From the elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), last Saturday in 108 out of 109 senatorial districts across the country, only 25 serving Senators won re – election. TAIYE ODEWALE reports
Composition of the Senate
As provided for, by 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there are 109 senatorial districts across the country on the basis of three per each of the 36 states of the federation and the remaining one for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT, Abuja).
However, in the outgoing 9th Senate, the 109 senators have been depleted to 104 for reasons bordering on political expediency and alleged crime related litigations in and outside Nigeria.
Those in this category as a result of political expediency are the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), his Deputy from the North, Senator Abubakar Kyari (Borno North) and Senator Mohammed Hassan Gusau (Zamfara Central) who is now the Deputy Governor of Zamfara state.
The remaining two supposedly serving senators who, however, have been out of the Senate since last year on alleged crime-related litigations are Senators Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West) and Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North).
The 55 Senators that sought re – election
Out of the remaining serving 104 Senators, only 55, succeeded in clinching tickets from any of the political parties for re – election contests.
Breakdown of the 55 Senators shows that 31 of them sought re – election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), 19 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), one each on platforms of Young Progressives Party (YPP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA , New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The 31 serving senators who sought for election on the platform of APC in last Saturday election, are the President of the Senate himself, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (Yobe North), the Senate ‘s Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), Ishaku Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North) and Lawal Gumau (Bauchi South).
Others are: Senators Degi Eremieyo (Bayelsa East), Ali Ndume ( Borno South), Peter Nwaoboshi ( Delta North), Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), Alkali Saidu (Gombe North), Amos Kilawangs (Gombe South) and Abdul Kwari Suleiman (Kaduna North).
Also in that category are Senators Jibrin Barau (Kano North), Kabir Gaya ( Kano South), Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South), Jibrin Isah (Kogi East), Umar Sadiq Suleiman (Kwara North) and Lola Ashiru (Kwara South).
Others are Senators Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), Tanko Al – Makura (Nasarawa South), Sani Musa (Niger East), Bima Enagi (Niger South), Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun Central ) and Abdulfattah Buhari (Oyo North).
Also contested in the election with APC tickets are Senators Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East), Aliyu Wammakko ( Sokoto North), Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (Sokoto South), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe East), Bomai Ibrahim (Yobe South) and Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u (Zamfara North).
Serving senators who sought for re- election bids on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the Minority Leader, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda (FCT), Senators Yaroe Binos Dauda (Adamawa South), Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central), Stella Oduah (Anambra North), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), Gabriel Suswam (Benue North East) and Patrick Abba Moro (Benue South).
Others are: Senators Jarigbe Agom (Cross River North), Sam Ominiyi Egwu (Ebonyi North), Micheal Nnachi (Ebonyi South), Clifford Ordia (Edo Central), Francis Alimikhena (Edo North), Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) and Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu East).
In that category also , were Senators Ahmed Babba – Kaita (Katsina North), Abdullahi Yahaya ( Kebbi North), Adamu Aliero ( Kebbi Central ), Barry Mpigi (Rivers South East) and Isa Shuabu Lau (Taraba North).
Those who contested on the platforms of other political parties for the re – election bids were Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA Abia South), Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP Anambra South), Jika Dauda Haliru (NNPP Bauchi Central), Francis Ezenwa (LP, Imo East) and Godiya Akwashiki (SDP, Nasarawa North).
The 25 serving senators who succeeded in the election
On state by state basis, the 25 out of the 55 serving Senators who sought for re – election last Saturday and won, are the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North), Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA Abia South), Elisha Abbo (APC Adamawa North) and Binos Dauda Yaroe (PDP Adamawa South).
Others are Senators Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP Anambra South), Seriake Dickson (PDP Bayelsa West), Abba Moro (PDP Benue South), Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP Cross River North) and Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central).
Also succeeded in re – election bid are Senators Danjuma Goje ( APC Gombe Central), Adamu Aliero (PDP Kebbi Central), Jibrin Isah (APC Kogi East), Lola Ashiru (APC Kwara South ) and Sadiq Suleiman Umar (APC Kwara North).
Others are Senators Adetokunbo Abiru (APC Lagos East), Godiya Akwashiki (SDP Nasarawa North), Francis Fadahunsi (PDP Osun East), Abdulfatah Buhari ( APC Oyo North), Barinada Mpigi (PDP Rivers South East), Aliyu Wammako (APC Sokoto North), Ahmad Lawan (APC Yobe North ) and Sahabi Ya’u (APC Zamfara North).
30 Senators who lost out
The 30 Senators who lost out in their return bids are Stella Oduah (PDP Anambra North) Uche Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central), Jika Dauda Haliru (NNPP Bauchi Central), Gabriel Suswam (PDP Benue North East), Sam Egwu (PDP Ebonyi North) and Micheal Nnachi (PDP Ebonyi South)
Others are Senators Francis Alimikhena (PDP Edo North), Ordia Clifford (PDP Edo Central), Biodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South), Saidu Alkali (APC Gombe North), Abdul – Kwari Suleiman (APC Kaduna North) , Ibrahim Gaya ( APC Kano South) and Ahmed Babba Kaita (APC Katsina North).
Also in the category of those who lost out are Senators Bala Ibn Na’ Allah (APC Kebbi South), Tanko Al – Makura (APC Nasarawa South), Ajibola Basiru (APC Osun Central), etc.
Though since 2003, it has been high turnover of Senators at the end of every session but the turnover recorded in the last Saturday election is the highest which would make the 10th Senate, largely populated by first timers.
