•Governor Fubara (R) and deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu
The recent reported crisis between the deputy governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba and his boss, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has again brought to the fore the skirmishes that happen between sitting governors and their deputies.
The frictions are usually caused by suspicions of disloyalty, schemes by other stakeholders to replace the incumbents, perceived lack of political clout on the part of the deputies, personal difference and the need to position certain persons to succeed the governors, reports Saturday Trust.
In the current dispensation, 16 governors would be seeking re-election to serve second terms in the 2027 elections, but there are signs strong enough to suggest some of the governors may not run with their current deputies.
Apart from Niger, where the governor and his deputy have started showing signs of disaffection, there are other states where the rifts are not so glaring but exist.
The early signs in power state
In Niger State, the frosty relationship between Governor Bago and his deputy, Comrade Garba, may signal that Garba’s chances of returning as deputy in 2027 are slim.
Garba’s relocation from his official residence, opposite the Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, has fuelled speculation of a rift between the two.
Sources allege that power brokers from the Niger East Senatorial District, where the deputy governor hails from, have aligned with the governor to weaken Garba’s political standing ahead of 2031, when the governorship is expected to shift to the zone.
It was gathered that plans are already in motion to replace Garba as deputy governor in 2027.
The release of the controversial APC consensus list for the November 2025 local government elections further worsened the rift. The deputy governor’s preferred candidate, Babangida Wasa Kudo, was dropped from the list.
In March, Bago announced that the APC would adopt consensus primaries for the council elections, directing stakeholders to nominate three chairmanship candidates per LGA, from which he would make the final selection.
However, party officials later clarified that the governor reserved the right to choose candidates outside the submitted lists.
In the final consensus list signed by the state chairman, Aminu Musa Bobi and secretary, Adamu Gani, Isyaku Bawa was selected for Shiroro LGA instead of Babangida Wasa Kudo, the deputy governor’s preferred candidate.
Observers note that Garba’s recent alleged attempt to resign over alleged ill-treatment by the governor may have deepened the rift.
Although the governor insisted that his relationship with the deputy is “perfect and harmonious,” Garba made his first official public appearance alongside his principal only last Wednesday at the commissioning of the Office of the National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in Minna, since news of his intended resignation surfaced.
Many political watchers believe underground efforts are still ongoing to find a suitable replacement for Yakubu Garba in 2027.
There are speculations that Bello Bawa Bwari, from the Suleja Emirate and the 2019 governorship candidate under the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) may be picked to replace Garba. This move is seen as a strategy to suppress Bwari’s rumoured ambition to contest for the Niger-East Senate seat.
Bwari’s own senatorial ambition is expected to present stiff competition for the incumbent, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, who is reportedly keen on retaining the seat until 2031, when he may be seeking the governorship.
With over 40 years of friendship with Governor Bago, and coming from the allegedly marginalised Suleja Emirate, Bwari recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
When asked about rumours that he may become deputy governor in 2027, Bwari said he would be happy if it happened.
He added that his defection was to support his friend, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, in delivering good governance.
“Speculations are normal in any society; rumours are normal, especially from the kind of society we come from. I have also heard those rumours but I embrace them in good faith. If it happens, I am grateful to God but that is not my priority. My priority is to support my friend, the governor of Niger State to succeed in becoming the best governor in Nigeria and for me to be proud of my state, to tell my children and my grandchildren that we did it for them,” he said.
Fubara/Wike feud may affect deputy
The lingering feud and moves by some political stakeholders to reconcile the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his estranged godfather, former Governor Nyesom Wike, may stand as a stumbling block for the deputy governor of the state, Prof. Ngozi Odu from being nominated as running mate to Fubara in 2027.
Prof Odu, from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the State, was said to have been recommended for nomination as the running mate to Fubara by the former governor of the state, Chief Peter Odili, when Odili’s relationship with Wike was still in good shape.
Prof Odu, since her swearing in, in 2023, has remained loyal to her principal, despite the lingering political crisis in the state between the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, which supporters of both leaders have all taken their stance.
Before the enforcement of the state of emergency in the state on March 18, 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and subsequent suspension of Fubara, Odu and the House of Assembly, she was rumoured to have resigned from the office, but she swiftly dispelled the rumour and declared her loyalty to the governor.
Throughout the period, she abstained from abusive outbursts against Wike, while reinstating her loyalty to Governor Fubara.
A political stakeholder in the state, told Weekend Trust on condition of anonymity that though the working relationship between Fubara and Odu has been cordial and trustworthy, one of the terms of reconciliation between Wike and Fubara may be to drop Odu for one of the Wike’s supporters to be nominated in 2027.
“Wike brought Fubara in 2023, while the slot of the deputy governor was given to another political leader in the state, but now that Fubara is no longer seen as Wike’s loyalist, the term for the reconciliation may include he nominate Fubara’s running mate in 2027”, the source said.
Our correspondent observed that some political leaders in the country are working to mediate between Governor Fubara and Wike for the democratic structures in the state to be restored, and peace restored in the state.
Plateau: The age factor
In Plateau State, the relationship between Governor Caleb Mutfwang and his deputy, Mrs Josephine Piyo, has been very cordial and smooth.
There have not been reports of friction or any misgiven between the two, and she has been representing him at functions whenever he is not around.
One political pundit puts it, “The cordial working relationship between Governor Caleb Mutfwang and his deputy, Mrs Josephine Piyo, since this two-year period of the administration is about the best we have seen since the return of this democratic dispensation in 1999.
“Plateau has witnessed some level of crisis between the governor and his deputy, and even where there was none, there has hardly been any situation where the governor willingly handed over his deputy,” he said.
Regardless of this robust relationship between governor Mutfwang and his deputy, however, there are doubts in several quarters that the governor would run with her in 2027.
This is not as a result of her incapability, loyalty or any fault of hers, and her gender has never been in question either.
However, due to her age (68 years) some say she may not be selected again, as the society is today, is looking for young people to run and occupy offices. Even the governor himself is 60-years-old.
Recently, some persons called for her resignation and that she should be replaced by someone from her zone in the state and even her tribe, so that the replacement will be seamless. Though this call was not given serious thought, our correspondent got the hint that names like Dachung Musa Bagos and Simon Mwadkwon were mentioned as possible replacements.
Bagos is the immediate past and a two-term member of the House of Representatives representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, while Mwadkwon is the senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, another political analyst said the deputy governor may even decide not to run due to the aforementioned reason, and that would give room for the governor to pick someone he would groom and willingly hand over to after his second tenure.
Taraba
In Taraba, the health challenge of the deputy governor, Alhaji Aminu Alkali, has made it difficult for the type collaboration expected between him and the governor Agbu Kefas.
Alkali has been battling health issues and was away from the state for about four months before he returned recently.
The deputy governor, it was gathered, was initially flown to Abuja for treatment for an undisclosed illness and later flown to Egypt for intensive medical treatment.
But as 2027 is still away, there are expetations, things may improve.
Previous clashes
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State (1999–2007), had three deputy governors— two of whom left office before completing their terms due to political disagreements.
The first was Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, who resigned in 2002, citing irreconcilable differences with Tinubu.
Femi Pedro served as deputy governor in 2003. He allegedly fell out with Tinubu after declaring interest in succeeding him as governor. He was later impeached in 2007 by the State House of Assembly, though he had already resigned shortly before the impeachment.
Adeleke Mamora, who was the third deputy governor, acted briefly after Pedro’s resignation.
Also in Lagos, Babatunde Fashola while serving as governor dropped Sarah Adebisi Sosan for Victoria Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire. It was seen as a strategic move.
Plateau
In 2007, then governor of Plateau State Jonah Jang also fell out with his deputy, Mrs Pauline Tallen and seeing the signs that she may not be accommodated, she also defected and ran against the governor on the platform of the Labour Party but did not succeed in upstaging her former boss in 2011.
Akwa Ibom
The current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio had while serving as governor of Akwa Ibom State replaced Patrick Akpan Ekpotu due to succession disagreements. Nsima Ekere, his new deputy, also later resigned amid similar alleged tensions.
Imo
Rochas Okorocha as governor of Imo State did not run with his first term deputy, Jude Agbaso, but replaced him with Prince Madumere.
Ogun
Then Governor Ibikunle Amosun dropped Segun Adesegun for Yetunde Onanuga, citing the need for broader state representation.
Kaduna
Malam Nasir El Rufai as governor of Kaduna did not run with his first term deputy, Barnabas Bala Bantex. He replaced him with the current deputy governor, Hadiza Balarabe, who has been retained by the current governor, Uba Sani.
Zamfara
The current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, while serving as governor of Zamfara State, parted ways with his deputy, Mahdi Aliu Gusau who was impeached by the state House of Assembly.
Kogi
Similarly, then Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State fell out with Simon Achuba, who was impeached. Edward Onoja became the new deputy.
Ondo
Equally, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo clashed with Alfred Agboola Ajayi, who defected and was replaced by Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Oyo
Elsewhere in Oyo under Governor Seyi Makinde, Rauf Olaniyan was impeached and replaced by Adebayo Adeleke Lawal.
Adamawa
In Adamawa, Ahmadu Fintiri in 2023 replaced Crowther Seth with Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta to strengthen electoral chances.
Kaduna: Imperative of constitutional term limits
In Kaduna State, even though there is no glaring feud, Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, from Sanga Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna, is serving her second term in office.
She was appointed deputy governor by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, after the then deputy governor, the late Bala Bantex, stepped aside on health grounds.
After El-Rufai’s tenure ended in May 2023, he nominated her to serve as deputy governor under Senator Uba Sani, making it her second term while the current governor is serving his first term as an elected governor of the state.
Based on this, it is believed that Governor Uba Sani may have to drop her, as the constitution permits only two terms in office for elected officials.
Most insiders interviewed said the deputy governor has a cordial relationship with the current Governor, Uba Sani, and that the only factor working against her is the constitutional limitation of two terms in office.
“She has a cordial relationship with the current Governor Uba Sani and she is hardworking and committed to her work. I also think she is loyal. So, the only factor against her is the constitution that allows political office holders to serve only two terms,” a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) told our correspondent.
Another political analyst, Haruna Nasarawa, said although her tenure will end before the next election, she can contest again if her people want her to represent them or even run for the governorship.
According to him, the current governor must begin the search for a new deputy; someone with political value from the region before the next election.
He also noted that certain factors worked in favour of Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe when she was first picked as deputy governor, including religion and ethnicity during El-Rufai’s administration.
He said the current governor must also consider those factors when selecting the next deputy governor, even though his leadership style is all-inclusive.
But there are others who think that even if the constitution allows her to serve another term after 2027, the current governor may still drop her in favour of a political ally who will be 100 per cent loyal to him.
This is because she was nominated to the current governor by his former boss, Nasir El-Rufai, and with the strained relationship between Uba Sani and El-Rufai, she may not be allowed to remain in the government.
