2023 Rivers State gubernatorial election
The 2023 Rivers State gubernatorial election will take place in early 2023, to elect the Governor of Rivers State. Incumbent PDP Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term. The primaries will be scheduled for late 2022 or early 2023.
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Electoral system
The Governor of Rivers State is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of state local government areas. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas.
Primary elections
The primaries, along with any potential challenges to primary results, will take place in late 2022 or early 2023. Leaders in ethnic groups like the Ogoni have called on parties to nominate a non-Ikwerre as Ikwerres have held the governorship since 2007. Furthermore, despite making up a significant percentage of Rivers' population, no Ogoni person has ever held the governorship or deputy governorship, leading to calls for the formal zoning of party nominations to the Ogoni-majority Rivers South East Senatorial District. However, no major party has yet closed their primaries to candidates from the other districts.[1]
APC
The longrunning dispute between former Governor and federal Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and former Senator Magnus Abe which led to the Rivers APC's disqualification in 2019 has continued as their factions held separate party congresses and elected different leadership in 2021. As an extension of the party crisis, there have been disputes in the Rivers APC over the prospect of zoning the gubernatorial nomination as Amaechi is in favor of zoning to the South East while Abe is against making a zoning decision years before the primary.[1][2]
Potential
- Magnus Abe, former Rivers South East Senator and member of the NNPC Board[1][2][3][4]
- Ibinabo Michael West, former Commissioner for Transportation[5]
- Tonye Princewill, 2015 LP and 2007 AC gubernatorial nominee[1][5]
Potential
- Tammy Danagogo, Secretary to the State Government and former Minister of Sports
- Dunamene Dekor, House of Representatives member for Khana/Gokana[1]
- Kenneth Kobani, former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment and former SSG[1]
- Lee Maeba, former Rivers South East Senator[1]
- Barry Mpigi, Rivers South East Senator[1]
- Olaka Nwogu, former Rivers South East Senator[1]
- Felix A. Obuah, former Rivers State PDP Chairman[1][5]
References
- Godwin, Ann. "Search for Wike's successor roils Rivers as Ogoni eyes 2023". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- Odufowokan, 'Dare. "Rivers 2023: Amaechi, Abe renew battle for soul of APC". The Nation. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- Sobechi, Leo. "Finalist governors faced with tricky succession plans". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- Yafugborhi, Egufe. "Rivers APC 2023: Nobody can stop my aspiration, peoples support, Abe vows". Vanguard. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- Onukwugha, Anayo. "2023: Political Heavyweights Begin Moves To Succeed Wike". Leadership. Retrieved 25 November 2021.