As a subsequence of the celebrations marking the first 365 days of officialdom by the present set of first-term governors in Nigeria, a survey was carried out to evaluate their performances using their individual scorecards.
The survey which incepted with a compilation and comparison of scorecards, was initiated by an Abuja-based management consulting outfit, Kendrift Consulting, which had in focus 25 governors on their first term in office, by 2024.
The serving governors included:
Alex Otti LP Abia
Umo Eno PDP Akwa Ibom
Charles Soludo APGA Anambra
Duoye Diri PDP Bayelsa
Hyacinth Alia APC Benue
Bassey Otu APC Cross River State
Sheriff Oborevwori PDP Delta
Francis Nwifuru APC Ebonyi
Oyebanji Biodun APC Ekiti
Peter Mbah PDP Enugu
Umar Namadi APC Jigawa
Uba Sani Kaduna APC Kaduna
Abba Kabir Yusuf NNPP Kano
Dikko Umar Radda APC Katsina
Nasir Idris APC Kebbi
Ahmed Usman Ododo APC Kogi
Mohammed Umar Bago APC Niger
Lucky Aiyedatiwa APC Ondo
Ademola Adeleke PDP Osun
Caleb Mutfwang PDP Plateau
Siminalayi Fubara PDP Rivers
Ahmad Aliyu APC Sokoto
Agbu Kefas PDP Taraba
Dauda Lawal PDP Zamfara
Nyesom Wike PDP FCT
Selective preferences after stringent evaluations eventually led to the emergence of three governors atop, under the criteria – Policy Formulations/Execution; Infrastructure Development; Agriculture; Rural Development; Tourism; and General Administration.
Notably, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State emerged Best Governor for Agriculture and Rural Development while Alex Otti of Abia State was best in the General Administration category.
On the average, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State became the overall winner, having maintained average position in majority of the criteria in view, while Bago of Niger State and Alex Otti of Abia State emerged first runner-up and second runner-up respectively.