2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

With less than two weeks to 2017, the year 2016 has been an amazing year filled with lots of events and controversies.

2016 also witnessed a number of controversial politicians, especially because there were a lot of events this year, from the budget padding, to the religious bill in Kaduna state.

Some politicians managed to keep Nigerians talking about them through out the year thus increasing their popularity.

Interestingly, some of the politicians who made the list in 2015 have kept their spots; with a few new entrants making the list for 2016.

In no particular order, Afrison.blogspot.com presents the top controversial politicians of 2016:

1. Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose

2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

Fayose remained one of the most vocal critics of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016.

In 2015 he took up newspaper adverts, granted interviews and used the every available means to discourage Nigerians from voting for Buhari.

The Ekiti state governor carried on with his criticism of the president and even hit at the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, accusing her of fraud. In June the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze the personal accounts of the Governor

He however did not cease to amuse Nigerians with his unusual habits, which includes feeding children and market women with his birthday cake and wearing an Army camouflage to present the 2017 budget to the State Assembly.

2. Senator Dino Melaye

2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

The Senator representing Kogi Central has a very controversial personality. First he loves very fast and fancy cars and motorbikes, and loves to flaunt them in everybody's face.

In 2016, Melaye has been in the eye of different storms, from political issues to domestic issues. In July, 2016 stirred an uproar in the Senate alleging and threatening the wife the of ex-governor of Lagos state, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during the plenary session.

The lawmaker did not stop there, he made a trip to Lagos to prove that he fears nothing, following threats that he would be dealt with if he comes into Lagos.

Melaye is very outspoken and is not just anyone that could be shut down at anytime. He is ever willing to lock horns with whoever deems himself worthy of a bout.

3. Abdulmumin Jibrin

2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

The All Progressives Congress (APC) member of the House of Representatives representing Kiru/Bebeji constituency of Kano state needs no further introduction.

Jibrin has unarguably dominated political discourse in the country in 2016. The former appropriation chairman, had alleged that the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and three other principal officers ‘padded’ the 2016 budget.

For a brief period, as Jibrin continued his whistle blowing, with Nigerians regarding him as the ‘messiah’ that would rid the House of the stench of corruption.

He said this was a just cause as he insisted he would purge the House of corruption. But on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, the reps quickly moved against him and he was suspended for 180 legislative days for allegedly breaching the practices and precedents of the House of Representatives.

4. Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike

2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

Wike stirred up controversy when he fell out with his predecessor, now minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

The Rivers state governor has remained controversial as the battle for the soul of Rivers got tougher. Wike had put resources together to see to a realignment of the opposition party, PDP, hence antagonizing the President Buhari administration.

Recently it was alleged that Wike has been caught on an audio recording arranging payment to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a telephone conversation.

Wike had illicit contacts with officials of INEC, in the run up to the rerun elections, on the 10th of December 2016 in Rivers state.

5. Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai

2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

The quiet governor stirred up controversies for himself when he passed a bill titled 'A bill for a law to substitute the Kaduna state religious preaching law, 1984' to the state House of Assembly to regulate religious preaching across the state.

El-Rufai received threats over his life concerning the bill.

Many critics view his administration as Anti Christian government in the State and his headache has always been the popular Socialist Senator, Shehu Sani, who keeps close tab on his government.

6. Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara

2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

Dogara stirred up controversy immediately he became the leader of the lower chamber. Just when the dust was said to have settled, he was accused of padding the 2016 budget by the former appropriation chairman of the House, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Dogara became associated with the word, padding, which was widely used in the third and fourth quarter of the year.

7. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

Fani-Kayode can be described in many ways but controversial would seem to be an understatement.

Becoming the campaign director of Goodluck Jonathan's second term bid, got him into trouble of allegations that funds used for campaign were taken from the Dasuki security vote.

This has got him on the wrong side of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). FFK was seized by the EFFC to answer questions about the Dasuki arms scandal, but after weeks in detention, he was released as usual. The case is still ongoing in the court.

Fani-Kayode has continued to be a bane in the neck of the APC-led government, playing devils advocate in some situations, stirring debates and arguments and at other times, constructively criticizing the current government.

8. Factional chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff

2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

Sheriff remained in the news for a number of controversial reasons all through 2016.

Aside instituting several legal battles against the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP over the leadership of the party, Sheriff’s actions and his overt support for the governorship candidate of his faction, Jimoh Ibrahim, cost the PDP the Ondo 2016 governorship election.

9. Senate President, Bukola Saraki

2016InReview: 9 controversial Nigerian politicians

Just like the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Saraki attracted controversy when he was elected as the Senate president against his party’s wishes with the help of mostly senators belonging to the opposition party.

Saraki remained controversial all through 2016 as he faces different criminal charges alongside his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. He tried mending fences with the presidency as some of the charges brought against him by the Federal Government were dropped.