2023 Elections: Ortom, Lalong, Other Outgoing Governors Who Lost Senatorial Bid

2023 Elections: Ortom, Lalong, Other Outgoing Governors Who Lost Senatorial Bid

At least six outgoing governors failed in their bids to join Nigeria’s Senate after serving two terms of eight years each.

The outgoing governors were defeated in their respective senatorial districts in the National Assembly elections on February 25.

Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, the National Assembly, which includes the Senate and House of Representatives, has been described as a “retirement home” for former governors who rely on the power of incumbency to win elections into the red and green legislative chambers.

In 2019, approximately 20 former governors were elected to the Ninth National Assembly. Former governors currently serving in the National Assembly include Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Orji Kalu (Abia), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano).

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Notably, they are all vying to return to the red chamber.

Governors David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abubakar Bello (Niger), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) all won parliamentary elections on Saturday. Others, such as Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), have yet to see their results announced by the electoral body. Ex-governors who have been elected to the Senate include Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

Here is a list of outgoing governors who failed in their bid to be elected to the National Assembly at the end of their terms on May 29, 2023:

Ortom

A vocal figure of five aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) known as the G5, Samuel Ortom of Benue State lost his election bid for Benue North West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

He to his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart in the district, Titus Zam.

The APC candidate polled 143,151 while the PDP scored 106,882 and the Labour Party 51,950.

Interestingly, Zam was an appointee of Ortom in his first tenure from 2015 to 2019, where he served as the Special Adviser to the governor on local government and chieftaincy affairs before he resigned from the Ortom administration on loyalty grounds.

Ugwuanyi

Another member of the G5, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State lost his bid to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

Ugwuanyi was defeated by Okechukwu Ezea of the Labour Party in the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday.
While Ezea scored 104,948 votes to emerge the winner, Ugwuanyi came second with 46,948 votes.

Ugwuanyi has been governor of the South-East state since 2015 and his eight-year constitutional limit will end in May. He was a member of the House of Representatives before being elected governor in 2015.

Ishaku

Another outgoing two-term PDP governor who lost his senatorial ambition is Darius Ishaku of Taraba State. He lost his bid to represent Taraba South Senatorial District in the forthcoming 10th National Assembly.

The governor lost to his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart in the district, David Jimkuta, who polled 85,415 to defeat Ishaku who raked in 45,708 votes.

Lalong

The defeat is beyond party lines as two APC governors also lost their senatorial bid. One of them is Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong who is also the Director General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

The political heavyweight and former chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum lost the bid to clinch the Plateau South Senatorial District slot.

He lost to Bali Ninkap Napoleon of the PDP who scored 148,844 votes while the governor polled 91,674.

Ayade

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River also suffered a fatal defeat in his bid to return to the Senate after completing his eight-year tenure as governor.

Ayade, who was in the Senate from 2011 to 2015, had hoped to return to the role as Senator representing cross River North but he was defeated by the incumbent, Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.

PDP’s Agom-Jarigbe got 76,145 votes while Ayade polled 56,595.

Bagudu

Another APC governor, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State also lost his bid to represent Kebbi Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming 10 National Assembly. He lost to Senator Adamu Aliero.

Announcing the result in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State capital, the Returning Officer, Abbas Bazata declared the PDP candidate, Adamu Aliero winner having scored 126,588 votes as against Bagudu, the Chairman APC  Progressives Governors Forum who scored 92,389 votes.

Though results are still trickling in for the presidential and National Assembly, surprises abound as newcomers are poised to unseat some ‘NASS landlords’ who have been in the red and green chambers consistently for the past 24 years.

Credit: Channels TV

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