Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, has attributed the victory of Peter Obi over President Bola Tinubu in Lagos State during the 2023 presidential election to public anger over the naira redesign policy and economic hardship experienced during the final months of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Oshiomhole said the controversial currency redesign introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under former Governor Godwin Emefiele contributed to widespread frustration among voters, which he claimed influenced election outcomes in some areas.

The former Edo State governor argued that the cash shortage and difficulties experienced by Nigerians during the implementation of the naira redesign policy affected public perception of the government at the time.

According to him, the hardship created by the policy played a role in shaping voter decisions during the 2023 election, including in Lagos, where Obi of the Labour Party (LP) defeated Tinubu, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi recorded a significant victory in Lagos State, defeating Tinubu, who had previously served as governor of the state and maintained strong political influence there.

The result attracted widespread attention because Lagos had historically been considered one of Tinubu’s strongest political bases.

The naira redesign policy introduced new ₦200, ₦500 and ₦1,000 notes, with the CBN citing the need to improve currency management, reduce cash-based transactions and tackle illicit financial activities.

However, the implementation process was criticised by many Nigerians due to severe cash shortages, long queues at banks and difficulties accessing money during the period leading to the election.

The policy also generated political controversy, with several stakeholders questioning its timing and impact on citizens.

Oshiomhole’s comments have added to ongoing discussions about the factors that influenced the 2023 election results and the political lessons parties may draw ahead of future elections.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani is reportedly set to nominate a Christian from Southern Kaduna as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election, signalling a departure from the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted during the 2023 election.

The development comes as political parties intensify preparations ahead of the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the submission of governorship candidates and their running mates.

According to emerging reports, Governor Sani has decided to select a deputy governorship candidate from the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, a region predominantly inhabited by Christian communities.

If confirmed, the move would mark a return to a religiously balanced governorship ticket in Kaduna State.

However, as of the time of filing this report, the governor had not officially announced the identity of his preferred running mate.

Political parties are racing to finalise their tickets as INEC’s deadline for the submission of candidates approaches.

Party leaders across the country have continued consultations aimed at balancing political, regional and religious considerations ahead of the 2027 elections.

Southern Kaduna has long played a significant role in the state’s political landscape, with calls for greater inclusion in governance featuring prominently in political discussions over the years.

Political observers believe the choice of a running mate from the zone could influence voter perceptions and campaign dynamics in the build-up to the election.

While reports indicate that Governor Sani has settled on a Christian running mate, the Kaduna State Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had not issued an official statement confirming the decision at the time of publication.

Further details are expected once the party formally submits its governorship ticket to INEC.

The composition of governorship tickets often reflects broader political strategies aimed at promoting inclusion and strengthening electoral support.

Any change to Kaduna’s ticket will likely attract attention as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has uploaded the names of 27 governorship candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal ahead of the 2027 general elections, following efforts to resolve disputes arising from its governorship primaries.

However, the party is yet to upload a candidate for one state, raising questions about the unresolved situation in that chapter.

The submission follows weeks of consultations and reconciliation after governorship primaries in several states were marred by disagreements, parallel exercises and legal challenges.

Party leaders reportedly worked to settle internal disputes to ensure compliance with INEC’s timetable for the nomination of candidates.

The uploaded list covers most of the states where the APC conducted governorship primaries.

Despite the progress, one state’s governorship candidate was absent from the list submitted to the INEC portal.

The omission has fuelled speculation that internal disagreements or pending legal issues may still be preventing the party from finalising its candidate for that state.

Neither the APC nor INEC had, at the time of filing this report, issued an official explanation for the omission.

Political parties are required to submit the names of their nominated candidates through INEC’s dedicated nomination portal within the timelines stipulated by the electoral commission.

Failure to meet the deadline or resolve nomination disputes could affect a party’s participation in an election for the affected office.

The submission of governorship candidates marks another key milestone in preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Any unresolved nomination dispute could have significant political and legal implications for the affected state and the APC’s electoral strategy.