2023: How 6 sitting lawmakers triumphed in the Governorship Polls

No less than seventeen incumbent lawmakers were on the ballot in the Governorship Election across the six geo-political zones of the country. We examine how these legislators fared in the March 18 Polls

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 10,240 candidates participated in the March 18 Governorship and State Assembly elections.

In the Gubernatorial Elections held in 28 States nationwide, while 11 state governors sought re-election in 17 states, the state chief executives were serving out the constitutionally allowed two terms.

However, of the 837 Governorship and Deputy Governorship Candidates across eighteen political parties that ran for the top seat in their state, no less than seventeen incumbent lawmakers drawn from the Senate to the House of Representatives and various State Houses of Assembly were on the ballot.

We examine how these legislators fared in the March 18 Pollsin the Governorship Election across the six geo-political zones of the country.

NORTH EAST

WINNERS

Rep. Auwal Mohammed Jatau (Bauchi)
Incumbent member of the Ninth House of Representatives representing Zaki Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, the lawmaker ran as the Deputy Governorship of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

With the incumbent Bauchi governor. Bala Mohammed retaining his seat, Jatau is now Deputy Governor-Elect of the North East State.

LOSERS

Senator Halliru Dauda Jika (Bauchi)

Representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Jika was the Governorship Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) in Bauchi State.

He, however, did not make it to the Bauchi Government House; as he placed third in the race behind the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sadique Abubakar and incumbent governor, Bala Mohammed, of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who secured a second term.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba)

Representing Taraba South Senatorial District, the lawmaker contested the February 25 Governorship Elections in Taraba State as flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Against the expectations of political watchers, Senator Bwacha placed third in the race behind Muhammad Yahaya of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Kefas Agbu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who won the election.
Rep. Danladi Tijos Baido (Taraba)

Incumbent member representing Lau/Karim/Lamido/Ardo-Kola Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Baido’s dream move to the Taraba Government House as the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) did not come to pass.

The second-term lawmaker lost to Kefas Agbu of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

INCONCLUSIVE

Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed (Adamawa)

A first-term Senator, the lawmaker representing Adamawa Central Senatorial District, the Adamawa State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to know her fate at the polls.

With the results declared thus far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 20 of the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state, the lawmaker is trailing the incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

While the governor is leading with 35,615 votes and a clear win in about 11 LGAs, Ahmed has won about seven councils. However, elections were not held in 47 wards, affecting 69 polling units giving a margin of 31,249, while the total number of PVCs collected in places where elections were not held amounted to 37,016.

Given that the margin between both contending candidate is narrow, the electoral laws specifies that where the margin between two candidates is lesser than the total number of collected PVCs in areas where elections were not held, the election is declared inconclusive.

B. SOUTH EAST

Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru (Ebonyi)

A third-term member of the Izzi West Constituency, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Nwifuru has been Speaker of the House since 2015.

Nwifuru, gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious in the March 19 elections, defeating his closest rivals, Ifeanyi Odii of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and Ben Odo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

NORTH WEST

WINNERS

Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna)

Representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, the first-term lawmaker also chairs the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Financial institutions.

The lawmaker was shortlisted by OrderPaper among top performers in the outgoing 9th Senate among the Top 5 Newbies in the Senate (Based on Bills Sponsorship) and Top 5 Senators By Bills Progression (Productivity Index).

Senator Sani won the Kaduna Governorship election as Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeating three former lawmakers, Isa Mohammed Ashiru of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Jonathan Asake of the Labour Party (LP) candidate and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, Suleiman Hunkuyi who were his closest rivals.

READ ALSO: Productivity Index: Top 10 Senators by Bills Progression | National Assembly Scorecard

LOSERS

1. Rep. Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada (Kano)
A first-term lawmaker, he represents Kano Municipal Federal Constituency in the 9th House of Representatives and doubles as Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

As candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Sharada lost the elections to Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), who defeated three close rivals;
incumbent deputy governor, Yusuf Gawuna of the APC, Sadiq Wali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party’s Ishaq Bashir.

SOUTH WEST

LOSERS

Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin (Oyo)

A former Senate Majority Leader and fourth-term lawmaker, he represents Oyo Central Senatorial District in the Ninth National Assembly.

Senator Folarin, was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). but was defeated by the incumbent governor of his home state, Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

SOUTH SOUTH

WINNERS

Senator Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom)
Representative of Akwa-Ibom South Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly, Eyakenyi, has emerged as Deputy Governor-Elect of Akwa Ibom State. Her party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Governorship Candidate, Umo Eno, emerged victorious at the March 18 Polls.

Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta)
Oborevwori is a member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Okpe State Constituency for a second term.

The two-time Speaker of the State Assembly emerged victorious in the March 18 elections defeating his closest contender, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Great Ovedje Ogboru of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Kenneth Pela of the Labour Party (LP) placed third and fourth, respectively.

LOSERS

Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (Akwa Ibom)

A second-term lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North-East (Eket) Senatorial District, Akpan lost his bid to become governor of his home state.

Senator Akpan of the Young Progressives Congress (YPP) placed second behind Umo Eno, winner and Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akanimo Udofia of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Akpan Udo Edehe of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) placed third and fourth, respectively.

Senator Sandy Onor (Cross River)

Senator Onor has been the lawmaker representing Cross River Central Senatorial District at the Red Chamber since 2019. He is also Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Tertiary Institutions.

The lawmaker who was the governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) lost to an ex-lawmaker, Senator Bassey Otu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta)
A second-term lawmaker representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Omo-Agege is the incumbent Deputy President of the Senate.

The Delta lawmaker lost to the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Sheriff Oborevwori, the current Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

NORTH CENTRAL

WINNERS

1. Rep. Umar Bago (Niger)
Bago is the lawmaker representing Chanchaga Federal Constituency in the 9th House of Representatives and has been in parliament since 2011.

The lawmaker defeated Isah Liman Kantigi of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Joshua Bawa of the Labour Party (LP), and Ibrahim Yahaya of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), who were his closest rivals.

LOSERS

1. Rep. Herman Iorwase Hembe (Benue)
First elected into the House of Representatives in 2007, Rep. Hembe represents Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency under the platform of the Labour Party.

The lawmaker placed third behind Titus Uba of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), and the winner of the election, Hyacinth Alia of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

2. Rt. Hon. Titus Uba (Benue)

The member representing Vandeikya-Kyan State Constituency, is also the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly since 2018.

As Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP, he lost to Catholic Priest, Hyacinth Alia of the All Progressives Congress (APC). who was declared winner of the March 18 Benue Governorship election.

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