The year 2023 would go down as one of the most eventful in Nigerian politics. From a busy campaign season which stretched from 2022, defections and an unpredictable general election, the events and happenings in Nigerian politics this year can not go without mention.
But these events would have been possible without the players — the politicians.
While some politicians across the three major parties — All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) — recorded several gains, others fell off the chat.
In no particular order, here is a list of some politicians who lost out in the politics game this year.
Atiku Abubakar
Former President Atiku Abubakar defeated former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, to clinch the PDP presidential ticket for the 2023 election. For the Adamawa State politician, this would be his last but successful go at the presidency — an ambition he has nursed since 1993.
Being a northern Muslim, further gave him the assurance of getting majority votes from the states upcountry. But things did not go as planned. Atiku lost to APC’s Bola Tinubu at the last count of the 2023 presidential ballot papers.
The former Vice President also lost all his petitions against Tinubu’s victory.
Dino Melaye
For many political analysts, former senator Dino Melaye’s overwhelming loss at the recently concluded Kogi State governorship election did not come as a surprise. For many, it was clear that Melaye would come a distant third from the day he got handed the PDP ticket.
While most Kogi indigenes acknowledged their reservations about Governor Yahaya Bello and the APC, they were also afraid of handing the state over to someone obsessed with a life of luxury.
Sources say Melaye failed to establish a clear connection between himself and Kogi people. Many say he was out of touch with Kogi people throughout the campaigns. He clearly could not identify with their with their pain. The outspoken former senator also failed to communicate his plans for alleviating the endless sufferings of Kogi people.
At the last count, Melaye emerged third position with less than 50,000 votes.
While the retired anti-corruption activist and former lawmaker had said he would not contest APC’s Usman Ododo’s victory at the courts, it is still unclear if he voted on election day.
Musa Kwankwaso
Former governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, fell off the political chat in 2023. The former senator failed to win the presidential election on the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).
Kwankwaso’s unwritten agreement with APC leaders to reduce Atiku’s votes in the north in exchange for the position of FCT minister also failed to pull through.
His political godson, Abba Yusuf, is also at verge of losing his election as Kano governor to the APC.
Lastly, the NNPP has also expelled Kwankwaso as a member of the party.
Aminu Tambuwal
Former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, is known for his great political insights and ability to scheme his way against the tide. But Tambuwal failed to bring his game on in 2023.
Perhaps, his stand against Wike during the PDP presidential primary election and Atiku’s subsequent defeat at the 2023 polls played role.
Political analysts had tipped Tambuwal to emerge as the next Senate President if Atiku had emerged president. With Atiku’s loss and Wike’s alignment with the APC government of President Bola Tinubu, Tambuwal failed to secure a principal officer position at the Senate.
Rotimi Amaechi
Former transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi, was one of former president Muhammadu Buhari’s favourite appointees. Worthy of note is his effort in reviving Nigeria’s moribund railway sector.
However, the former Rivers State governor was nowhere to be found in Nigeria’s political space after he lost out at the APC presidential primary election.
Amaechi reportedly dumped Tinubu and worked with Atiku during the presidential election. A prominent APC chieftain, Kingsley Wali, recently confirmed that Amaechi has also lost control over the party in Rivers State.
The APC governorship candidate, Prince Tonye Cole, also lost his election to PDP’s Sim Fubara.
The former minister also failed to successfully pull his political weight by ensuring that President Tinubu picks a Rivers APC member as minister in his cabinet.
Wike, a PDP chieftain and avid critic of the APC, made the list.
