The February 25, 2023 senate elections are still months away, but observers are already talking about some extremely tight races in the polls that will be held across 109 legislative districts of Nigeria. In this piece, Assistant Editor, ‘Dare Odufowokan, examines the state of these contests. Other contributors to the report are Ogochukwu Anioke (Abakaliki), Nsa Gill (Calabar), Chris Njoku (Owerri), Bisi Oladele (Ibadan), Damian Duruiheoma (Enugu) Sunny Nwankwo (Aba), and Nwanosike Onu (Awka).
Ogun 2023: Daniel, Yayi lead pack amidst uncertainties
POLITICAL parties and their candidates continue to jostle for the three senatorial seats of the state namely Ogun East, Ogun West and Ogun Central currently occupied by Senator Lekan Mustapha, Senator Tolu Odebiyi and Senator Ibikunle Amosun respectively. All three are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following the emergence of flagbearers for the race in all leading parties in the state, the battle for the seats is getting tougher and hotter by the day.
In the run up to the election, many prominent chieftains of the various parties struggled for the senatorial tickets across the state. For the Ogun East APC tickets, Senator Lekan Mustapha, former governor Gbenga Daniel, Ajibola Kalejaiye, Hon. Dave Salako, Segun Seriki, Adewale Adenaike, Adewale Shokoya, Otunba Oluseyi Oduntan, Chief Segun Olumide Senbanjo, Deji Ashiru and many others jostled to secure the tickets of their respective political parties.
Following the outcome of the primary elections, none of the incumbent senators in the state will be returning to the National Assembly having failed to pick the nominations. While Mustapha and Odebiyi of Ogun East and Ogun West respectively lost at the shadow poll, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun Central did not seek re-election. Rather, he contested the presidential primary election of the APC but stepped down for the eventual winner, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the convention held in Abuja earlier in the year.
Former governor Daniel picked the ticket of the ruling APC while Hon. Salako emerged as the flagbearer of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Although his candidacy is being strongly challenged in court by Segun Seriki, last Monday’s Appeal Court judgement favoured Salako’s faction of the party and it is expected that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will keep him on the ballot.
Although the participation of its candidate in the race is also dogged by an intra-party crisis, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is also in the race for Mustapha’s seat. Following its controversial primary election last May, Adewale Adenaike and Adewale Shokoya have been at loggerheads over who is the party’s real candidate in Ogun East senatorial district. However, the matter may have been laid to rest as a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, recently ordered SDP to recognise Shokoya as candidate of the Ogun East District ahead the 2023 elections.
There are other parties and candidates in the race but pundits say the race is largely among the three mentioned above with Daniel of the APC being the clear frontrunner. Barring any unexpected change in permutations and reactions from the electorate, the former governor looks good to win the seat twelve years after he left Government House. Politically, especially in the Ogun East senatorial district, neither Salako of the PDP, nor Shokoya of the SDP can boast of the followership enjoyed by Daniel. Add the popularity of the ruling party in the district and you will understand why the APC candidate may easily run away with victory next year.
Another thing that will work in favour of the ruling party’s flagbearer is the uncertainty trailing PDP’s participation in the 2023 general election in the state. As at the time of this report, the party’s candidates across the state are not included on INEC’s final list of candidates for the 2023 elections released last month.
This is due to the lingering court battles between two factions. But an Appeal Court judgement on Monday gave hope to the Ladi Adebutu group. Unlike Daniel who has been going round the senatorial district to canvass for vote, the PDP and SDP candidates have been kept busy by litigations.
Daniel recently disclosed that his desire to stimulate development at the grassroots with quality representation and effective legislation has been the motivation behind his aspiration. His supporters say the people of Ogun East are ready to reward the former governor for his efforts at developing the area when he was in office.
But his opponents are yet to commence serious electioneering campaigns. It is expected that the PDP and the SDP, if they are serious about snatching the senatorial seat from the grip of APC, will soon hit the ground running to seek the people’s support for their candidates.
In Ogun West senatorial district, there was a very keen contest for the APC ticket among prominent chieftains of the party including the incumbent senator Odebiyi, a three-time Federal House of Representatives member, Abiodun Akinlade, the senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI), a former gubernatorial candidate. Eventually, Yayi emerged the candidate in an arrangement that saw both GNI and Akinlade settling for House of Representatives tickets.
With the way the contest was resolved, the much feared post-primary explosion that many pundits had sworn will mar the chances of APC appeared averted. And with all the aspirants promising to support Yayi’s senatorial ambition next year, APC became the leading party in the race even as analyst insisted it will be a keenly contested one. Supporters of the Lagos West senator are, however, optimistic that with his performance in the senate so far and his widespread political network in Ogun West, Adeola will win the election ahead of all his opponents.
The PDP is fielding Chief Ganiyu Adeleke Dada, the Oluwo Itoki of Ota, as its candidate for the race in Ogun West. This, however, depends on if INEC decides to include his name in the list of candidates following Monday’s Appeal Court judgement.
As of today, Dada, unlike Yayi, is yet to embark on the much needed campaign across the senatorial district. Many residents of the area who spoke to our correspondent, apart from knowing that the PDP candidate is from Ota, are yet to hear much about him and his aspiration. But his supporters say he is the man to beat given his popularity and the acceptance being enjoyed in some parts of the district by PDP.
But other chieftains of PDP in the district, Prof. Olufemi Bamgbose and Dada Oduntan, are laying claim to the ticket while vowing not to step down for Dada or any other person ahead of the elections. PDP and Dada, according to findings by The Nation, are banking on the voting strength of his zone, Ota-Awori, to defeat the ruling party’s candidate. The zone is the commercial nerve centre of Ogun State and the local government with the highest voting population during 2019 general elections.
Pundits agree that Dada’s candidacy will make the contest a fierce one, especially with his zone eager to produce a senator for the district. However, the popularity of both APC and Yayi across the area is expected to work in his favour. The presence of Noimot Salako Oyedele, the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state in the zone is also expected to win votes for Yayi.
Meanwhile, there are still concerns that Bamgbose and Oduntan pose serious threat to Dada’s candidacy and this is slowing down the zeal for campaign within the PDP candidate’s camp.
Ebonyi: Umahi, Egwu face tough political battles
Ebonyi State has three senatorial districts, North, South and Central and 13 local government areas. Ebonyi North and Central have four local government areas each while Ebonyi South has five.
Ebonyi South is one of the key battlegrounds because three major candidates are squaring off for the seat. They include Governor David Umahi who is candidate of the ruling APC, incumbent Senator Ama Nnachi of PDP and Linus Okorie, a former House of Representatives member flying the flag of Labour Party (LP).
There are five local governments in the zone: Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Ohaozara, Ivo and Onicha. Of the five, the largest and most populous is Onicha Local Government Area. Capture this and you have a great chance of winning the election. But some analysts claim that recent happenings show that the popularity of Umahi in this local government is at an all-time low.
The Labour Party candidate Okorie who hails from the local government was taken away by gunmen on the morning of Sunday, October 17, 2022, while driving out of his Abakaliki residence. He was said to be heading to the local government where he was to have a meeting with his supporters when he was abducted. His whereabouts was uncertain throughout that Sunday until news filtered in on Monday morning, October 18 that he was arrested by members of the Ebubeagu security outfit in liaison with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), over alleged illicit drug dealings.
The Ebonyi Police Command announced that the LP chieftain was arrested on grounds of his alleged involvement in illicit drug dealings in the state, saying he wasn’t kidnapped. He has been in detention at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services, for the past one month. His continued detention, many in the zone believe, is a calculated attempt by his opponents to put him out of circulation and whittle down his popularity.
However, his incarceration seems to have backfired as it appears to have made him more popular with many sympathizing with him, while Umahi’s popularity has taken a hit which analysts fear he may never recover from. It is believed he has effectively lost Onicha Local Government voters who are angry because of the detention of their son.
Also, some major political heavyweights in the local government like his former allies Ali Odefa, who is National Vice Chairman of PDP, his brother Obasi Odefa, who is Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi House of Assembly and Ifeanyi Odii, who is the governorship candidate of the PDP, and many others who are no longer with the governor following his defection to APC, will not work for his victory.
But supporters of the governor insist that he will do well in Onicha, especially because of some projects he executed in the area as well as the presence of a good number of his appointees across the local government area. A political leader in the area expressed confidence in Umahi’s popularity and vowed that people are working hard to ensure his victory across party lines.
The governor is projected to win Ohaozara – his local government. He will also take some votes from Afikpo South due to the massive works he has done there – especially the construction of arguably the longest flyover bridge in the Southeast.
But Ama Nnachi of the PDP, who hails from the area, is expected by many to win the local government. In Afikpo North, the council’s votes are expected to be split between the three major candidates. Also, the APGA candidate Eleje hails from here and is expected to take some votes.
Ivo Local Government is seen as a no-go area for Umahi due to the presence of former Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, with whom Umahi had an acrimonious falling out a few years ago when he left for APC. Also, the presence of another popular candidate, Nkemkanma Kama, who is contesting the Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo House of Representatives position on the platform of the PDP, according to pundits, will affect Umahi’s chances.
Kama and Anyim hail from Ishiagụ town and it is believed that since both Senate and House elections hold on same day, people are likely to vote one party for the two contests. All in all, it is looking like a three-way battle between APC, LP and PDP in Ebonyi South.
The race for the Senate seat in Ebonyi North is a two-horse contest between a former governor of the state and incumbent senator, Sam Egwu, who is vying on the platform of PDP, and his main challenger, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, an illustrious son of Izzi, who is the candidate of the ruling APC. The two are the major contenders among other candidates.
The politics of Ebonyi North election is deeply rooted in zoning. The district has four council areas, Ọhaukwu, Ebonyi, Abakaliki and Izzi. Three of these – Ebonyi, Izzi and Abakaliki – are predominantly dominated by the Izzi clans. This is one of the three major clans in the state. The others being Ezza and Ịkwọ clans. Ohaukwu is made up of Mgbolizha clan with a part of the local government having a good number of Ezza clan especially in Effium community.
To give a sense of belonging to all, the Senate seat has always rotated between the local governments. No council has held the position twice until Egwu broke the jinx in 2019 when he won a second term. He is from Ọhaukwu Local Government Area. The former governor, who is now seeking a third term under PDP, is facing a strong challenge from the Izzi people who are backing their son, Nwebonyi of APC to win.
Nwebonyi’s chances are also brightened by the support he is receiving from the governorship candidate of APC and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, who is said to have strong influence in the three Izzi-speaking local governments areas – especially in his Izzi local government. It is looking like the election is Nwebonyi’s to lose while Egwu will have his work cut out for him as he faces what is looking like the most difficult battle of his political career.
Cross River: Can APC dislodge PDP?
The three seats in Cross River State are currently occupied by PDP senators. The race in the Northern Senatorial district has been described as a titanic race because it involves Governor Ben Ayade of APC who is aiming to return to the National Assembly after two tenures as governor. To many, the race will be a referendum on his performance. His opponent in PDP, incumbent Senator Jerigbe Agom Jerigbe, knows that he is in a contest where the electorate wants to assess the state governor.
More so, the circumstances in which Jerigbe emerged senator through judicial victory, over the wishes of the governor, has remained a bitter pill for Ayade. So while he and his supporters see and approach the 2023 race as a payback time, Jerigbe’s camp is working round the clock with a message of a performance through the execution of different Federal Government constituency projects facilitated by him.
However, the governor has numerous government projects he has implemented in his senatorial district and across the state. So Ayade will campaign with his performance record, his media aide said. On his side, Jarigbe said as legislator he has demonstrated empathy for his people by putting himself in their shoes and their support for him is unparalleled.
In the Southern Senatorial district, the seat is occupied by Gershom Bassey of PDP. He will not be returning to the senate chambers. This is because his ambition in 2023 was to become governor but he came second in his party primaries, losing to a follow senator, Sandy Onor currently representing the Central Senatorial district.
So the PDP is fielding a new candidate for the district position in the person of Ntufam Ekpo Okon. He is rooted in the politics of the state having risen from being the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to being elected a member of the National Assembly in the aborted 1993 assembly and later Commissioner in the State Executive Council as well as a Commissioner in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and later state chairman of the PDP.
The winning chance is open to any of the three frontline candidates namely, Asuquo Ekpeyong Jnr, the APC candidate in the district, Hon. Daniel Asuquo of LP and Ntufam Ekpo Okon of PDP. The three contestants are no pushovers in their individual rights. Asuquo, fondly called Dansuki, is a fourth term serving member of the House of Representatives. He decamped to the Labour Party after losing the bid for the PDP governorship ticket. His popularity is not in doubt but the question would be how this can be translated into votes.
The APC candidate Ekpeyong is a young, intelligent man who has carved a niche for himself in recent times. He became known when he was appointed Commissioner for Finance in 2015 and remained in that position until he resigned to contest the governorship election in the state. Suki, as he is fondly called, later stepped down in a consensus arrangement that saw him emerging as the preferred choice for the APC Southern Senatorial ticket.
The Central Senatorial race is unlike the Southern race. It is a two-horse race between the candidates of APC and that of PDP. The APC has current Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eteng Jona Williams, as candidate. The odds are in his favour many in the district say. But the PDP man is an experienced politician who can spring surprises if you factor in his contacts and capacity to reach out.
Besides, Bassey Eko Ewa, candidate of the PDP is also a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly. He had moved on to serve in the Federal House of Representatives for two terms and lost out in 2015 when he first attempted the Senate election for the district. The political dynamics have changed in the area since the incumbent senator is the governorship candidate of PDP and would want to stick out his neck to enable his party to retain the seat.
Imo: Heavyweights at war
The Imo East senatorial district covers the local government areas of Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ikeduru, Mbaitoli, Ngor Okpala, Owerri Municipal, and Owerri West. The district is centered around the city of Owerri and is sometimes referred to as “Owerri Zone” The APC, PDP and LP are strongly in the race for the seat.
As incumbent senator representing Imo East in the red chamber, Francis Onyewuchi before his election in 2019, was a ranking member of the House of Representatives, having represented Owerri Federal Constituency for two terms (2011 and 2015) respectively. He was denied the ticket in PDP and switched to LP.
Though he is armed with experience and would be the only member that has the opportunity to grab a principal position if he goes back, many prefer to try other candidates. But his romance with the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, could help him with sympathy votes.
APC candidate, Prince Alex Mbata, otherwise called PAM, is a game-changer in Imo politics, especially the Owerri zone. Initially, he was rumoured to be warming up for the governorship until he cleared the air that his mission was to join hands with Governor Hope Uzodimma to bring security and development to the state.
Observers of the contest in the zone further argue that Mbata has raised the tempo by shattering age-long political sentiments and barriers, twin factors which has inhibited voters in the zone from electing their preferred choices.
Before he joined the race, Mbata through his PAM Foundation, had invested over N1billion naira in empowering over 20,000 vulnerable persons, across the nine local governments in Owerri Zone, earning him the tag of the highest investor in human development in the area.
Uche Onyegocha of PDP is a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Owerri Federal Constituency in 2003 having being the first All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) member in the green chamber. He had contested several elective positions including governorship in the past until he was appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under Emeka Ihedioha’s short-lived administration. He hails from Obinze, in Owerri West LGA.
The Imo North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ehime Mbano, Ihitte/Uboma, Isiala Mbano, Obowo, Okigwe, and Onuimo. The district is centered around the city of Okigwe and is sometimes referred to as “Okigwe Zone.” In 2019, Benjamin Uwajumogu (APC) was re-elected to the seat. He died in December 2019, leading to a by-election the next year. Although APC won that poll, a dispute over the legitimate primary between Chukwuma Frank Ibezim and Ifeanyi Ararume delayed the inauguration. Ibezim won the court cases and took office late in April 2021. He sought re-election but lost nomination.
Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu is the candidate of PDP. A former Customs officer and businessman, he says he will use his years of experience in the public and private sectors to influence the development of Okigwe Zone. Patrick Ndubueze, a former House of Representatives member, moved from PDP to APC where he won the ticket to represent the party. He says his mission is to ensure that PDP collapses in Imo State.
Ifeanyi Ararume Jr. a former commissioner and son of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, will be running on the platform of LP, and slugging it out with Okewulonu and Ndubueze. He will be banking on his father’s popularity. Some pundits described the area as the “zone of death.” The seat is currently been occupied by an APC legislator and the governor having wrestled the position out of the hands of Ararume, the government may want to retain its dominance in the zone where former governor Ikedi Ohakim, an ally of the current governor comes from.
The Imo West Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ideato North, IdeatoSouth, Isu, Njaba, Nwangele, Nkwerre, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, and Oru West. The district is centered around the city of Orlu and is sometimes referred to as “Orlu Zone.
Before the primary, there were two major aspirants on the platform of APC namely Goodluck Nanah Opiah (former House of Representatives member for Oguta/Ohaji/Egbema/Oru West) and Osita Izunaso (former Senator). However, Opiah dropped out just before the primary. On the primary date, Izunaso was nominated as APC candidate in a landslide over former House member Greg Mbadiwe. Izunaso will be going to the red chamber with a rich profile having been tested there previously.
After taking his seat in the Senate he was appointed to committees on Rules & Business, Local and Foreign Debts, Housing, Gas, Foreign Affairs and Sports. In a mid-term evaluation of senators in May 2009, it was noted that he had sponsored bills for the Conveyance of Persons in Articulated Vehicles Bill, Treatment and Care of Victims of Conflict, National Agency for the Promotion and Preservation of Local Languages in Nigeria and Amendment of the Oil Pipelines Act Amendment. He contributed to plenary debates and was active in committees. As Chairman of the Committee on Gas he was responsible for a controversial investigation into an alleged huge increase in the contract sum of the Escravos GTL project from $1.7 billion to $5.9 billion.
Pundits are of the view that despite all odds, Izunaso will cruise to victory effortlessly without major challenges – especially with the support of the current administration. But he must beware of the ides of March in the LP candidate.
However, surprises can spring from underdogs like AA candidate, Emeka Uzomah, ADC’s Alphonsus Obiajulu, APGA’s Patrick Anayo Azumma APM’s Akubueze Ikechuckwu Kingdom Akubueze, BP’s Emmanuel Osin Uwe, LP’s Charles Ugochukwu Ahize, NRM’s Stephen Amaechi Uwaezuoke, NNPP’s Paul Aballa, PRP’s Uchechukwu Ernest Ishiodu, PDP’s Jones Onyeriri, SDP’s Austin Kalu Egwuagu, YPP’s Cyril Chukwudi Opurum, and ZLP’s Joseph Chudi Nnanna. These candidates are not pushovers in the race.
Oyo: Battles of kinsmen and political archrivals
For the first time in recent history, the three top candidates in the race for Oyo Central Senatorial seat, which is projected as the toughest contest in the 2023 general elections, are brothers from Oyo town. Among the three senatorial districts in Oyo State, Oyo Central is politically difficult due to its complex delineation.
The district spans three major towns of Ibadan, Oyo and Ogbomoso. It consists of 11 local governments with Ibadan is home to five. Oyo has four while the remaining two local governments are in Ogbomoso land.
This structure makes ethnicity an impossible card to play in the election. Any candidate willing to win must have a popular appeal across the three big cities. Interestingly, the incumbent, Teslim Folarin, is representing the district for the third time. An Ibadan indigene who initially rode on the strength of the late Ibadan politician Chief Lamidi Adedibu, he first occupied the seat at the age 39 years in 2003 when he won on the platform of PDP. He was re-elected in 2007 during which tenure he rose to become Senate Leader. He is currently the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State.
The contenders this time are Yunus Akintunde (APC), Bisi Ilaka (PDP) and Faozey Nurudeen (Accord). Akintunde enjoys the support of the APC gubernatorial candidate. This is expected to work some magic in his favour. He is an astute grassroots politician and a former commissioner in the state. He was also a governorship aspirant in 2019.
He is equally a philanthropist who has facilitated several projects to different institutions and communities in the constituency. He has been traversing the length and breadth of the district to consolidate his philanthropic gestures, assuring the electorate that their votes for him will give him a stronger platform to facilitate more projects that will enhance standard of living while making better laws.
When asked how he intends to win, he said: “My contributions in communities in the district as an ordinary citizen will speak for me. I have facilitated over 15 projects across communities in Oyo Central Senatorial District. I did those projects because of my passion for the people. There are blocks of classrooms, solar-powered street lights, bridges, ICT centres among others. They are in Oyo, Ibadan and Ogbomoso. If I can do that without having political power, people know that I will definitely do more if given the opportunity through the ballot. They know me, and I know them. We are familiar. I’m not a politician whose face is strange. And my party is solid in Oyo State and in Nigeria. So, by God’s grace, I’m expecting nothing but victory.”
Meanwhile, Ilaka of PDP is a well-known name in the district having contested three times from 2011. He ran on the platform of Accord in 2011 and 2015 before returning to contest on platform of PDP in 2019. In his last two elections, he came second with a close margin to APC candidates who won the elections – Monsurat Sunmonu (2015) and Folarin (2019). An Oyo chief and a tax consultant, he was the first Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde. He enjoys full support of the governor which made the primary a walk-over for him.
An entrenched political leader in Oyo, Ilaka hopes to poll enough votes this time to actualize his long term dream of representing the district in the Senate. When asked what has changed from 2019 to give him the hope of winning this time, Ilaka explained that the major difference this time is the political platform.
His words: “You know, in 2015 and 2019, Accord was an opposition party. You will agree with me that it is always difficult to win as an opposition candidate. But this time, everything is in my favour. The PDP in governing the entire state; and Governor Seyi Makinde is exceeding the expectations of our people. It will be too difficult for anyone to rig election against us now. So, whether it is Ibadan or Oyo or Ogbomoso, the thousands of people that have always voted for me will see their dreams come through this time. And together, we shall change things for better in Oyo Central Senatorial District. I am more confident of winning than ever.”
The Accord Party flag-bearer is an engineer and Information Technology (IT) consultant. Nurudeen is proving to be a disruptive new entrant. The 38-year old politician is making waves as a youth ambassador and a techpreneur. He defected to Accord after failing to pick APC ticket which he lost to his ‘uncle’ Akintunde. Determined and committed to his ambition, Nurudeen is leveraging his popularity among the youths and some community projects he has built to make an inroad into the heart of voters. He is carrying on with an impressive gusto that makes him a candidate that cannot be easily wished away.
Besides, Accord is giving the two top parties a run having been peopled by former members of APC who felt cheated during the primaries. The governorship candidate of APC in 2019 Chief Bayo Adelabu, is Accord flagbearer this time. He had over 351,000 votes four years ago. Nurudeen believes his philanthropy, popularity among youths and vision for a better Oyo Central Senatorial District will earn him a win at the February 25, 2023 election.
With a PDP candidate who has gathered enough experience in the race, and now having the advantage of power of incumbency; an APC candidate who will also enjoys the positive influence of the party’s presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu because the election holds the same day; and Nurudeen proving to be a disruptive young candidate contesting on the platform of a party with rising profile, it is clear that the election in the district will give a lot of people sleepless nights.
Enugu: It’s the battle of newcomers
The senate races in the three districts of Enugu State are going to feature newcomers. All the candidates aspiring to represent the state in the red chamber are freshmen, except the current member representing Enugu East senatorial zone, Senator Chimaraoke Nnamani, who is also the candidate of PDP for the election.
Interestingly, all the seats since 1999 till date were won and occupied by members of PDP with the exception of 2003 election when Senator Fidelis Okoro left the party to contest and won on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He, however, returned to PDP after he was inaugurated.
Since 2003 till date, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has been the man representing Enugu West senatorial district and will not be contesting after 20 years on the seat. His counterpart in Enugu North, Senator Chukwuka Utazi is equally not returning after serving two terms from 2015 till date. He stepped down for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who is the candidate of PDP in the election. In Enugu East Senatorial District, however, Nnamani, who went to the Senate between 2007-2011 and 2019 till date, still has the PDP ticket for the seat ahead of the 2023 election.
As the election date gets closer, political observers are keen to see what will come out of the state. In Enugu North, Ugwuanyi is an experienced politician. His supporters declare that the quantum of development projects attracted to the district by the government compelled the people to commend him with a senatorial seat like other governors. They list the State University of Science and Medical Studies, massive road infrastructure and General Hospital in addition to massive employment opportunities for Nsukka people as some of the success report cards of Ugwuanyi.
Before getting elected as governor, he had represented the people Udenu/Igboeze North Federal Constituency from 2003 to 2015. He had contested and won elections five consecutive times and is knowledgeable enough to know how to win the 2023 election. His interest in the Enugu Senate seat gained traction when the current member representing Enugu North, Utazi, announced his intention not to contest the senatorial seat out of respect for the governor, who he feels has more capacity to represent the people.
Utazi’s announcement months before the PDP primaries, sent the people of the zone into wild jubilation. While addressing the delegates of the PDP from Enugu North Senatorial District and other stakeholders of the party, he said he decided not to run to pave the way for the smooth emergence of Ugwuanyi as senator of the district in the 10th National Assembly.
Since that open endorsement, more groups and communities have followed suit to back Ugwuanyi. This is despite some initial grumblings by a section of Enugu North people, who felt that the governor was disrupting the zoning arrangements in the zone.
Contesting against the governor is Chief Okey Ezea of LP. Popularly known as Ideke, he is referred to as the strong man of Enugu North politics by some section of the people. The lawyer, businessman cum politician had not hidden his interest to serve his people from the outset. He has been in the limelight since the commencement of the present democratic dispensation. He was popular for winning the 2007 Enugu State governorship election at the election petition tribunal on the platform of Labour Party but eventually lost at the appellate court.
He joined APC and became the party’s governorship candidate for 2015 election which he lost to Ugwuanyi, who is his opponent in the forthcoming election. Ideke enjoys a good working relationship with his people, who prevailed on him to run for Senate on the platform of LP. Although a controversy is trailing his emergence as the party’s senatorial candidate, with one Ernest Ike Ugwu accusing him of forging his withdrawal letter and the affidavit that INEC relied on to replace him with Ezea as the senatorial candidate of LP for Enugu North senatorial district. Ugwu has since gone to Appeal Court to challenge what he described as injustice against him after the Federal High Court ruled against him. Ezea is also enjoying the support of youths and others, who may vote for LP because of its presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Ambassador Ejike Eze, a retired career diplomat and APC Senatorial candidate. He is a former Senior Special Assistant on Protocols and Security to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In Enugu North, not much is known about APC and its candidate, whose only campaign to win the senatorial poll is based on zoning arrangement in the district. According to him, it is the turn of Igboeze-South local government where he comes from to produce senator for the district. Similarly, nothing much about is known about the APGA candidate, Hon. Emmanuel Eze, apart from the fact that he hails from Umuida community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The race in Enugu East has Senator Nnamani as PDP candidate. The former governor of the state is a medical doctor-turned politician. He was governor from 1999 to 2007. He subsequently served as a senator from 2007 to 2011 and was re-elected in 2019. Nnamani prides himself as the leader of Ebeano group, who groomed all the serving and some retired politicians in the state. Before now, he was known as political godfather of Enugu East and hardly lost any election. However, his recent jabs at LP’s Obi may cost him votes.
Princess Ada Ogbu is APC’s candidate. Described as one of the most hardworking politicians in the state, she was born into the family of Eze Nathan Ogbu, Odenigbo 1 of Nara Unateze. Since she ventured into politics, it was gathered that Ogbu has taken it upon herself to quietly empower numerous youths and women from her area to reduce the acute poverty ravaging the area. No wonder her ambition has been receiving rave reviews amongst youths.
The major driver of her campaign so far is youth and women empowerment. It is therefore no surprise when she came tops in a poll by a Twitter user; Mr. Sash Awa, where the APC candidate polled 88 percent to defeat Nnamani of PDP and Oyibo Chikwu of LP who trailed her with nine and three percent respectively. Chukwu is believed to have joined the race in response to the yearnings of people of the zone who have been complaining of poor representation from their senators.
In a recent interview, he told newsmen that “The main reason for my quest to be a senator representing my people is because of the passion to serve. I have had the opportunity of offering myself to serve under the old Nkanu region when I represented them at the constituent Assembly in the constitution making process. I also had opportunity of serving as administrator for health in the old Nkanu local government. So it is a progression to serve my people.”
Abia: Heavyweights in battle for Senate seats
Abia State has 17 local government areas. These are divided into three senatorial districts. Until 2015, the struggle for various elective positions in the state has been a two-horse race between PDP and APGA. The political heavyweights that joined APC helped in giving Abians another alternative. That’s why APC has produced three principal officers; Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Senate Chief Whip), Deputy Chief Whip of House of Representatives (Nkeiruka Onyejeocha) and House Spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu respectively.
Apart from the Abia North Senatorial District where Kalu is once again up against Senator Mao Ohuabunwa whom he defeated in 2019, Abia South Senatorial Zone will be another political hotbed as the incumbent governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of PDP squares up against his brother from a neighbouring village, a former party member and former Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, candidate of APGA.
The struggle for the soul of the Abia South Senatorial District race is a two-horse race. It is one of the Senatorial elections that will go down in the history of Abia as the most fiercely contested. The battle is between Ikpeazu and Abaribe of APGA. Also in the race are Dame Blessing Nwagba of APC and Chinedu Onyeizu of LP. But pundits say the latter two stand no chance to clinch the seat.
It is dubbed “Battle of Titans” because, the governor will be squaring up against not just his former party leader in the zone, but his brother and a man who stood with former Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji to force the state Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its decision which could have cost PDP the governorship seat Abia State in 2015 general elections.
The battle for the Abia South Senatorial District seat is one many have said would be won with a slim margin by Ikpeazu or Abaribe as the duo will be fighting to protect their political ego.
It is a make or mar election for both men as it will determine their continued political relevance in Obingwa LGA and the state at large. For Abaribe whose dream is to lead the state someday, winning the 2023 Abia South senatorial seat will further help to keep his hope of becoming the governor of the state alive.
If Ikpeazu fails to clinch the seat, he may likely not have the opportunity to be politically relevant in the state as findings show that it was only Senator Uzor-Kalu who despite being out of power for about eight years was not only able to still remain politically relevant, but went ahead to win the 2019 Abia North Senatorial District election.
Findings have it that while Abaribe is relying on the strength of his structures across the district to deliver him, Ikpeazu is also counting on his supporters in the zone to ensure that they roundly defeat Abaribe who has been accused by the people of the zone of failing to deliver dividends of democracy to the area – especially the rehabilitation of the failed Aba-Ikot-Ekpene Expressway which has remained impassible throughout the period Abaribe represented the people of Abia South. Contrary to speculations that the contest between the two might be bloody, there has not been any reported case of attack or death recorded so far between the various camps.
Uzor Kalu who is the incumbent Senate Chief Whip is the former governor of Abia State. He is an indigene of Igbere in Bende local government area of the state. Although some group of persons have been campaigning for the people of Abia North to stop him from returning to the senate under the campaign tag “#StopOUKnow#, citing what they described as his under-performance in the last three years, his supporters say he remains the darling of the people of the senatorial district who are ready to return him to the red chamber.
Some, including Mr. Sylvester Okorie, believe that Kalu has done well in representing Abia North said he deserved to be allowed to return to the senate as they stated that he has been able to attract a lot of people-oriented projects across the district which they said has brought development closer to the people against what they had before the emergence of Kalu as senator representing the zone. Working in his favour is also the arguement that Kalu stands a better chance of emerging a principal officer of the Senate if reelected.
Ohuabunwa of PDP who represented Abia North is coming back to the political turf to battle it out with Kalu in 2023 after being defeated in 2019. The Arochukwu-born politician in a recent chat with journalists in his country-home giving reasons the people should elect him over Kalu said that he had more legislative experience. Speaking on the two-horse race in Abia North, a political analyst Mr. Chibuike Jeremiah said “it is no doubt that the Abia North Senatorial District race is between Kalu and Ohuabunwa.
“While Ohuabunwa may have the support of the governor of the state to run for the seat, it is important that we look beyond state government’s support and bear in mind that APC has so much dominance in Abia North. If my memory is not failing me, APC produced the national assembly lawmakers in Abia North. To the best of my knowledge, the lawmakers at the national assembly have done better than the PDP lawmakers that represented the zone in the past. Truth be told, Mao Ohuabunwa will find it difficult to convince the people of the area to vote for him against Kalu.”
Some of the candidates contesting for the Abia Central Senatorial Seat include Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) (PDP) Chief Chuku Wachuku (YPP) and Darlington Nwokocha (LP) and Chief Ahamdi Nweke (APGA), while litigation will decide the fate of Sam Onuigbo and Emeka Atuma of APC as both continue to pursue their matters in court. Candidates of various political parties in Abia Central are all seeking for first term in office. That gives each of them the equal chance to win their respective seats.
The trio of Atuma, Onuigbo, Nwokocha have had shots at the National Assembly as members of the House of Representatives. Their legislative experiences in the Green Chamber may count for them. While the factor that will work against Nwokocha is lack of political structures by his party in all the six LGAs that make up Abia Central. He may also be lucky if the wind of the Obi/Datti campaign in the Southeast will attract votes his way.
Nweke has been consistent since 2015 in eyeing to represent the people of the Abia Central in the Senate, but his chances of winning the 2023 election is slim. Akobundu is the immediate past Organizing Secretary of PDP. He chose to run for the seat after Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji bowed out of politics. One of the reasons that people may vote for him is because it is believed that the people of Ikwuano are the ones that will produce the next senator under the PDP arrangement.
Anambra: Senatorial candidates sweat it out
It has not been an easy ride for those contesting for the 2023 senatorial seats on the platform of different political parties in Anambra State. Up till date, some of them are not quite sure of their participation in the election as the outcome of their party primaries still lingers in different courts.
However, the major parties contesting are APC, PDP, APGA, LP and YPP. There are three senatorial zones in the state, namely Anambra North, Anambra South and Anambra Central.
The emergence of LP in the state through the influence of former governor of the state, Peter Obi, has altered political equations in Anambra. He is contesting the presidential election on the platform of the party. It will be a hard battle between APGA, PDP and Labour in the state. But APGA is like a religion in Anambra.
For APC, despite parading some political heavyweights, the infighting and leadership struggle will not allow them to make much political statement during the election.
In the North, Senator Stella Oduah, of PDP is contesting again. Her opponents are the wife of the immediate past governor of the state, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano of APGA and Hon Tony Nwoye of LP. The candidate of APC in the area is still subject to court decision, as two persons are laying claim to the ticket. The APGA candidate, a former First Lady of the state, defeated her husband’s former Chief of Staff, Chief Primus Odili for the ticket. She has many good things going for her in this contest. Few of them are her philanthropy, her husband’s good image in the area, her place of birth and place of marriage.
Obiano has endeared herself to widows, the less privileged in the society, the aged and of course, the entire women, who hold the ace in voting. She used her pet project CAFE (Caring Family Enhancement Initiative) to better the lives of many, not only in the North senatorial zone, but the entire Anambra State during the husband’s tenure. But despite her good works, one thing that still rings bell in the minds of the people in the state, is the slapping saga between her and the widow of the late Biafra leader Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Bianca, during the inauguration of Prof. Charles Soludo on March 17, 2022 at Government House in Awka. However, political analysts see her as the candidate to beat in the election despite all the negative jabs from the opposition against her.
Nwoye is flagbearer of LP. Before now, he had served as the National President of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) and still commands his army. He was the youngest chairman of PDP in the state in 2007. He once represented Anambra East and West Federal Constituency at the Green Chambers. He contested and won the governorship ticket of both PDP and APC in the state in 2014 and 2017 respectively, where he came second. Nwoye, has equally, helped many of his constituents from his home town of Nsugbe to Aguleri, Umueri and beyond, the reason, they sing praises of him.
Another thing that puts him in the front seat is his current alignment with LP’s Obi. However, political analysts believe many stakeholders don’t rate his highly. But his loyalists debunk such claim, describing it warped thinking of the opposition. During his tenure as federal lawmaker, he attracted some federal projects from the federal government to some other communities beyond his area (eg -Arthur Eze’s Ukpo community among others)
Oduah of PDP battled many forces in her party before the ticket was given to her through the instrumentality of the political godfather in the state, Chief Chris Uba. She is a two-term senator and vying for her third term in 2023. Before now, she had served as Minister of Aviation, where graft agencies alleged she had some questions to answer. As the incumbent senator, representing Anambra North zone, she has a lot of work to do to battle other contestants like Nwoye and Obiano.
Oduah, has been in the forefront of building houses for widows and other less privileged persons in the area. She has equally, attracted some roads in her Ogbaru area and empowered many youth with motorcycles and Keke -Napep among others. But some claim that she only comes close to the electorate any time she’s seeking for political office. Again, the manner she took the PDP senatorial ticket from her opponents during the primaries remains a major headache to her ambition. One of the contestants took her to court, claiming that she lied under oath among others. They’re still in court.
In the Central district, the incumbent senator, Uche Ekwunife, of PDP is showing signs of returning to the red chamber, but opposition is solid. Those opposing her are Senator Victor Umeh of LP, Chief Kodilichukwu Okelekwe of APC and Hon. Dozie Nwankwo of APGA. They’re all established politicians. Nwankwo is currently, a two term House of Representatives member for Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituency. The lawmaker is not new in the politics of the zone. He once defeated Ekwunife during their House of Representatives contest and nearly retired her.
During the APGA primaries in June for the senatorial ticket, Nwankwo defeated the former National Chairman of his party, to the amazement of all. The lawmaker is the younger brother to the wife of former Rivers State Governor and former Transport Minister, Chibuike Amaechi. Many observers say he is a snub and that may be a big challenge to his ambition in 2023. All the same, he is seen as a candidate to beat in the race especially as he is running on the platform of the ruling party and enjoys the backing of the incumbent governor.
Ekwunife of PDP is another frontrunner. She was a two term member of House of Representatives before her journey to the Senate, where she currently, represents Anambra Central. Many members of PDP are not happy with her and they are accusing her of getting the senatorial ticket through the back door.
She has always been a dogged fighter when it comes to politics and never gives up. But the current wind of LP and APGA in the state may deny her the opportunity of going back to the red chamber in 2023. It is being rumoured that she has the secret backing of Governor Soludo, despite being in different parties. Both politicians are from what the Old Aguata Union (OAU).
Some political observers have described the senator as arrogant and vindictive. But her political associates say, the allegations are from the opposition. Again, they accuse the former banker of being selfish and only look towards you whenever she wants something from you. Her supporters have equally debunked the allegations. The last time she won the Senate seat in 2019, she rode on the back of Obi to triumph because of (Atiku-Obi alliance). However, Ekwunife is a solid candidate for the senatorial seat, but the fight will not be a child’s play for her in 2023.
Umeh was the National Chairman of APGA for over ten years. He was later elected to represent his Anambra Central senatorial zone. It was shocking in June during the primaries of APGA, when the result was announced that Umeh lost the ticket to one of his political sons Nwankwo.
It was gathered that the powers that be in APGA, ganged up against him to make sure he didn’t win the ticket. That loss, brought him together again with Obi, who heard about the situation and called him over to LP, knowing Umeh’s capability in politics.
Immediately, the party conducted its primaries and Umeh emerged as the Central senatorial candidate of LP. However, he has some political rivers to cross before getting to his destination. Many people think it will be difficult for him to win on the platform of LP because of what they refer as lack of structure. But others say his name alone and that of Obi are enough structures in Anambra State.
Okelekwe, candidate of the APC, needs no further introduction in the state. An old politician who has never occupied any elective position, he served as Abuja liaison officer for Anambra State government during the administration of former governor, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju.
He contested the governorship ticket of the PDP in 2010-2011. He later joined APC. The Nation gathered that Okelekwe has the backing of former governor and current Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige and other top stakeholders like Senator Andy Uba among others. Not only that, Okelekwe reportedly has the backing of oil mogul and philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze.
The major issue he has to conquer the perception of his party as a pariah in the Southeast and Anambra in particular. Many people see Okelekwe as the right man for the seat for the Central, but will they vote for his party during the election? Mary Achusi, a business woman from Awka North, said, “nobody is voting party again, we’re going to vote for candidates.”
The South zone is another tough area with the incumbent, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of YPP fighting the battle of his life to retain his position. He’s up against accomplished candidate of PDP and political godfather in the state, Chief Chris Uba, Hon. Chris Azubogu of APGA and Dr. Obinna Uzor, a serial contestant of offices in Anambra, who’s now in LP.
Uba is the PDP godfather in Anambra. He is not well lettered, but his native intelligence is unrivaled when it comes to political issues. A former Board of Trustees (BoT) member of PDP, he determines who takes what in Anambra PDP. But others contesting against him are equally not pushovers. Besides, Ifeanyi Ubah, the incumbent and candidate of YPP, has an edge over him. Again, people in Anambra State are disenchanted with the Uba family for certain reasons. Political observers say he doesn’t help someone unless he wants a favour from you.
