Some of these politicians covertly or overtly court
controversies with their words, actions and take
on political, national or pedestrian issues.
The names of some politicians in Nigeria literally
give rise to controversies or public disagreements
at every mention.
Some of these politicians covertly or overtly court
controversies with their words, actions and take on
political, national or pedestrian issues.

As a result of the hangover of the 2015 general
elections, which redirected the political force in the
country, 2016 has seen these politicians exhibit
more controversial traces in their daily and
political lives.
Interestingly, some of the politicians who made this
list in 2015 have kept their spots; with only few
entrants making the list for 2016.
In no particular order, here are the 10 most
controversial politicians of 2016:

1. Ayo Fayose
In 2016, the Governor of Ekiti State remained one
of the most vocal critics of President Muhammadu
Buhari. The State Governor carried on with his
criticism of President Buhari and even hit at the
First Lady, Aisha Buhari, accusing her of fraud.
Fayose has also not ceased to amuse the
populace with his unusual habits, which include
feeding children and market women with his
birthday cake and wearing an Army camouflage to
present the budget to the State Assembly.

2. Dino Melaye
Kogi State Senator, Dino Melaye made the list
again after making the 2015 list. Dino topped his
year of controversy with a faceoff with ex-First
Lady of Lagos State, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Melaye had gotten involved in a heated argument
and exchange of words with the wife of APC
national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The
senator has not stopped flaunting his wealth and
multi million naira cars.

3. Ali Modu Sheriff
The factional leader of the opposition party, Ali
Modu Sheriff, remained in the news for
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
Governorship election.

4. Abdulmumin Jibrin
Joining the list of controversial politicians in the
country in 2016 is APC lawmaker, Abdulmumin
Jibrin. The Kano State born lawmaker made the
headlines for the controversial budget padding
scandal. Jibrin blew the whistle on Dogara’s
attempt to pad the budget after his reign as
chairman of the Appropriation committee was cut
short.

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

6. Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The National Leader of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) was the centre of attention in 2016
largely due to the influence many had expected
him to wield in the Presidency and the
administration as a whole. Tinubu has been in the
eye of the storm as he fell out with the APC
chairman, John Oyegun.
The two have avoided each other like plagues as
Tinubu seemed to have also drifted away from the
presidency. It is widely reported that the former
Governor of Lagos State is planning to float
another political party with ex-VP, Atiku Abubakar,
but he has denied the allegation saying he remains
committed to the progressive ideals of the APC.

7. Nyesom Wike
The Governor of Rivers State attracted controversy
when he fell out with his ex-boss, Rotimi Amaechi
but 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, the Governor
attacked the police IG for the withdrawal of his
Chief Security Officer, saying his life was unsafe.

8. Kashamu Buruji
Ogun Senator, Buruji Kashamu, is undoubtedly
another politician, who is known to have
continuously remained controversial. From battling
the NDLEA over alleged drug charges to battling for
the soul of Ogun State PDP, Kashamu was
controversial all through 2015.
The politician controversially rose to fame during
the 2015 general election by gaining influence in
the party during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration.

9. Yakubu Dogara
The Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Yakubu Dogara, started courting controversy
immediately he emerged leader of the green
chamber . Just when all frayed nerves were
believed to have been calmed, Dogara courted
another controversy. This time, he was accused of
padding the budget by another lawmaker. Dogara
became associated with the word, padding, which
was widely used in the third and fourth quarter of
the year.

10. Rotimi Amaechi
Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, was one of the
most discussed politicians in 2015 as a result of
his role in the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari
as President. However, Amaechi has remained
controversial. He has remained in the news for his
usual fiery exchanges with Rivers State Governor,
Nyesom Wike.
Towards the end of the year, Amaechi got himself
into another round of controversy as he, alongside
Ogbonnaya Onu, were alleged to have
masterminded the arrest of some Supreme Court
Judges.