Eleven sitting Governors sought re-election on Saturday March 18, 2023. Nine out of them have been declared winners by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
This implies that residents of their respective states welcome them to serve for another four-year term.
The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle was defeated by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Dauda Lawal Dare.
In an audio message which has gone viral on social media, the Governor said he and his loyalists need to accept the decision of God as only Him decides everything.
The electoral commission has declared the governorship election in Adamawa State inconclusive.
Below are 9 political actors who were able to retain their seats as governors of their respective states.
Seyi Makinde, Oyo
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde retained his position as the number one citizen of the state, following his victory over other candidates including a serving Senator, Teslim Folarin who came distant second.
Makinde came up with 563,756 votes to defeat his closest political challenger, Folarin who owned 256,685 votes.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu got re-elected with 762,134 votes. The guber candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour polled 312,329 votes. While the PDP governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran popularly addressed as Jandor had 62,449 votes.
INEC declared Sanwo-Olu the winner of the governorship election at 1:15 am on Monday morning.
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kwara
The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the APC gathered 273,424 votes to floor his closest opponents, PDP’s Abdullah Yahman who received 155,490 and the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Hakeem Lawal of the who scored 18,922.
Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe
The Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya retained his position after scoring 342,821 votes to beat his close opponent, Mohammed Jibrin Barde of the PDP, who had 233,131 votes.
Dapo Abiodun, Ogun
INEC declared the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun of the APC the winner.
He was announced winner of the election by the state returning officer, Prof Kayode Adebowale.
He secured 276,298 to floor his closest contenders, the PDP’s Ladi Adebutu who gathered 262,383 votes as well as Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who had 94,754 votes.
The Informant247 observes that the governorship candidate of the ADC enjoyed the political backing and support of a former governor and incumbent APC senator, Ibikunle Amosun.
Bala Mohammed, Bauchi
The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed of the PDP garnered 525,280 votes to overcome his closest challenger — the candidate of the APC, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar who got 432,272.
Mai Mala Buni, Yobe
The state returning officer, Prof Umar Pate, announced the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni the winner of the just concluded election at the INEC headquarters in Damaturu.
Buni of the APC had 317,113 votes to conquer his closest opponent, Sheriff Abdullahi of the PDP secured 104,259 votes.
Buni is the former caretaker chairman of the ruling party.
Babagana Zulum, Borno
The state returning officer, Jude Rabo declared the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, the winner of the election.
Zulum of APC scored 545, 542 votes to conquer his closest opponent, Mohammed Jajari of the PDP who had 82,147 votes.
Zulum floored 11 other candidates in the governorship race.
The ruling APC swept the 28 house of assembly seats in the state as the incumbent Speaker of the assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, had his way again for the fifth time.
Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule of the APC received 347, 209 votes to beat his closest challenger, David Ombugadu of the PDP who gathered 283, 016 votes.
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mr Labaran Maku secured 132,784 votes at the election.