2023 Enugu State gubernatorial election

The 2023 Enugu State gubernatorial election will take place on 11 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Enugu State, concurrent with elections to the Enugu State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly.[1][2] The election will be held two weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent PDP Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.

2023 Enugu State gubernatorial election
11 March 2023
 
Party APC APGA PDP
Governor before election

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
PDP

 Elected Governor

TBD
TBD

Electoral system

The Governor of Enugu State is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of state local government areas. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas.

Background

Enugu State is a small, Igbo-majority southeastern state with a growing economy and natural resources but facing an underdeveloped agricultural sector, rising debt, and a low COVID-19 vaccination rate.

Politically, the state's 2019 elections were categorized as a continuation of the PDP's control as Ugwuanyi won with over 95% of the vote and the party won every seat in the House of Assembly along with all three senate seats and all eight House of Representatives seats. On the presidential level, the state was easily won by PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar but it did swung towards Buhari compared to 2015 and had lower turnout.

During its second term, the Ugwuanyi administration's stated focuses included battling insecurity, completing infrastructure projects, and improving rural roads. In terms of his performance, Ugwuanyi was commended for taking some action to combat insecurity, expanding the rural road network, and properly deescalating November 2020 religious clashes in Nsukka while being criticized for failing to stop kidnappings.[3][4][5]

Primary elections

The primaries, along with any potential challenges to primary results, will take place between 4 April and 3 June 2022.[2] An informal zoning gentlemen's agreement sets the Enugu East Senatorial District to have the next governor as Enugu East has not held the governorship since 2007.[6][7] While the APC has zoned their nomination to the East, the PDP have not made a zoning decision as of April 2022.

All Progressives Congress

In June 2021, Enugu APC Chairman Ben Nwoye announced that the party had zoned their nomination to Enugu East Senatorial District.

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for gubernatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦10 million and nomination form price at ₦40 million with a 50% nomination form discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms are to be sold from 26 April until 6 May; after the submission of nomination forms by 10 May, candidates are to be screened by a party committee on 12 May while 14 May is the date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses and LGA congresses are set for between 7 and 9 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process will advance to a primary set for 18 May, in concurrence with other APC gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result can be made on 20 May.[8][9][10]

Declared
  • Dave Nnamani: marketing manager[11]

Potential

All Progressives Grand Alliance

On 25 March 2022, the national APGA announced its primary schedule, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and the nomination form price at ₦12 million with a 50% discount for women candidates and candidates with disabilities.[12] Forms are to be sold from 29 March to 11 April; after the purchase of forms, gubernatorial candidates are to be screened by a party committee on 22 and 23 April while the screening appeal process is slated for 5 May. Ward congresses are set for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process will advance to a primary set for 29 May, in concurrence with all other APGA gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result will be made on 31 May.[13][14]

Declared
  • Jeff Nnamani: businessman[15]
  • Frank Nweke: former Minister of Information and Communications (2005–2007), former Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2003–2005), and former Chief of Staff to the Governor (2001–2003)[16]
  • Dons Udeh: former state PDP Secretary; former Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport; and former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry[17]

People's Democratic Party

A 2013 Enugu PDP internal party resolution that resurfaced in August 2021 enshrined zoning for the 2015 election and thus adding to the claims of the pro-zoning to Enugu East camp.[18] Zoning became under threat due to the gubernatorial candidacy of longtime Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is from Enugu West, as he and his allies denied that zoning was ever a factor in the state or claimed that it was no longer necessary; the controversy that surrounded Ekweremadu's campaign and disregard for zoning led to vast internal divisions within the party.[19][20][21]

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its gubernatorial primaries' schedule, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates are to be screened by a party committee on 28 April while 2 May is the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses are set for 29 April and LGA congresses are set for 5 May to elect delegates for the primary.[22] Candidates approved by the screening process will advance to a primary set for 21 May, in concurrence with all other PDP gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result can be made on 24 May.[23][24]

Declared

Potential


See also

References
  1. Oyekanmi, Rotimi (26 February 2022). "It's Official: 2023 Presidential, National Assembly Elections to Hold Feb 25". INEC News. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  2. Jimoh, Abbas (26 February 2022). "INEC Sets New Dates For 2023 General Elections". Daily Trust. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  3. "RANKING NIGERIAN GOVERNORS, AUGUST, 2019: Top 5, Bottom 5". Ripples Nigeria. Retrieved 7 April 2022. Enugu State has lately been in the news for the wrong reasons, largely due to kidnapping and gruesome murders...The governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has, however, from our findings continued to manage the situation creditably.
  4. Olawoyin, Oladeinde. "Inside the world of Igbo Muslims in Nigeria's South-east region". Premium Times. Retrieved 7 April 2022. The destruction and burning of properties belonging to Muslims in the area by some residents of the host communities and the subsequent burning of two mosques in the town. The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, immediately called for restraint among the warring residents. He visited the sites and promised to rebuild the mosques. “The governor is a peace-loving man. He presented those two mosques- redesigned and rebuilt, to the Muslim community, just recently,” Mr Ugwu said.
  5. "RANKING NIGERIAN GOVERNORS, NOVEMBER, 2019: Top 5, Bottom 5". Ripples Nigeria. Retrieved 7 April 2022. Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, gets a Bottom 5 mention for the rising spate of kidnappings in the state.
  6. "It's our turn to produce governor in 2023, Enugu Speaker, Nwobodo, APC Chairman, other Enugu East people tell Ugwuanyi". Vanguard. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  7. Nwokedi, Nnamdi. "Enugu 2023: The debate beyond zoning". The Cable. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  8. Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  9. Angbulu, Stephen; Ayeni, Victor; Dada, Peter; Naku, Dennis; Ede, Raphael (21 April 2022). "Presidential primary: APC silent on zoning, Nigerians condemn N100m nomination fee". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  10. APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (April 25, 2022). "OFFICIAL" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 April 2022 – via Twitter.
  11. Agbo, Dennis (17 April 2022). "Uncertainties as 18 aspirants jostle for Enugu governorship in PDP". Vanguard. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  12. Oko, Steve. "2023: APGA aspirants protest high costs of nomination forms". Vanguard. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  13. "Provisional Timetable/Schedule of Activities for 2022 Primary Election". Facebook. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  14. Olokor, Friday (25 March 2022). "2023: APGA begins sale of forms Tuesday". The Punch. Abuja. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  15. "Jeff Nnamani picks APGA nomination form, urges Enugu voters to embrace O Be Go movement". Vanguard. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  16. Uzodinma, Emmanuel. "Enugu guber: Former minister, Frank Nweke dumps PDP, joins APGA". Daily Post. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  17. Anyanwu, Geoffrey. "Enugu 2023: Former PDP scribe, Udeh joins APGA, declares guber interest". The Sun. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  18. Agbo, Dennis. "2023: Classified document knocks Ekweremadu off Enugu guber race". Vanguard. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  19. Ojiabor, Onyedi. "Enugu 2023: Unspoken interests driving zoning commotion". The Nation. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  20. Odufowokan, 'Dare. "Enugu: Zoning crisis threatens PDP's continued dominance". The Nation. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  21. Njoku, Lawrence. "2023 and Enugu East governorship challenge". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  22. Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  23. Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  24. Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  25. "PDP screens 48 aspirants for governor in S'West, S'East". The Nation. Retrieved 29 April 2022. Enugu aspirants are Ekweremadu; Denge Joseph Onoh; Chinyeaka Ohaa, Barth Nnaji, Dr. Gabriel Ajah and Prof. Hilary Edeoga. Others are Chijioke Edeoga, Peter Mba, Senator Gil Nnaji; Capt Evarest Nnaji; Beloved Dan Anike; Rev. Raph Nwoye; Chief Chikwado Chukwunta; Dr. Kingsley Udeh and Barr. Nwabueze Ugwu.
  26. Chukwu, Igbonaka. "Rep Ofor Chukwuegbo Declares Bid For Enugu Governorship". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  27. Ede, Raphael. "2023: Enugu commissioner resigns, picks PDP gov form". The Punch. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  28. Uzodinma, Emmanuel. "Enugu guber: Ekweremadu makes public declaration, names campaign coordinator". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  29. Ede, Raphael. "2023: Ex-minister of power Nnaji joins Enugu gov race". The Punch. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  30. Uzodinma, Emmanuel. "Enugu Guber: We agreed on zoning in 2013 – Senator Nnaji joins race". Daily Post. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  31. "2023: U.S.-based professor Jehu Nnaji joins Enugu governorship race". Peoples Gazette. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  32. "BREAKING: Onoh picks Enugu governorship form, pledges loyalty to Ugwuanyi". Pressman. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  33. Duruiheoma, Damian. "Succession battle hots up in Enugu". The Nation. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
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