10 Politicians Who Survived Assassination In 2015

It is a common and abnormal trend in Nigeria’s democracy to see politicians threaten themselves over who controls the political space. This is one of the reasons killings and maiming were recorded before, during and after all the elections conducted in 2015.

Some politicians who survived assassination attempts on their lives have so much to say about this ugly trend.

1. Dr Goodluck Jonathan

Dr Jonathan is the former president of the nation. An attempt was made on Jonathan’s life in relation to his support for the re-election of the governor of Bayelsa state. NewNigeriaWorld of Monday, November 30 had the caption as: “President Goodluck Jonathan Survives Assassination Attempt.”

Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s immediate former president

2. Hon Seriake Dickson

Dickson is the current governor of Bayelsa state and also the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate in the governorship election. He is leading in 5 local government areas in the inconclusive governorship election that first held on Saturday, December 5.
The supplementary election will be concluded come January 2016, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was threatened by gunmen during the campaign period.

Hon Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa state executive governor

3. Samuel Ortom

Mr Ortom is the present governor of Benue state. He served as minister under the Jonathan administration. He decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP where he clinched the governorship ticket and went on to win the governorship election of Saturday, April 11.
He was one of those targeted by masked men during the electioneering process.

Samuel Ortom, executive governor of Benue state

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4. Dr Alex Otti

The former Managing Director of one of Nigeria’s commercial banks was fortunate he escaped the bullets of hired assassins during the governorship campaign. He contested under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia governorship election. He lost to the PDP’s candidate and present governor, Dr Ikezie Okpeazu.

Dr Alex Otti

5. Ike Ekweremadu

Senator Ike Ekweremadu is one of the 3 senators representing Enugu state at the National Assembly. He is the present Deputy Senate president. He has been challenged often regarding his choice as the Senate’s number two man. An alarm was raised several weeks ago on threat to his life.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu

6. Senator Bassey Otu

Senator Otu is from Cross river state. He is a PDP senator. He received threats to his life allegedly from one of the opposition parties in his state.

Senator Bassey Otu

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7. Senator Julius Ucha

The Igbo-born senator is from Ebonyi state. He also vied for the governorship seat of his state under the All Progressives Congress but failed.

Senator Julius Ucha

8. Mr Polycarp Danladi Gankon

Gankon is from Kaduna state. He contested under the All Progressives Grand Alliance but lost to the APC candidate and eventual winner, Mallam Nasir El Rufai. He claimed that he escaped by a hair’s breadth when hired assassins came looking for him in his hotel before the Saturday, April 11 governorship election.
Gankon is one of the politicians who survived assassination attempts. His case was also unusual because he escaped twice.

Polycarp Danladi Gankon

9. Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya

Inuwa Yahaya is a top-notch politician in Gombe state. He was the APC candidate who contested against Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo. He lost to the PDP candidate.

Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya

10. Umar Muhammad Nasko

The young politician was the PDP’s candidate at the governorship election in Niger state. There were so much reactions against his choice by former governor Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu. Nasko did not get any sympathy from Niger citizens despite the attempted assassination on his life as he lost to the APC candidate.

Umar Muhammad Nasko