By Chioma Gabriel, Deputy Editor
Electoral violence has been synonymous with general elections across Nigeria in the past years and there is no guarantee this year will be different. Although it is expected that this year’s election will be violence-free, it is necessary that stringent measures be taken to avert outbreak of electoral violence especially in some political hot zones.

Anambra state : Between Ngige and Akunyili
Today at the polls in Anambra state,  all eyes are  on Anambra Central Senatorial District, where the former governor of the state, Dr. Chris Ngige will be up against the former Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili, the incumbent Senator representing the district, Annie Okonkwo amongst  others. Not long ago, electoral violence in the state claimed a life and coupled with the general insecurity in the state, it is necessary to take extra security measures in the state.

Ngige is the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) while Akunyili, who just decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). The incumbent Senator representing the zone, Senator Annie Okonkwo is also in the race with the Accord Party (AP) ticket.

The candidate of the PDP for this election is Ogugua Okoye. Dr Chris  Ngige will be battling the APGA candidate for the election, Prof Dora Akunyili, while the incumbent senator representing the zone, Senator Annie Okonkwo who was unable to secure his party(PDP) ticket is running on Accord Party platform . The flagbearer for  PDP is Chief Ogugua Okoye.

Benue state: For Onoja and  Mark, it’s battle of the generals
General Lawrence Onoja , the former  military administrator of Plateau state and senatorial candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria in  Benue South senatorial district  is running against the current Nigerian  Senate President and PDP candidate, David Mark.

There are security questions in the state as spates of violence erupted in the state in the course of electioneering.
Irate youths believed to be  PDP thugs during campaigning had attacked “Hausa quarters”  targeting ACN members who boldly displayed  the party’s broom emblem.Senate president, Senator David Mark denied  responsibility of  the  attack on Onoja who was shot by unidentified gunmen during his campaign.

It is believed that the political skirmishes in the state is not surprising  given the bitterness and hot exchange of words between the two opposing camps in the run up to the election, senator Mark of the ruling People’s Democratic Party(PDP), and Gen. Onoja of the ACN.. false electoral results to win elections in the zone.” He had argued that Mark’s 12 years in the Senate has not benefitted the people of Benue South in any way.
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Ogun state: Iyabo Obasanjo, Dimeji Bankole in a race for life
Ogun state has been in the heat of the storm. The face-off between former president Obasanjo and the state governor, Gbenga Daniel has raised security questions   between opposing groups in the state.

In Ogun Central, the contest is between Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the ACN candidate, Gbenga Obadara. Obadara was a former governorship aspirant in the state. The refusal of the daughter of the Late MKO Abiola, Mrs. Lola Edewor, to move to the PPN with the Daniel’s faction brightened Iyabo’s chances in the zone.

In Ogun State, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,. Dimeji Bankole, contesting on the PDP platform for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency while the ACN candidate Olusegun Williams, as his closest contender. Bankole may have a smooth sail in getting re-elected for the third time as the ACN candidate may not pose a serious threat.

In the Obafemi Owode, Odeda, Abeokuta North Federal Constituency, it is going to be a keen contest between  Olumide Osoba, son of the former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba of ACN ;  the son of late the MKO Abiola, Lekan Abiola of the CPC and  the former chairman of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Mr. Babatunde Adesina who is on the platform of   PPN and the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Kayode Amusan of the PDP. Ogun state is going to be one of the states to watch.

Kebbi state : Death threats hound Aliero
Assassination  attempt was made on the life of Kebbi Central Senatorial District candidate Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero, the CPC candidate during his campaign. in Dakingari.

It was alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sponsored the attack  aimed at eliminating the CPC candidate. The attack led to the death of a CPC supporter and the burning of 13 vehicles belonging to members of the party.

It was reported that thugs,  armed with cutlasses, swords, axes and gallons of petrol, were shouting: “Where is Gari Malam, where is Aliero?”

Security agencies are expected to be on alert in Kebbi during elections.

Plateau state: a city set on a hill
Since the last regime, Plateau state has been a state devastated with all manner of political violence. In today’s election, Plateau is one state to watch and one of the senatorial districts to watch in the state today is Plateau Central senatorial district  because of the  calibre of people that emerged on the platform of various political parties to run for the seat currently occupied by Senator Sati Gogwim, who lost the ticket to, Dr Gowon Dauda, at the PDP primary.

The former governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, who defected to the Labour Party, is also in the race as  the consensus candidate of the party  while Honourable Gambo Nmbillamut is contesting  senatorial election  on the platform of the ACN.. Barrister Daniel Garba also got the nod of the CPC to contest the senatorial slot in the zone.

None of these candidates is a push-over in the politics of the state and the zone in particular, as virtually all of them have been active players and stakeholders.

Also Plateau North Senatorial District is the most controversial zone in the state. In the last two years, the zone has experienced various forms of crises. No fewer than four candidates have emerged to contest for the seat on the platform of different political parties.

The incumbent, Senator Gyang Dantong, is  the senatorial candidate of the PDP, while Honourable Lumumba Dah-Adeh, a former member of House Representatives, is running on the  platform of  LP.

In  Plateau South, all the  candidates of various political parties to contest the senatorial election in the  zone today are heavy-weights.. The incumbent, Senator John Shagaya, is currently running on the platform of LP, while Honourable Victor Lar is flying the senatorial ticket of the PDP while General Jeremiah Useni is vying on the ticket of  Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

Senator Shagaya, who got to the Senate on the platform of the PDP, has the advantage of incumbency, but he cannot underestimate those who would square it up with him, especially those from his ethnic group, Tarok, such as General Useni and Victor Lar. Many have said that this time it is not going to be a tea party for the senator.

Victor Lar, was a  member of the House of Representatives between 1999 to 2007 and is of the same ethnic group with Shagaya and Useni. General Useni, who was a stalwart of the ANPP in 1999, was said to be instrumental in Lar’s becoming a federal lawmaker but they fell apart along the line.

General Useni is the chairman, Board of Trustees, Arewa Consultative Forum and National Chairman, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). He  has never been in the mainstream politics since the inception of this dispensation but  he has been a force to be reckoned with.

Indeed it is no tea time as the  battle for the senatorial seats in Plateau would definitely be a tough one, given the calibre of people gunning for the posts from different political parties in the state.

Jigawa state: Would Turaki blaze the trail?
Samiu Turaki, former governor of the state and a serving senator who contested senatorial election in 2007 and won on the platform of PDP is contesting again on the platform of CPC having defected after losing st the primaries. Today’s election would test his strength in the state once again.