Circulation of elites and the 2015 election in Nigeria: A thematic exposition of succession crisis between governors and their senators

Barring last minutes political permutations, there are indications that the race to the Senate in 2015 will be hotly contested as most of the governors currently serving out their second term have never hidden their ambition to pick up their parties’ tickets for the Upper Chamber. While those already serving will be battling to retain their seats, about eighteen governors currently serving out their second term are expected to slug it out with the incumbent Senators by 2015. Those governors who would not want to be confined to political oblivion beyond their second tenure would obviously deploy their resources to clinch their senatorial seat at all cost. Already, some of the serving governors have begun to send warning signals to those perceived to be their major contenders in the senatorial election. Therefore, they are squaring up with those currently occupying their Senatorial seats and this has turned into some political acrimonies threatening to tear certain camaraderie hitherto existing among the politicians across the country. Using secondary sources and the technique of content analysis the paper explores the motivations, pros and cons of the political ambitions of serving governors who want to run for the senate positions come 2015. It also examines the implications of such actions on the circulation of elites and democracy in Nigeria. The race is expected to witness intrigues, mudslinging, and horse-trading that usually characterize politics of this nature, especially with the entry of some serving governors who will complete their two terms of eight years by May next year. The paper concludes by positing that the battle for the Senate has become an ego trip for some state governors who will serve out their two terms in 2015. Also, the governors who are engaged in fierce battle with their incumbent senators  may end up turning the senate as their final political rest home.