Like all elections, the 2023 general election has been lauded as what’ll make or break Nigeria. It’s been touted as another opportunity for young people to get into politics and make a change that’ll shame the people who have been running Nigeria into the ground since 1960.
But we’ve noticed a pattern of many of these young changemakers being the offsprings of the same politicians Nigerians want to see less of. Below are some of them.
Mustapha Lamido, son of Sule Lamido
Sule Lamido is a former federal minister, a former presidential candidate, and a former governor of Jigawa State. Mustapha is set to step into one of his father’s old shoes if he wins at the polls in 2023. The younger Lamido is the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Jigawa State governorship election. If he wins, he’d be replacing the man that replaced his father at the Jigawa State Government House. And the governor’s seat wouldn’t be the first thing father and son have in common, as they also shared a prison cell in the past when they were both arrested over a ₦1.4 billion bribery case in 2015.
Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of James Ibori
Who can forget James Ibori? Not after he was convicted in the United Kingdom in 2012 for fraud and money laundering and served a few years behind bars. Erhiatake, the daughter of the former governor of Delta State and the current representative of Ethiope West constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, has won the ticket of the PDP to contest to become the representative of Ethiope Federal Constituency at the Federal House Of Reps.
Bello El-Rufai, son of Nasir El-Rufai
Nasir El-Rufai is pretty well-known in political circles from his years as the FCT Minister and later governor of Kaduna State, a seat he still keeps warm. His son, Bello will be contesting in the 2023 general elections as the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House Of Reps.
You may remember Bello from one of his high profile Twitter controversies that involved threatening someone’s mother with gang rape and an ethnic-tinged attack on Igbos.
Marilyn Okowa-Daramola, daughter of Ifeanyi Okowa
Ifeanyi Okowa is a former senator and current governor of Delta State whose second term will end in 2023. But the Okowa name won’t leave public office if his daughter wins at the polls next year. She’s the PDP’s flagbearer to represent Ika North-East Constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly.
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Idris Ajimobi, son of Abiola Ajimobi
Abiola Ajimobi was a former senator and former governor of Oyo State. He left the Oyo Government House a year before he died of COVID-19 complications in 2020. His son, Idris Abiola-Ajimobi, will take part in the 2023 elections as the APC candidate for the Ibadan South-West II Constituency election.
Umar Ganduje, son of Abdullahi Ganduje
The governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, is perhaps most widely-known for stuffing his babariga with thousands of dollars paid as bribe from a contractor. He’s been governor of Kano since 2015 and will end his tenure in 2023. His son, Umar, will contest in the 2023 elections for the seat of representative of Tofa, Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa Federal Constituency.
Olamijuwonlo Akala, son of Alao Akala
Before his death in January 2022, Alao Akala was a one-term governor of Oyo State and previously served as deputy governor. At the 2023 polls, his son, Olamijuwonlo, is contesting to become the representative of Ogbomoso North, South and Oriire Federal Constituency.
Joju Fayose, son of Ayo Fayose
Ayo Fayose is easily one of the most recognisable names in Nigerian politics, even if he cannot win one delegate to vote for him as a presidential aspirant. He’s a two-term governor of Ekiti State and a vocal critic of the Federal Government of President Buhari. His son, Joju, is the PDP flagbearer for the Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 election in 2023.
