No fewer than 11 political parties have fielded candidates for the 2023 governorship election in Borno.
The list of the candidates is contained in a document released by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Maiduguri.
INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity in the state, Malam Shuaibu Ibrahim, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Maiduguri.
According to the Commission, the incumbent governor, Babagana Zulum is seeking re-election under the platform of the All Progressive Congress.
Major contenders in the race include Zulum leading opponent, Ali Jajari of the People’s Democratic Party and the Action Alliance, Babagana Buji.
Others are Alhaji Monguno for Action Democratic Party; Hassan Musa for Allied People’s Movement, Abdulkadir Umar for Action People’s Party and Shettima Kakagoni for Boot Party.
While Goni Abdullahi is vying for the seat under the platform of the Labour Party; Umar Mustapha of the National Rescue Movement, Maigawa Muhammad, People Redemption Party, Modu Abba, Social Democratic Party, and the only female candidate in the race, Fatima Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress.
The INEC lists indicated that only 12 women of the 287 candidates were contesting for the governorship, National and House of Assembly elections in the state.
They are Fatima Abubakar, a governorship candidate under the ADC and Maryam Tijjani of the Accord Party.
Rep. Zainab Gimba of the APC is also seeking re-election into Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge Federal Constituency, among others.
For the House of Representatives election, only two females are contesting the election out of the total 56 candidates fielded by the parties.
They include Aisha Adamu of the SDP, contesting for Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency, and ADC’s Hauwa Abdulrahman for Jere Federal Constituency.
While seven women are among the 193 candidates running for the 28 state constituency elections.
They include Falmata Saidu of the ADP for Bama II; Bintu Kyari of the ADM for Mobbar state constituency, Dada Tanko of the ADP for Shani state constituency, Hajja Rukkayya of ADP for Dikwa state constituency, and Zainab Ali of APM for Maiduguri state constituency.
While Aisha Abdulkadir and Aisha Nyako are contesting elections for Marte and Maiduguri state constituencies under the platforms of APP and YPP, respectively.
Ibrahim, however, said there were pending cases before the courts regarding PDP tickets for Borno Central Senatorial District, Hawul/Askira/Uba Federal Constituency and Jere State Constituency.
