In Nigerian politics, deputy governors rarely succeed their principals, creating a perplexing pattern of political succession failures. The experience of Prince Eze Madumere, former Deputy Governor of Imo State, exemplifies this trend, revealing the underlying fears and power dynamics that prevent smooth transitions.
Prince Madumere served as Deputy Governor to Rochas Okorocha from 2013, following decades of political alliance. According to political observers, Okorocha had initially promised Madumere the governorship succession in 2019. However, this “gentleman’s agreement” collapsed when Okorocha instead backed his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, triggering a very public political fallout.
The situation mirrors concerns expressed by former Niger State Deputy Governor Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, who noted that “most deputy governors are always excluded financially. The governor will not want him to take over and find out the atrocities that could attract a probe.”
Madumere’s ambition faced multiple obstacles, including six impeachment attempts by the State House of Assembly, which he characterized as politically motivated. Despite surviving these challenges through court interventions, Madumere ultimately failed to secure the governorship, proving that legal victories don’t always translate to political success.
This pattern extends beyond Imo State. Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, only a handful of deputies have directly succeeded their principals, typically through unexpected vacancies rather than planned transitions. The rare exceptions, like Abdullahi Ganduje in Kano State, often involve special political circumstances.
Madumere described deputy governors as “spare tyres” – needed only in emergencies – highlighting the constitutional limitations that leave deputies vulnerable to their principals’ whims. As Nigeria continues to develop its democratic institutions, the Madumere-Okorocha saga serves as a stark reminder of the structural barriers that complicate political succession and the urgent need for political reforms that guarantee more stable transitions.
