As political activity gradually builds ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Borno State, commentator Aisha Kabu has raised eyebrows over what she describes as an emerging contest among supporters of the wives of leading governorship aspirants for the position of First Lady.
In her commentary, titled “Before We Vote Governor, Borno Has Opened Election for First Lady,” Kabu argues that the attention being given to who could occupy the unofficial position is premature, particularly when the governorship election itself is still ahead.
She observes that in some other states, including Nasarawa and neighbouring Adamawa, the wives of governorship candidates are already engaging in activities more directly connected to political mobilisation. According to her, they are meeting wives of serving governors and political stakeholders, engaging grassroots women and supporting their husbands’ campaigns ahead of 2027.
Kabu says the situation she observes in Borno appears different, with social media increasingly becoming a platform for supporters to promote particular wives for the First Lady position.
At the centre of Kabu’s argument is the status of the First Lady position itself.
She points out that the office of First Lady is not a constitutionally established elective position. There is no separate election for the role, and Nigerians do not vote for who becomes a governor’s wife.
However, the position has traditionally carried significant public visibility, with governors’ wives often becoming involved in programmes relating to women, children, healthcare, education, humanitarian affairs and other social issues.
Kabu therefore questions why the debate appears to be taking shape even before Borno voters have selected their next governor.
She also challenges an argument she says is being used by some supporters — that one of the wives should become First Lady because she is a medical doctor.
Her response is blunt: professional qualification, in itself, does not determine who becomes First Lady.
“If profession was what guaranteed First Ladyship,” she argues, candidates might as well have deliberately sought spouses with particular academic or professional backgrounds.
For Kabu, the more important question is how the wives can contribute to the development of Borno, rather than which of them gets the title.
The Question of Multiple Wives
Kabu also acknowledges another side of the debate.
She notes that some supporters argue that where a man has multiple wives, the wives are equal within the context of their faith and family structure.
She says that position is valid in its own context but cautions against using professional qualifications as the basis for determining who should occupy a ceremonial public role.
Rather than allowing the issue to become a rivalry, Kabu suggests that the wives could potentially develop complementary roles based on their interests and expertise.
The El-Rufai Example
To illustrate her suggestion, Kabu points to the example of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, whose three wives were visibly involved in different areas during his administration.
According to her account, Hadiza El-Rufai, the first wife, occupied what she described as the more ceremonial role, including representing the family at national engagements involving governors’ wives.
She also referenced Asia El-Rufai, a lawyer, whom she associated with work involving vulnerable grassroots women and widows.
Kabu further mentioned Aisha Samaila El-Rufai, who she said was involved in issues including sexual and gender-based violence and nutrition.
For Kabu, the example demonstrates that different wives can contribute to public life without necessarily competing for the same space.
What Could This Mean for Borno?
Kabu proposes that the same principle could potentially be applied in Borno if a future governor chooses to structure the roles that way.
She argues that the first wife could work closely with institutions such as the Ministry of Women Affairs and women-focused development centres, particularly around grassroots empowerment.
A wife with a medical background, she suggests, could contribute to healthcare initiatives, including advocacy around primary healthcare, women and children’s health.
The broader point, according to Kabu, is that professional backgrounds and personal strengths can be converted into public value.
Instead of asking who should be First Lady, she suggests that the more useful question is what can each person contribute to Borno?
Politics Before First Ladyship
Kabu’s strongest criticism, however, is directed at what she sees as misplaced priorities ahead of the 2027 election.
She argues that the wives of governorship candidates should currently be concentrating on supporting their husbands’ political campaigns.
That could include grassroots mobilisation, engaging women and young people, visiting political stakeholders and building relationships with wives of party leaders and elected officials.
In her view, there is already enough political work to be done without creating a parallel contest for an office that will only become relevant after the governorship election.
The voters, she argues, must first decide who will govern Borno.
Only after that should questions surrounding the governor’s household and the public roles of his wives become a significant issue.
A Different Kind of Competition
Kabu ultimately suggests that the debate could be redirected towards something more productive.
Rather than competing over the title of First Lady, the wives could compete over the impact they can make in areas such as women’s empowerment, healthcare, education, nutrition, youth development and support for vulnerable communities.
That, she argues, would turn what currently appears to be a social media rivalry into an opportunity for public service.
Her conclusion is deliberately light-hearted but pointed:
“At the end of the day, Borno people win.”
For Kabu, that should be the real objective, not determining who gets the title of First Lady before Borno voters have even chosen their governor.
Aisha Kabu’s commentary is ultimately a call to shift the conversation from titles to service, and from competition over visibility to competition over what can be done for the people of Borno.
