, Governor Atiku Bagudu, is eyeing the senatorial ticket in the Central District.
His opponent is the former governor and one-time Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Adamu Aliero, who has spent two terms in the Senate.