With Nigeria’s second-term governors vacating the office, politics in most of the states imply that the majority of deputy governors are not in the running to take over their masters, although there are civil working relationships in most of the instances.
Reports within the nation state that, in contrast to previous dispensations characterized by bad blood and hidden power struggles between governors and their deputies, present deputies are committed but politically isolated throughout the succession process.
In Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will serve his second term in 2027 but there are no indications that his deputy, Kayode Alabi, would take over from him. Political pragmatism rather is tilted towards Kwara North, which has not produced a governor since 1999, as compared to Alabi, who belongs to Kwara South.
Political analyst Abdul-Rahoof Bello-Labelabe attributes this consistent pattern to political and structural limitations, noting that deputies are often “glorified substitutes” with minimal real influence. He went on to add that the governors barely choose their deputies and often regard them as “spare tyres,” which results in lack of trust and isolation from central administration.
Another expert, AbdulLateef Ishowo, noted that political ambition and relationship tension on either side at times hinder deputies from becoming natural successors, referring to past tension between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar.
In Borno State, traditional political pecking order is a principal obstacle to Deputy Governor Usman Kadafur’s aspirations to replace Governor Babagana Zulum. Analyst Adamu Ali went on to describe that southern Borno, where Kadafur comes from, has lower delegate influence and voice than Kanuri-dominated north and central areas that have given birth to all governors since 1999.
Equally, in Gombe State the political arithmetic renders it improbable that Deputy Governor Manassah Daniel Jatau, who is a Christian southerner, would become governor after Governor Inuwa Yahaya. All the governors have been from the Muslim north since the return of democracy, and deputies have been Christian southerners. Political commentator Dr Musa Tukur said this pattern had built “a succession wall” in the state.
In Lagos, close sources to the ruling political class report that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, will not be available to be groomed to take over in 2027. Though he has been around long and politically experienced, insiders are convinced that his independence and authority would be hard to manage in a regime in which succession was lengthy determined by erstwhile governor and now President Bola Tinubu.
In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, also seems out of contention. Governorship aspirants like Senator Solomon Adeola and other big shots are already scrambling to compete for the governorship.
Experts in general agree that Nigerian deputy governors hardly replace their masters because they have limited authority, are most times imposed by party leaderships, and are hardly given respect by governors to protect their political legacy upon giving up power.
