The political landscape of Nigeria experienced significant upheaval in 2023, with a historic presidential election, a series of cabinet appointments, and numerous corruption scandals.
While some politicians achieved victories, others encountered defeats, disappointments, and public disgrace. Let’s take a look at the 10 major political losers of 2023:
– Atiku Abubakar: Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar came in second in the election, losing to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress by over 1.8 million votes. Atiku contested the results in court but his petition was dismissed for lack of merit by the Supreme Court. Additionally, he faced allegations of money laundering and tax evasion in the UK and the US.
– Peter Obi: Former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi secured a third-place position in the election with 25.4% of the vote. Despite being viewed as a strong contender with a reputation for good governance and economic development, he failed to garner support in the Northern and Western regions.
– Rabiu Kwankwaso: Former governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso claimed the fourth position in the election, securing 6.23% of the vote. He was anticipated to perform well in the north-western region, where he held significant influence. However, he only managed to win in his home state of Kano and lost to Tinubu in the remaining six states. Additionally, he faced a rift with his former deputy, Abdullahi Ganduje, who defected to the APC and assumed the party’s chairmanship.