At least 60 out of the 109 serving senators may not return to the National Assembly in 2015, investigation by New Telegraph has revealed.
The figure comprises those that are not returning because they are seeking the governorship tickets of their parties, those ruled out by the power permutation in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where outgoing governors are seeking to replace the incumbents in 2015 and those who due to the zoning policy of their senatorial districts, have been zoned out of the contest.
It was gathered that 40 of the senators, belonging to the PDP, would not return, except the presidency convinced the governors to rethink their opposition to the re-election of the senators. Already, with the outcome of the recently held ward and local government congresses, many of the PDP senators have lost out in their re-election bid.
Besides, New Telegraph learnt that 24 of the senators, from across party divide, have opted out of the 2015 senatorial race for the governorship seats in their respective states. Also, 10 senators may lose their seats as their governors are bent on unseating them.
Even in the Senate leadership, only Senator David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, are sure of returning to the Red Chamber. The recent truce between Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime and Ekweremadu has brightened the chances of the latter of returning to the Senate.
For example, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba will need a miracle to make it back to the Senate with the determination of associates of Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, to replace him.
Both Senate Deputy Leader Abdul Ningi and Minority Leader Ganiyu Solomon have opted out of the senatorial race for the governorship seats of Bauchi and Lagos States respectively. Also, Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Ayoola Agboola, is facing opposition in Oyo State and may not get PDP’s ticket to recontest.
The 24 senators who will not return to the Senate because of their governorship ambitions are: Abubakar Yar’Adua (Katsina), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia), Gyang Pwajok (Plateau), Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos), Helen Esuene (Akwa Ibom), Nkechi Nwaogu (Abia), Ayoade Adeseun (Oyo), Ayogu Eze (Enugu), Umar Tambuwal (Sokoto), Magnus Abe (Rivers), Chris Anyanwu (Imo), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Simon Ajibola (Kwara), Paulinus Nwagu (Ebonyi) and Victor Lar (Plateau). Others are Solomon Ewuga (Nasarawa), Isa Galaudi (Kebbi), Muhammad Magoro (Kebbi), Bashir Lado (Kano), Aisha Alhassan (Taraba), Ibrahim Musa (Niger), Adamu Gumba (Bauchi), Abdul Ningi (Bauchi) and Babayo Garba (Bauchi). Ironically, the incumbent governors are against virtually all the senators succeeding them, except in the case of Pwajok where the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, is disposed to his former Chief of Staff (Pwajok) taking over from him despite opposition from stakeholders in the state.
For Abe, it is still uncertain whether or not he will get the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who will play a vital role in choosing who succeeds him has not decided whether to give the governorship ticket to either Abe or Dakuku Peterside, a member of the House of Representatives.
Going by the congresses so far held in the states, many of the senators are not likely to get their party’s tickets for the governorship seats they have opted for. Also, 10 PDP senators may not return to their seats as governors of their states were doing all they could to snatch the party’s tickets from them. For example, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has been endorsed for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District which has put paid to Senator Aloysius Etok’s third term ambition.
Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, is all set to unseat former National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Barnabas Gemade, and stop him from continuing representing Benue North-East Senatorial District while Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko of the APC, is poised to replace Senator Muhammad Maccido (PDP) to represent the Sokoto Central Senatorial District. The situation is interesting in Niger State, where the Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, is angling to replace Senator Shem Zagbayi, who was elected in September 2014 as representative of the Niger East Senatorial District.
Also, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, may replace Senator James Manager from Delta South while Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Saidu Dankigari, is poised to take over from Senator Isa Galaudi in Kebbi North. Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, wants Senator Nkechi Nwaogu’s seat in Abia Central and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Chief Martin Elechi is jockeying to replace Senator Paulinus Nwagu as representative of Ebonyi Central District in the Senate.
With the ongoing permutations, the South-West is going to suffer heavy losses of senators in 2015. Of the 18 senators in the zone, 12 of the lawmakers are not likely to return to the Senate. Two of them – Solomon (Lagos) and Adeseun (Oyo) have opted for the governorship seats.
Roadblocks to senators’ re-election
Opposition mounts against senators
Akpabio, Suswam, Uduaghan, Aliyu five others take over senators’ seats
20 senators opt for guber race
Yar’Adua, Abaribe, Pwajok, Solomon,
Ahead of the 2015 general election, the fate of the 109 serving senators hang in the balance as majority of them are not likely to return to the Red Chamber of the National Assembly. Some of the senators have opted for the governorship seats of their respective states while, in other cases, incumbent governors are bent on taking over the lawmakers’ seats. In some instances, the performance of the lawmakers and political permutations in their states are working against their return. New Telegraph’s correspondents report on the fate of the 109 senators
A’Ibom: Esuene, Enang, Etok out
In Akwa Ibom State, the odds are against the incumbent senators. Senator Helen Esuene representing Eket Senatorial District has opted to contest the governorship seat, but Senators Ita Enang (Uyo District) and Aloysius Etok (Ikot Ekpene) have thrown their hats in the ring in defiance of the odds against them.
In Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Governor Godswill Akpabio has punctured Senator Etok’s third term dream. Etok, whose two-term spell in the Senate was purely on the benevolence of Akpabio, now wants to be his own man by refusing to let go of the seat in 2015. Etok is no match for Akpabio. He may have to test his strength in another party as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in the state is in the governor’s care.
With Esuene out of the race in Eket District, loyalists of Governor Akpabio are warming up for the senatorial seat. Among the prominent aspirants are a former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Akpabio and member of the State House of Assembly, Bassey Okon Etienam, and Mr. Victor Antai, a second term chairman of Mbo Local Government Council and core loyalist of Akpabio. Uyo senatorial district is always the hot bed of politics in Akwa Ibom owing to the metropolitan nature of the district.
Before the emergence of Senator Enang who succeeded Senator Effiong Bob in 2011, two major stakeholders in Uyo senatorial district played a pivotal role in his ascension; Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, former Commissioner for Finance, and Mr. Umana Okon Umana, the then Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
Today, politics and interest has torn those who helped Enang apart. While Akpan had jettisoned his governorship pursuit to unseat the senator with the support of Akpabio, Enang’s declaration of support for Udom Emmanuel’s ambition to govern the state had infuriated the Umana’s camp that supported him in 2011. Enang’s return to the Senate may become a mirage because those whose structures he enjoyed have since withdrawn them.
Mark, Akume for fifth, third terms
The senatorial election in Benue State would be keenly contested. The picture is getting clearer by the day. With the realities on ground, Senate President David Mark and former Governor George Akume may in 2015 be re-elected for fifth and third terms, respectively. But for Senator Barnabas Gemade, it is certain that Governor Gabriel Suswam will take his seat in the Senate.
The former national chairman of the PDP, who currently represents Benue North East, will find it difficult to be re-elected. His problem lies in the fact that Governor Suswam has made it clear that he wants his seat. With the results of the PDP congresses held in the state pointing in the direction of the governor, Gemade has technically lost out of the race except he pitches tent with another party to try his luck.
Gemade has accused Suswam of hijacking the party structure in his favour, and it is very unlikely that he will make it back to the Senate in 2015. In zone B, five PDP aspirants are in the race for Akume’s seat.
The aspirants are a retired director in the federal civil service, Mr. Akende Ubula; former chairman of SUBEB, Dr. Laha Dzever; former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Terseer Tsumba; former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Human Trafficking, Mr. Mike Mku, and a lecturer at the Benue State University, Dr. Daniel Nevkaa. The former governor, who is the Senate Minority Leader, is going for a third term.
He stands a better chance of returning to the Senate in 2015 despite being in the opposition APC. In Zone C, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Mike Onoja, is contesting against Senate President Mark, who is vying for the fifth term. Mark’s return is certain as virtually every stakeholder in the state has endorsed his re-election.
Kaka, Obadara, Odunsi’s ambitions threatened
The three senators representing Ogun State face an uphill task in getting re-elected in 2015. Though no senator has ever secured a second term in the state’s political history, the ambition of the serving senators to break the jinx has further been jeopardised by the unresolved crisis in the ruling APC in the state. Senators Gbenga Obadara, Adegbenga Kaka and Akin Odunsi, representing Ogun Central, East and West senatorial districts respectively, got elected in 2011 on the platform of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
They automatically became APC members when their party merged with other legacy parties. The three senators had last week defected to the newly registered Social Democratic Party (SDP). Though there are divergent views about their performance, the reality of politics in the state is that performance alone does not determine re-election. Strategic game-plan and several variables are usually taken into consideration.
As the race to 2015 elections gathers momentum; several aspirants are jostling to unseat Obadara, Kaka and Odunsi. In Ogun Central, the APC has propped up former National Auditor of the PDP, Chief Bode Mustapha; Amosun’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu; Commissioner for Sports, Prince Lanre Tejuoso, and a businessman, Ganiyu Hamzat. But it appears Mustapha has been “anointed” to replace the incumbent.
In the PDP, daughter of late Chief MKO Abiola, Hon. Lola Abiola- Edewor; wife of Ijaw leader, Dr. Abisola Sodipo-Clark, and Lanre Laose are rearing to contest. For Ogun East, the APC seems to be settling for Dapo Abiodun, a businessman from Iperu-Remo, who aspired for PDP governorship ticket in 2003. On its part, the PDP has not really put its house in order. A former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Omoba Gbenga Osinowo, is one of the senatorial aspirants.
Also, posters announcing the senatorial ambition of Prince Buruji Kashamu have flooded the zone. Before he recently returned to PDP, posters announcing the senatorial aspiration of ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel on the LP platform also flooded the zone. It is not however clear if Daniel’s purported ambition would be renewed in the PDP. For Ogun West, Prince Gbolahan Dada appears to be enjoying the support of the powers that be in the state APC to unseat Odunsi.
In the PDP, an insurance guru, Biyi Otegbeye and a pharmacist, Lekan Orisabiyi, have declared senatorial aspirations.
Ngige, Okadigbo’s fate hang
The contest for the senatorial seats in Anambra State is as unpredictable as a casino game. In fact, the incumbent occupants of the three senatorial seats in the state are unsure of returning to the Red Chamber in 2015.
In Anambra Central, the incumbent senator, Dr. Chris Ngige of the APC, will slug it out with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh. A source told New Telegraph that the state governor, Willie Obiano, had vowed to ensure Umeh’s victory to make a statement and a difference. Others in the race include Hon. Uche Ekwunife, who recently defected from APGA to PDP. She is a member of the House of Representatives.
The story in town is that she has been anointed as the next senator for Anambra Central by the wife of the president, Mrs. Patience Jonathan. Others in the race are Senator Annie Okonkwo, Sylvester Okonkwo, Obiora Okonkwo and others. But the lingering crisis in the state PDP is surely going to take its tolls on most of these aspirants during the party’s primaries.
In Anambra North, the reelection of Senator Margery Okadigbo, widow of late former Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo, is not certain. The political calculus of the area is not in her favour. She may lose the position to Dubem Obaze of APGA or former Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, who is out to snatch the PDP ticket from her. Okadigbo is from the Omambala clan that had produced virtually all the senators of the district.
Based on this sentiment, which is strong amongst the people, Okadigbo may not likely return to the Red Chamber next year. Alphnosus Igbeke is another contender to beat in the race, because insiders say Governor Obiano is strongly behind him.
The only snag is that Igbeke is from Omambala bloc that produced the governor on the principle of equity. Senator Andy Uba of the PDP represents the Anambra South. He will have to contend with multi-millionaire, Nicholas Ukachukwu, and Ernest Ndukwe, former Executive Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) who have picked nomination and expression of interest forms of the APGA for the poll.
Ekweremadu consolidates as Eze, Nnaji lose out
In Enugu State, the fate of the three returning senators had hung in the balance in the past few months, especially with the determination of Governor Sullivan Chime to ensure that the National Assembly members do not make it back in 2015.
However, with an alleged truce reached between Chime and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the two main dramatis personae in the factional war, the senator representing Enugu West senatorial zone has the coast cleared for his return next year.
For the other two senators, Ayogu Eze who represents Enugu North and Gil Nnaji of Enugu East of the state, there is no certainty that their desire to make it again to the Red Chamber of the National Assembly would be realised during next year’s general election.
Eze picked a governorship form and it is being rumoured that he may have also picked a senatorial form. In the case of Ekweremadu, feelers from both camps suggest that a truce has been brokered, a situation where the governor would shelve his own senatorial ambition to pave the way for the deputy senate president.
Nnaji has an uphill task at the moment even if the PDP gives him an automatic ticket from Abuja. The senator is contending against former governor of the state, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, and the immediate past Chief of Staff to Chime, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo In Enugu North, Eze is angling for the governorship. A former Deputy Speaker of the Enugu House of Assembly and immediate past commissioner for Transport, Mr. Chukwuka Utazi, is primed for his position.
Tinubu, Ashafa stay
In Lagos, Senators Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) and Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) are likely returning to the Senate while Senator Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos West) has opted for the governorship seat. As at today, there are no strong candidates in the PDP to challenge Tinubu and Ashafa in 2015. The battle for Lagos West may pit Governor Babatunde Fashola against his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulore. Although the governor has not indicated interest in the seat, the leadership of the party is conceding the seat to him. Former Minister of State for Defence, Ademola Seriki, has also shown interest in Solomon’s seat.
Wamakko in, Tambuwal, Maccido out
In Sokoto State, Senators Ahmad Muhammad Maccido (Sokoto Central – PDP) and Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir (Sokoto East- APC) have indicated interest to return to the Senate while Senator Umar Dahiru Tambuwal (APC) representing Sokoto South has declared interest to contest the gubernatorial position. Tambuwal is serving a third term in the Senate. Maccido will find it difficult to retain his seat for the Sokoto Central in which Governor Aliyu Wamakko (APC) is poised to take over. Senator Maccido is the only senator that refused to follow Wamakko to APC. The contest is between the Sultanate and the state governor.
Maccido hails from the Sultanate family and the Sokoto Central senatorial ticket is normally allocated to the family members. With the influence of Wamakko in Sokoto politics, Maccido will have to forgo his return bid in 2015. Gobir will have to do more to return in Sokoto East. His senatorial district is home to PDP heavyweights like former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, Senator Abubakar Umar Gada and former Minister of Sports, Yusuf Suleiman among others.
The PDP may field either a retired customs officer, Yusuf Goronyo, or a business mogul Dahiru Achida against Gobir. In Sokoto South, former federal permanent secretary, Abubakar Danbaba Danbuwa (APC) is tipped to replace Senator Tambuwal. He will have to face any of the PDP aspirants in former commissioner, Federal Character Commision, Abdullahi Kiriyo Yabo, Ambassador Chika Dogon Daji and Mahe Dange.
Uncertainty over Ndoma-Egba, Ayade
Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (Cross River Central) has been fighting hard against torrents which have continued to give him sleepless nights over his reelection in 2015. The last ward congress (now cancelled), showed that he is not in the good books of power brokers in the state. The state chapter of the party has in the last one week, alleged that the panel set up by the national leadership to oversee the ward congress had been compromised. In effect, the state leadership is demanding that the list submitted to the national headquarters, which favours Ndoma-Egba should be discountenanced.
If this happens and there is no direct intervention by the presidency, Ndoma-Egba is likely to lose his seat to Hon. Owan Enoh, Chairman, Committee on Appropriation in the House of Representatives.
Of the three senators in Cross River, only Prince Bassey Otu (Cross River South) is sure to return to the Senate. He has a cult followership and this was evident during the last ward congress where even the deputy governor could not influence anything. But he is up against Chief Gershom Bassey, who has shelved his governorship ambition, because of the zoning policy of the party which favours Cross River North.
The indecision of Senator Ben Ayade (Cross River North) has put his re-election in danger. He is said to have bought both the governorship and senatorial forms. The immediate past Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chief Peter Ojie and member representing Ogoja/Yala federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Rose Oko, are after Ayade’s seat.
Sekibo to return as Abe pursues guber race
The presidential election will ultimately rob off on the National Assembly election in Rivers State as both polls hold the same day. In 2011, all the three senators that vied for senatorial seats won on PDP platform. But today, while two of them have defected to the APC, the remaining senator stayed put in the PDP. President Jonathan will definitely ensure that he delivers the state for the PDP.
By implication, only one PDP senator may make it back to the Senate. Senator Wilson Ake (APC), Rivers West Senatorial District, has been in the National Assembly since 1999, first as member House of Representatives and elected to the Senate in 2003. He is going to get the APC ticket, but may find it difficult to win re-election.
Senator Magnus Abe (APC), Rivers South East Senatorial District, is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream). He is the only senator from the state that does not want to return. Abe wants to succeed Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Senator Thompson Sekibo (PDP), Rivers East Senatorial District, is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence. He has declared his readiness to return to the Senate. Sekibo is certain of victory.
Anyanwu opts for guber race as Nwagwu loses out
Of the three PDP senators two are bidding to return to the hallowed chambers in 2015, while one is taking a shot at the governorship of the state. While Senator Hope Uzodinma representing Imo West (Orlu zone) and Senator Matthew Nwagwu representing Imo North (Okigwe zone) have indicated interests in running for re-election in 2015, Senator Chris Anyanwu representing Imo East (Owerri zone) is gunning for the governorship seat.
In Imo West, though Uzodinma is viewed as being popular, he would have to fight for his party’s ticket and subsequently fight every inch of the way to secure his people’s mandate to return to the Senate in 2015. The biggest threat to Uzodinma’s return to the Senate is his working at cross-purposes with former Governor Achike Udenwa whose influence and political grip on the zone is enormous.
Uzodinma’s major fear in the main election would be how to defuse the expected gathering of influential Orlu stakeholders against his ambition, in the event that he wangles his way through the party’s primaries by throwing his weight around.
In Imo North, where Senator Nwagwu is seeking re-election, the hurdles before him are mounting by the day. Nwagwu represents the same area where Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Chief Ikedi Ohakim hold sway.
With the recent delegate election battle that was strictly between Ohakim and Araraume, which left the incumbent senator entirely out of the political calculation, it would not be off the mark to rule the return bid of Nwagwu, as mission impossible. Anyanwu has represented Imo East for eight years and her decision to pursue a governorship ambition in 2015 has opened the flood gate for aspirants to test their popularity.
Makarfi, Saleh, Usman in a make or break contest
The presidential election will ultimately determine the success of the senatorial hopefuls in Kaduna State. There are two PDP senators and one APC. If Major General Muhammadu Buhari picks the APC presidential ticket, it will seriously affect the National Assembly election. But Vice-President Namadi Sambo will give the necessary cover for the PDP. In 2011, Senator Sani Saleh defeated his PDP opponent and won Kaduna Central senatorial district on the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) platform.
However, given the parameters on ground, it is doubtful whether, in a free and fair primary, Saleh will get the party’s nomination as Comrade Shehu Sani is set to clinch the ticket. In Kaduna South, Senator Nenadi Usman is also in the same boat with Saleh, although they belong to different parties.
With Governor Muktar Yero’s support, she may win the primaries but defeating the APC candidate, whoever emerges, will be an uphill task. For Ahmed Makarfi, former governor and two-time senator, the primary election is a no contest because there is no serious challenger in the race. Right now, Alhaji Nuhu Sani Ibrahim, his former Chief of Staff, is the only serious aspirant in contention but his aspiration is seen as an ego trip. However, defeating the APC in the northern senatorial zone may prove the hardest nut to crack in his political career.
Doubts over Oyo senators
The return of the three senators – Ayoade Adeseun (Oyo Central), Chief Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South) and Hosea Agboola (Oyo North) is uncertain. Adeseun, who was elected on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), recently returned to the PDP. Lanlehin has defected from the APC to the Accord Party (AP) having parted ways with Ajimobi. While Adeseun has joined the PDP governorship race, Lanlehin and Agboola are planning to return to the Senate.
Chief Bisi Ilaka of AP and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu of the APC are angling for the Oyo Central senatorial district position which Adeseun holds. Lanlehin will contend with APC’s Femi Olaore for Oyo South. The PDP has not decided on a strong candidate.
For Oyo North, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala is being positioned to unseat Agboola, if he fails in his governorship bid.
Abaribe, Chukwumereije, Nwaogu out
Only Senator Uche Chikwumereije (Abia North) wants to return to the Senate in 2015. The others, Senators Nkechi Nwaogu (Abia Central) and Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) want to test their might and strength in the gubernatorial race.
Chukwumereije has been in the Senate since 2003 and he wants to return for the fourth term. But the odds are against him; he was among senators that raised the alarm over the recently conducted ward congresses in the state because they felt short-changed.
The conduct of the congress is a foretaste of 2015. He is evidently not in the line up for 2015. Even his kinsmen are opposed to his return. They cited absence of infrastructure, empowerment and age as reasons he should not return. Former House of Representatives member for Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa, is favoured to replace Chukwumereije.
Governor Theodore Orji is the undisputable PDP candidate for Abia Central. He will replace Nwaogu who wants to become the first female governor of the state. Also Abaribe’s governorship ambition left the coast clear for Chris Nkwonta from Ukwa to become the next Abia South senator. If the parley between the PDP and senators work out, Abaribe may return to the Senate.
Manager, Okowa out; Uduaghan in
The three senators in Delta State are unlikely to return in 2015. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is planning to unseat Senator James Manager for the Delta South seat. With the state party structure in Uduaghan’s hand, Manager may have to forgo his return to the Senate in 2015.
In Delta Central, Senator Emmanuel Agwuariavwodo may make it back to the Senate. The governorship ambition of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has thrown the contest open in Delta North. The immediate past state chairman of the PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi and the wife of the former national chairman of the party, Mrs. Mariam Nneamaka Ali, are battling for the seat.
Tarabu dropped in Jigawa
Going by the arrangement in the Jigawa State chapter of the PDP, one of the three senators – AbdulAziz Tarabu (Jigawa North East) has been dropped from the race, while Danladi Sankara (Jigawa North West) and Abdulmummini Zareko (Jigawa North Central) have been endorsed to return. At a stakeholders’ meeting presided over by Governor Sule Lamido, it was agreed that Tarabu be dropped. No reason was given for this decision.
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Ahmad Sarawa has been penciled to replace him. He will, however, contend with former deputy governor, Ubale Shitu of the APC. A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sabo Nakudu, who recently defected to the APC will contend with Zareko for the North Central seat. Again Sankari may find it difficult to retain Jigawa North West as he faces Hon. Nasiru Dantiye of the APC.
Boroffice, Kunlere marking time
Barring any last minute ma-neuvering, two out of the three senators representing Ondo State in the Red Chamber may not return for second term in office due to party intrigues and the disposition of the electorate to their ambitions. The senators in the state include Prof. Ajayi Borofice (Ondo North), Prince Boluwaji Kunlere (Ondo South) and Dr. Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo Central). Among the trio, Akinyelure and Boroffice are likely to get their parties’ tickets but only Akinyelure stands the likely chance to return to the National Assembly without major hitches.
Kunlere was elected on the platform of Labour Party (LP) having defeated former governor of the state and PDP candidate, late Dr. Olusegun Agagu in 2011. He however left for the PDP before Governor Olusegun Mimiko rejoined the party.
In the sharing of elective offices between the old and new PDP, his slot has been ceded to Pastor Yele Omojuwa. Akinyelure was elected on the platform of LP in 2011 and remained in the party until the governor defected into the PDP. The governor has re-nominated him for another term in office. He stands a good chance of returning to the Senate.
Boroffice, was elected on LP platform but defected to APC. Barring any hiccups, he would clinch the party’s ticket but the value of the ticket is another matter altogether as he has political heavyweights in the district including the Chief of Staff to the President, Brig.-Gen. Jones Arogbofa; former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), Director General of National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, former Speaker and Federal Commissioner, Victor Olabimtan and Dr. Bode Olajumoke to contend with in the district. Already, Olajumoke has been nominated for the PDP’s slot. If the PDP bigwigs work together, they would easily overrun the serving senator.
Hurricane Fayose to consume Ojudu, Adeniyi, Adetumbi
Currently, the three senators representing Ekiti State in the upper chamber are from the APC. They are Tony Adeniyi (Ekiti South), Olubunmi Adetumbi (Ekiti North) and Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central).
Though the trio convincingly won elections into the Senate in 2011, recent political happenings in the state, especially the aftermath of the June 21 governorship election that the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, lost to the PDP candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose, may not guarantee them a return to the National Assembly.
Even before the June poll, there have been disagreements among party leaders over whether Adeniyi (South) and Adetumbi (North) would go back to the Senate. Adeniyi had a running battle with a commissioner under Fayemi, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye. Afuye was in the House of Assembly from 2007 to 2011 and served throughout Fayemi’s tenure. Both are seeking the APC ticket.
Adetumbi is having a serious contest for the APC ticket coming from Olusegun Oshinkolu and Chief Ranti Adebisi. Adebisi, the immediate past chairman of the Ekiti Local Government Service Commission, is reputed to be the favoured candidate of Fayemi. For Ojudu, he may not have any serious challenger in the APC, the determination by Fayose to compensate the people of Ado-Ekiti with the senatorial district after they lost the deputy governorship slot, is his major obstacle.
Going by the nature of elections in the country, the PDP, which is likely to have former Deputy Governor Abiodun Olujimi as the candidate in Ekiti South, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Duro Faseyi in the North and either former Senator Bode Ola or former Rep. Fatima Raji-Rasak in the Central, may sweep the poll.
Alhassan opts for guber race
As at the last count, 15 aspirants have picked senatorial forms in Taraba State from both APC (4) and PDP (11).
Of the three serving senators, only Hajiya Aisha Jummai Alhassan representing the Northern Senatorial District is not returning to the Senate. She is trying her luck for the APC governorship ticket. Senators Umar Abubakar Tutare (Taraba Central) and Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) want to return to the Senate. Bashir Abba Marafa is challenging Senator Turare for Taraba Central in the PDP, while former Governor Jolly Nyame is seeking to replace Alhassan in the Northern District. Bwacha may have a smooth run in Southern Taraba.
Sheriff battles Zannah in Borno
For the three senators, their return to the Senate is being threatened by the political heavyweights in the state. In Borno Central, serving Senator Ahmed Zannah of the APC will have to contend with former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of the PDP. Zannah defeated Sheriff as an incumbent governor for the senatorial seat in 2011. Zannah’s alleged non-performance and stinginess may work against him. But the greatest threat to his re-election may be in Sheriff. In Borno North, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Maiduguri, Hon. Abubakar Kyari, Hajiya Fati Kakinna, of the APC and Hon. Isa Lawan Kanagar and Kyari Kime of the PDP are in the race.
The incumbent Senator Maina Maaji is no longer in the race. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume of APC may find his way back to the Senate although he is contending with Hon. Joshua Ishaku Shara, Mr. Niclous Mshelizza, Ambassador Dauda Danladi and Mr. Mala Gadzama of the PDP. For Sheriff, he will need to prove his political relevance in the state while Governor Kashim Shettima will try to checkmate his influence.
Ex-govs return to Senate
In Kwara State, former Governors Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central) and Shaba Lafiagi (Kwara North) will be returning to the Senate while Senator Simon Ajibola (Kwara South) has opted out of the race to pursue his governorship dream. Saraki is the leader of the APC in Kwara State, and no one dares shows interest in his seat although in the PDP, Hajia Bilkis Gambari has indicated interest.
Senator Ajibola of the PDP is the most ranking federal lawmaker in the state having won election into the Senate since 2003. He refused to follow Saraki into the APC. But Ajibola will not be coming back as he is pursuing his governorship ambition with keen interest. From the APC, Chief of Staff to Saraki and former member of the House of Representatives, Makanjuola Ajadi, has shown interest to take Ajibola’s seat just like Aanu Ibiwoye and AbdulRahuf Shittu.
From the PDP, the aspirants include former Managing Director of the defunct City Express Bank, Mrs Funke Adeoti, and Chief Lola Ashiru, who contested against Ajibola in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). In Kwara North, Lafiagi still wants to return. A confidant and prominent elder of the Saraki structure, there is no one from the APC that has indicated interest to challenge him for the post. But from the PDP, Alhaji Yinusa Yahaya, Alhaji Muhammaed Duba and Alhaji M.T Mammah have obtained forms.
Elechi, Egwu to replace Nwagu, Nwankwo
In Ebonyi State, it is almost certain that two of the three senators are not returning to the Senate in 2015. This is so because Governor Martin Elechi and his predecessor, Dr. Sam Egwu are sure of taking the two seats. In Ebonyi Central, Governor Elechi is replacing Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu who is contesting the governorship ticket of the PDP.
With his position, Elechi may have his way. Egwu is poised to snatch the Ebonyi North seat from Senator Chris Nwankwo. Goody Ogbaga, a former Minister of Power and Steel, is also contesting for the seat. It is uncertain if Nwankwo will return in 2015. Senator Sunny Ogbuorji may be lucky to return despite the challenge from Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, a former deputy governor of the state.
Dariye battles for survival as Lar, Pwajok opt for guber race
In Plateau State, only Senator Joshua Dariye representing the Central Zone is struggling to return to the Senate. Senators Victor Lar (Plateau South) and Gyang Pwajok (Plateau North) have opted for the governorship position in 2015. Former Governor Dariye may find it difficult to return to the Senate. He just defected from LP to PDP last month after Governor Jonah Jang blocked several attempts for him to return to the party under which he was elected as governor for eight years.
New Telegraph reliably learnt that Governor Jang is positioning his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Hon. Alexander Molwus, who was Dariye’s Chief of Staff, and Hon. Emmanuel Goar, a member of the House of Representatives to edge out the former governor. But Dariye is not an easy prey.
He won his senatorial election on the platform of LP in 2011 and will ultimately pull surprises. Former Minister of Science and Technology and Jang’s deputy between 2007 and 2011, Mrs Pauline Tallen, has picked nomination form for Lar’s seat. Jang and Pwajok are swapping positions. While the governor is replacing the senator for the Plateau North senatorial seat, Pwajok is primed for Jang’s seat.
Ugbesia out in Edo
Senator Ehigie Uzamere (Edo South) is serving his second term in the National Assembly. He won the PDP ticket in 2007 and later pitched tent with Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s ruling APC and was offered the party’s ticket in 2011.
The senator recently made a U-turn to the PDP where he is believed to be itching for a third term. Uzamere’s penchant for dumping political platforms that brought him to power is his greatest undoing. The senator’s ambition is likely to face a tough time from the Chief of Staff to Oshiomhole and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Patrick Obagiagbon (APC) and Matthew Urhoghide of the PDP.
The Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie is also in the race. In Edo Central, Senator Odion Ugbesia may not return to the Senate. Chairman of the PDP’s Board of trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, is against his third term ambition. The Chairman of Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority, Chief Clifford Ordia, is likely going to get the PDP ticket ahead of him.
Oshiomhole’s men, Messrs. Theophilus Okoh and Chief Francis Inegbeneki are also after Ugbesia’s seat. Senator Domingo Obende (APC) is likely to return to the Senate to represent Edo North, Oshiomhole’s political stronghold. His return bid is causing stirs in the APC with the ambition of Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the Secretary to the Edo State (SSG). Obende will still make it back in 2015, especially because of his performance. He has sponsored 14 bills including that against same sex marriage. He has the backing of Oshiomhole.
Adamu, Adokwe hopeful as Ewuga opts out
In Nasarawa, one of the three senators has opted for the governorship race. Senator Solomon Ewuga (Nasarawa North) wants to realise his long time ambition of governing the state having contested in the 2003 and 2007 polls.
Senators Suleiman Adokwe (Nasarawa South) and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) are seeking re-election. Adokwe is sure of getting the PDP ticket despite opposition from Arch. Salihu Egyegbola of the same party. For Nasarawa North, Prof. Onje Gye-wado, a former deputy governor of the state between 2003 and 2007, may get the PDP ticket for Ewuga’s slot. He will contend with Senator Musa Nagogo of the APC.
Former governor of the state, Adamu, is sure of the APC ticket. But he will face a fierce battle from former General Officer Commanding (GCO) 1 Division, Kaduna, General Ahmed Abokie (rtd) for the APC ticket. Abokie is popular and may unseat Adamu.
Whoever emerges in APC will face Senator Abubakar Sodangi (PDP) who represented the district between 1999 and 2011. Hon. Ishaq Kana representing Karu/Keffi/ Kokona in the House of Representatives, and Kana’s predecessor, Ahmed Wadada, are also contesting for the PDP ticket.
Gombe senators walk tight rope
All three senatorial zones seem to be in hot contention in Gombe State. But one that seems to attract a lot of concern and attention is the Gombe Central senatorial zone which has the immediate past governor of the state, Danjuma Goje as the serving senator. Goje, who has pitched his tent with the APC, will face a member of the lower chamber representing Akko Federal Constituency, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, who is also the House Committee Chairman on Police Affairs.
Senator Joshua Lidani (Gombe South), a onetime deputy governor of the state from 1999 to 2003, is battling 10 other aspirants to retain his seat on the PDP platform. Major General Sylvester Audu (rtd), Mrs. Egla Kassim, two former House of Representatives members, Cleobas Kere and Adamu Gora Kalba are angling for his seat.
For Gombe North senatorial zone, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Usman Bayero Nafada, is calling the shots from the APC. Nafada will contest against Senator Saidu Alkali of the PDP, if he is able to survive Abdulkdir Hamma Saleh and Dahiru Buba Biri, the immediate past Commissioner for Agriculture for the PDP ticket.
Uncertainty for Osun senators
Babajide Omoworare (Osun East), Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central) and Hussein Mudashiru (Osun West) are working round the clock to ensure their re-election, but the greatest opposition to their ambition is within their party – APC. In Osun West, Senator Mudashiru may not return to the Senate with the decision of former governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke to contest the seat.
Adeleke lost his re-election to the Senate in 2011 to Mudashiru. But with a perceived understanding, Governor Rauf Aregbesola seems to prefer Adeleke for the job. Also former Chief of Staff to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Elder Peter Babalola; former Commissioner for Justice, Chief Gbadegesin Adedeji have also shown interest in the seat.
Former Minister of Youth Development, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi is contesting the Osun West seat on the PDP platform. In Osun Central, Prof. Adeyeye will have to battle forces within his APC like former Commissioner for Health, Chief Lai Oyeduntan, and Alhaji Ibrahim Saka Ominiwe.
The PDP may present Hon. Kunle Alao; Chief Ayo Babatunde and Dr. Daisi Aina, Chairman, Governing Board of the National Root Crops Research Institute. Osun East promises to be a battleground as Aregbesola and PDP governorship candidate in the August 9 election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, will test their might in this senatorial district which both of them come from. Already, former Chairman, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Remi Olowu and Ex-Customs boss, Francis Fadahunsi of the PDP will challenge Senator Omoworare for Osun East. As it is, two of the senators may not return in Osun. For Mudashiru, it is certain that he will not make it back to the Senate in 2015.
Zamfara senators in comfortable position
The three serving senators in Zamfara State have already picked their nomination forms. The chances are that the incumbent senators may return to the Senate in 2015. They are sure of getting their parties’ tickets and may eventually win the senatorial poll.
For Zamfara West, two PDP aspirants – Sani Ahmed Takori and Sani Anka who are former members of the House of Representatives are after Senator Rufa’i Ahned Sani of the APC. In Zamfara North, the contest is between the incumbent senator, Sahabi Ya’u of the PDP, and Tijjani Yahaya Kaura of the APC. In Zamfara Central, the battle for the senatorial seat is between Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa of the APC and PDP’s Malami Aliyu Yandoto, who is likely to emerge as candidate.
Buhari’s influence looms large
Katsina is the home state of former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. Through his influence and as presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) in the 2011 election, the three senatorial seats were won by the CPC.
Of the three serving senators, two of them – Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South) and Hadi Sirika (Katsina North) – want to return to the Senate in 2015 while Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’adua (Katsina Central) has opted for the governorship seat.
Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari, is replacing Yar’Adua for the Katsina Central. Masari will face Lamis Shehu Dikko of the PDP. Two other aspirants from APC, Senator Mohammed Tukur Liman and former member of the House of Representatives, Shehu Inuwa Imam, are contesting the ticket with Senator Ibrahim for the Katsina South seat.
In Katsina North, Senator Sirika will find it difficult to get re-elected. His constituents are complaining that he is always out of reach. He may be replaced by the immediate past interim caretaker committee chairman of APC in the state, Arch. Musa Dangiwa.
In the PDP, the Speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon. Ya’u Umar Gwajo- Gwajo will fly the PDP ticket. Going by the permutations in the state, two of the APC senators are not coming back; one has opted for the governorship while odds are against Sirika’s re-election.
Kebbi senators out; Dakingari, Aliero in
In Kebbi, Governor Saidu Dakingari and his predecessor, Adamu Aliero, are in the senatorial race. The governor is contesting for the Kebbi North while Aliero is contesting Kebbi Central.
The state’s deputy governor, Ibrahim Aliyu, is also contesting for the Kebbi South seat. Two of the serving senators, Isa Galaudi (Kebbi North) and Major General Muhammad Magoro (Kebbi South) have purchased nomination forms to contest the gubernatorial seat on the PDP platform.
The only senator who has shown interest to return to the Senate in 2015, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, will have to contend with Aliero for the Kebbi Central seat. Bagudu replaced Aliero after he was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and went ahead to defeat the former governor in 2011 when he contested on the CPC ticket. Aliero has returned to the PDP and he is sure of getting the ticket.
Senators opt for governorship in Bauchi
In Bauchi, the three senators, Adamu Ibrahim Gumba (Bauchi South), Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and Babayo Garba (Bauchi North), are contesting the governorship seat on PDP platform. They are angling to take over from Governor Isa Yuguda.
Gaya, Lado out of contention in Kano
The initial interest of Senator Ibrahim Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) in the governorship seat may have affected his chances of returning to the Senate as Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has thrown his weight behind another aspirant. Senator Bashir Lado (Kano Central) has opted for the governorship seat on the PDP platform.
Even since 1999, no senator has represented Kano Central for two terms. It is only, Senator Bello Gwarzo (Kano North) that might return to the Senate in 2015. The Senate Whip seems to be the only candidate in the PDP. There are no strong aspirants against him in the APC.
Adeyemi, Abatemi for another term
The three senators in Kogi State may find it difficult returning in 2015. Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) wants a third term and he has since submitted his nomination form. But, as usual, there is opposition against his re-election. He will definitely emerge as PDP candidate and may end up winning the 2015 election. In Kogi East, Senator Attai Ali got his mandate to the Senate through a court judgement. Ali may not likely return to the Senate.
Already, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Hajiya Halima Alfa is after the ticket. Senator Nurudeen Usman Abatemi (Kogi Central), a first term lawmaker, is going to face a challenge from the APC aspirants, Senators Salihu Ohize and Mohammed Ohiere.
Bayelsa, Yobe and Adamawa
In Bayelsa, President Jonathan will ensure the return of Senators Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East), Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central), and Heinekeen Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West) even against Governor Seriake Dickson’s wishes. In Yobe, the three APC senators Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Alkali Jafere and Ahmed Lawan are returning to the Senate.
In Adamawa, Senators Ahmed Barata and Bello Tukur of the PDP are returning while Senator Bindawa Jibrilla of the APC is unsure of his return.
Aliyu to displace newly elected senator
In Niger State, two of the senators are not returning. Only Senator Zainab Abdulkadir Kure (Niger South) is returning to the Senate. Governor Babangida Aliyu will be joining other governors to displace a serving senator, Dr. Shem Nuhu Zagbayi, who was recently elected to complete the tenure of late Awaisu Kuta, for the Niger East. Zagbayi might have reached an agreement with the governor to hold the senatorial seat for him to complete his tenure. Senator Ibrahim Musa (Niger North) of the APC has opted for the governorship contest.