As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 elections, familiar faces are beginning to resurface, hoping to reclaim relevance or reshape narratives from their past. Some promise to fix what they once broke; others introduce themselves anew. But not everyone who once held power remains in the public eye. Scandal, imprisonment, or simply the passage of time has pushed many into obscurity.
In 2007, Patricia Etteh made history as Nigeria’s first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. Her landmark tenure was, however, short-lived. Allegations of approving N628 million for house renovations and vehicles led to a swift downfall.
1. Patricia Etteh
Despite denying wrongdoing and later returning to school to study law, Etteh became a symbol of public ridicule. In 2022, she was arrested by the EFCC over a N130 million transaction, but nothing much has been heard from her since. Today, many young Nigerians are unfamiliar with her name.
2. Farouk Lawan
Once celebrated as a corruption fighter, Lawan’s career collapsed in 2012 when a video showed him accepting $620,000 from businessman Femi Otedola. Sentenced to seven years in 2021, he was released in 2024 after five years.
Though he returned to Kano, Lawan claims he’s not actively involved in politics—at least for now.
3. Jolly Tavoro Nyame
A former governor and clergyman, Nyame was imprisoned in 2018 for misappropriating ₦1.64 billion. After serving three years, he was pardoned by President Buhari in 2022.
Nyame now speaks publicly about prison reform and lessons learned but has not formally re-entered politics.
4. Joshua Chibi Dariye
Dariye, former Plateau Governor and Senator, was jailed in 2018 for embezzling over ₦1.1 billion. He was released alongside Nyame in 2022 via presidential pardon.
He has since spoken out about the poor state of Nigeria’s prisons and claims the experience taught him humility. Though still respected by some in Plateau, his political career appears to be over.
5. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha
Alamieyeseigha, the flamboyant former Bayelsa Governor, made international headlines in 2005 after fleeing a UK money laundering case—allegedly disguised as a woman.
Though he served jail time in Nigeria and received a controversial state pardon in 2013, he died in 2015 of complications related to hypertension and diabetes. His dramatic story remains a cautionary tale of political excess.
6. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello
Daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Iyabo was once a Senator and Ogun State Health Commissioner. Her name became entangled in a ₦300 million Health Ministry scandal in 2008.
After losing her senate seat in 2011, she left politics and relocated abroad. She has lived quietly since, emerging only briefly in 2023 for a public appearance in Abeokuta.
The Bigger Picture
As 2027 approaches, the political stage is being reset. Some of these former powerholders may never return, while others could attempt comebacks. But their stories serve as reminders of how quickly power can shift—and how public trust, once lost, is difficult to regain.
In Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, not all who were once in the picture remain in focus.
