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Tag: Senators

  • Defeated Senators, Reps leave NASS offices

    Senators and House of Representatives members who failed in their return bid started moving their personal effects out of the National Assembly complex on Monday.

    This is coming with about one month to the proclamation of the eight National Assembly.

    The lawmakers’ personal effects including tables and chairs of various sizes, framed photographs, books, standing mirror, centre rug and art works of various sizes were loaded into trucks.

    Apart from those that lost the March 28 National Assembly election others who were seen removing their belongings from the complex included those who lost their primary elections.

    Scores of legislative aides were seen loading personal belongings of the lawmakers into waiting trucks stationed at the entrance of the “White House.”

    One of the legislative aides seen dragging a “Ghana must go” bag filled with books retorted that “soldier go soldier come, National Assembly remains.”

    The aide said his boss instructed them to evacuate his office and take his belongings to his new office the Maitama area of Abuja.

    Efforts to speak with one of the South East Senators who lost his election proved abortive as he refused to answer his calls.

     

  • Senators-elect to watch

    The 8th Senate, billed for inauguration on June 4, promises to be full of men and women of calibre. Sunday Oguntola considers some members that may well define the shape of the incoming Red Chamber

    IsiakaAdeleke (Osun West)

    It would be a homecoming for Senator Isiaka Adeleke (Osun West). He was in the Upper Chamber from 2007-2011 but then on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He lost his reelection bid in 2011 to Mudasiru Hussein of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) when the political environment of the state changed with the declaration of Rauf Aregbesola as governor by the Appeal Court.

    Adeleke is returning to the Senate with executive experience being the first civilian governor of Osun (1992-1993). He won’t also be a complete stranger as he was in the Chamber for four years. He even served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    All the parliamentary experiences he garnered during his first stint as senator will sure stand him in good stead and enable him to navigate easily in the parliamentary business.

    Being elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will also allow him to make more radical and robust contributions on the floor of the Chamber.

    Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central)

    The Chairman, Committee on Environment and Ecology made his impact felt in the outgoing 7th Senate. He contributed to motions and bills in the Upper Chamber.

    His reelection is expected to give a boost to the quality of legislation in the senate. As a former Special Assistant on Budget to the President (2000-2003) and two-term governor of Kwara, the Turaki of Ilorin has executive experience. That he is returning to the Chamber will be a great plus to his contributions and motions on the floor.

    He should bring his urbane and versatile outlook to governance to bear in the new assignment.

    Beyond the projects he is expected to attract to his constituency, he is also billed to be a leading light for parliamentary functions in the 8th Senate.

    Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto North)

    Though he is a first-termer, Wamakko comes to the Upper Chamber on the back of impressive resumes in governance. He started out as Principal Assistant Secretary of Zurmi Local Government Area before his promotion as Acting Secretary. He was later appointed Chairman of the Sokoto local government from 1986-1987.

    He later became General Manager, Hotel Management and Tourism Board, Sokoto. In March 1992, he was promoted to Director-General, Careers and Special Services, Governor’s Office, Sokoto .

    By 1999, he was ripe enough to emerge the Deputy-governor to Attahiru Bafarawa. He was re-elected for a second term in April 2003. He resigned as Deputy Governor of Sokoto State on 15 March, 2006 after falling out with Bafarawa.

    In 2007, he was elected Governor of Sokoto State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was reelected in 2011.  He is resuming as a senator from May 29th with such wealth of experiences.

    As a former council chairman, two-term deputy governor and two-term governor, he is certainly one new senator-elect to watch out for.

    Joshua Dariye (Plateau Central)

    A fiercely popular grassroots mobiliser, Dariye returns to the Upper Chamber on the strength of his towering political influence. The two-term former governor of Plateau State has weathered all the storms against his political ambitions so far.

    He was impeached in November 2006 but reinstated by the Court of Appeal. His second coming to the Chamber is expected to be much better. This is because he would have understood Senate working rules better.

    Jonah Jang (Plateau North)

    Smarting from the defeat of his anointed successor, Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, has the Senate as consolation for the next four years. But the retired Wing Commander will come under serious scrutiny by his constituents, co- senators and the nation.

    It would be interesting to see how he would quickly settle down in his new assignment and improve the lots of Plateau State from the Upper Chamber.

    Being the only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator from the state will further put him under immense pressure to perform and justify his election.

    Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central)

    Arguably the new godfather of Kano politics, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso had a stint as Deputy Speaker in the aborted Third Republic. He couldn’t learn much of parliamentary function before the Republic was terminated.

    He will have the opportunity to perform lawmaking functions with his election into the Red Chamber. The two-term governor has sufficient experiences that will be handy in relating with the executive arm of government.

    As former Minister of Defence, he should also find oversight functions easy to navigate. Ever ebullient and vocal, he is expected to bring the Senate alive with his contributions and motions.

    Theodore Orji (Abia-Central)

    All eyes will be on the outgoing Abia State governor, Theodore Orji. Orji, a first termer, will be watched on how he will perform in the Senate. He was a civil servant until he became Chief of Staff to former Governor Orji Kalu. He succeeded Kalu as governor of Abia.

    Bukar Ibrahim (Yobe-East)  

    Ibrahim has the distinction of being a three-term governor of Yobe. He was governor from 1992-1993 before he served out a two-term in 2007.

    As soon as he was out of Government House, Ibrahim moved to the Upper Chamber in 2007. He was reelected in 2011. He is returning for a third-term in the Senate.

    As a ranking member, Ibrahim will certainly play prominent roles in the 8th Senate. He will also be there for those learning the ropes and serve as a stabilising force. That he is now of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will boost his visibility and impact in the Upper Chamber.

    Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa-West) 

    The former two-term governor of Nasarawa State is a ranking member of the 8th Senate. He was elected in 2011. As the former Secretary of Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he is well versed in party politics.

    He was also a Minister of State of the Works and Housing from 1995-1997, which should help his oversight functions. His elderly posture should provide a calming influence for younger senators.

    Though he didn’t make much of the first term in the Chamber, his second coming is expected to be much better considering that he has learnt the ropes and is now of the APC.

      Goje Danjuma (Gombe Central)

    The former governor of Gombe is not new to parliamentary world. From 1979-1983, he was a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

    In 2011, he was elected Senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Having served as Minister of State, Power and Steel from 1999-2001 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, he should do a better job with oversight functions.

    Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom West)

    The governor of Akwa Ibom has enjoyed life as a power broker in the outgoing administration. Things will not certainly be the same for him in the Upper Chamber.

    His critics will be eager to know how he will adjust to a life outside of the ruling party as well as how soon he will understand parliamentary procedures.

    His time in the 8th Senate will sure be test of his patience and humility in politics.

    Kabiru Gaya (Kano South)

    The Third Republic governor of Kano has been in the Upper Chamber since 2007. He was Deputy Minority Whip in his first term.

    Since then, he has grown to become an active senator, sponsoring motions and bills. Much more are expected from his third term in the Upper Chamber.

    Shaaba Liafiagi (Kwara North)

    Also a Third Republic governor in Kwara, Liafiagi won election to the senate in 2011. The former PDP’s Board of Trustees member (BoT) has learnt parliamentary procedures enough to really sparkle in his second term.

    The fact that he is now of the APC will make more people expect him to play more active and prominent roles in the Red Chamber.

     Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North)

    The two-term former governor of Ebonyi is becoming a legislator for the first time in his political career. What should count for him is the fact that he was a former Minister of Education though his years were blighted by unending strike.

    Having served as a minister and a party executive should help him do a good job with oversight functions as a Senator.

    George Akume (Benue North West)

    The Minority Senate Leader is much loved among his colleagues. He carries a calm mien that attracts many to him. The two-term former governor of Benue joined the Senate in 2007.

    He is expected to provide a leaning shoulder for first-termers in the Upper Chamber, especially those from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Because he is a third-termer, his visibility and influence in the Senate will surely be huge.

    Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central)

    Aliero first won election to the Senate in 2007. He left in 2008 to become Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    The two-term former governor of Kebbi returned in 2011 to the Upper Chamber. His third term in the Senate is expected to be explosive on the account of the vast experiences he has garnered over the years as a former minister and governor.

    David Mark (Benue South)

    He is dubbed the Methuselah of the Upper Chamber, having been a senator since 1999. He emerged the Senate President in 2007 and has offered the much-needed stability for the Red Chamber.

    But his fifth term promises to be different as Mark will no longer be Senate President. This is because the PDP, which he belongs to, is the new opposition party in the Senate.

    Many will watch how Mark will relate with those who once deferred to him as Senate President, especially if they become Principal Officials. Every move he makes with the new leadership will also come under scrutiny.

    Ike Ekeremadu (Enugu West)

    The Deputy Senate President might also not be a principal official in the 8th Senate. This will be a new, unfamiliar terrain for someone used to wielding huge influence since 2007.

    The former Secretary to Enugu State Government however has enormous parliamentary experiences that will serve the Upper Chamber well. He is the chairman of the Committee on Constitution Review and Speaker of the Parliament, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    James Manager (Delta South)

    He is one of the two senators returned from the South-South region and carries a huge responsibility as a third termer. Many will be interested in knowing how he will justify the huge confidence reposed in him following a bitter primary with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the PDP ticket.

    Barnabas Gemade (Benue North-east)

    The former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will resume his second term in the Senate under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after a titanic contest for the seat with Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam of the PDP. His elderly counsel and maturity will be handy for the Red Chamber.

    Bayero Nafada (Gombe North)

    Lawmaking is his turf. From 1999 to 2003, Nafada was a member of the Gombe House of Assembly. By 2003, he moved on to represent Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency. He was reelected in 2007 and became Deputy Speaker following the resignation of former Speaker, Patricia Etteh.

    He is returning to the business of lawmaking in the Upper Chamber with so much expectation from him. Having been a House of Assembly member and a two-term rep, Nafada will be in a familiar environment. Though he is a first-termer in the Senate, he will make ample contributions because he is familiar with legislative procedures.

     Jeremiah Useni (Plateau South)

    The former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister is back after many political setbacks. Ever blunt and bold, eyes will be on how Useni will contribute to debates and motions in the Upper Chamber.

    Many will also want to know if Useni has put behind the many controversies that trailed his public life and political activities.

     Stella Oduah    (Anambra North)

    The former Aviation Minister’s last public service was dented by allegation of buying inflated BMW bullet-proof cars without following due process. That eventually rubbished all the accolades she received for remodeling of airports across the country.

    Her entrance to the Senate will be a learning curve for sure where she would hope to redeem her public image and regain confidence. How she handles her new assignment will determine, to a large extent, if she has a future in national politics.

    Ben Murray- Bruce (Bayelsa East)

    If his success in private business is anything to go by, one can easily say this medal mogul will make his term in the Senate count. But politics is a different ball game from private business.

    Yet, Bruce remains one senator-elect to watch. His presence should add panache and finesse to the business of lawmaking. Going by his passion, Bruce should be a strong voice for legislation against piracy and other ills affecting the entertainment industry, his main forte.

    Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central)

    The human rights crusader has made the big leap to join active politics. The adventure has been bitter-sweet for those from the human rights community like him.

    Nigerians will be curious to know if the President of Civil Rights Congress will still be his radical, fire-splitting self when the pressure of governance shows up. They will also be banking on him to help with legislations that will further improve protection of fundamental human rights in the nation.

    Dino Melaye (Kogi West)

    After piping Smart Adeyemi of the PDP to the seat, the former House of Representatives member has huge responsibilities tossed on his shoulder.

    He was a delight to watch in the Lower Chamber, especially his roles during the Integrity Group’s efforts that led to the resignation of Etteh. Many will watch to see if he still has that fire in him. His constituents will also be hoping he will better their lots. How Melaye handles the new assignment will define his political future.

    Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central)

    Her first term was defined by massive empowerment projects for her constituents and intense lobbying. The wife of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, returns to the Upper Chamber better equipped for quality lawmaking.

    Adeola Olamilekan (Lagos West)

    The Chairman of House Committee on Public Finance has given a good account of himself in the Lower Chamber. Many will be eager to know if Yayi, as he is popularly called, will extend that performance to the Upper Chamber.

    To represent one of the largest constituencies in the Senate is no easy pie. But Olamilekan should cope well having acquainted himself well in the Lower Chamber.

    Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East)

    The chairman of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of Peoples Democratic Party in the South-West is still facing allegations of drug deals in the United States of America before his election.

    The change of government at the centre has put his victory in serious jeopardy.

    Whatever happens, Kashamu’s actions or inactions in the Red Chamber will attract special attention.

  • Dull moment as senators begin final lap

    THE Senate resumed plenary yesterday for its final lap.

    The resumption was, however, lacking in the usual backslapping and throwing of banters by senators.

    Not only that, the cracking of jokes that characterised the return of senators was completely absent and so also was the teasing and flattering that the lawmakers lavishly employ to welcome themselves to the chamber.

    Senate President, David Mark, managed some jokes apparently to liven up the chamber.

    The inauguration of Senator David Umaru, who frustrated the senatorial bid of the Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, was the opportunity Mark needed to throw some joke.

    Before administering the oath of allegiance on Umaru, Mark jokingly told him that he was only on loan to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the time being.

    While some senators were amused, others countered that it was a joke taken too far, especially with the broom revolution sweeping across the country.

    Before the inauguration of Umaru, Mark had delivered what observers in the gallery described as a touchy welcome speech.

    In the 15-paragraph speech, Mark welcomed his colleagues back from the Easter break and the 2015 general elections.

    He was happy that Nigerians hearkened to their persistent appeals for a peaceful and violence-free election.

    For him, the outcome of the elections had “greatly disappointed doomsday prophets, who predicted disaster and even a possible break up of our country.”

    Mark lauded “the maturity and sportsmanship displayed by President Goodluck Jonathan, who willingly conceded defeat and immediately congratulated the President-Elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, even before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the result.

    That singular act, he noted, “saved us from a possible crisis and catastrophe.”

    He added that Jonathan’s “action added value to the consolidation of democracy in our land, raised the benchmark of peaceful democratic transition and consequently, set a new democratic template in our continent notorious for her infamous sit-tight leaders.”

    He also extended his warm felicitation to the president-elect, whom he praised for extending a hand of fellowship to Jonathan and his team.

    Mark lauded Nigerians for their comportment before, during and after the elections.

    He noted that by their action, Nigerians have proved to the world that the country has laid a solid foundation for democracy to thrive.

    On elected senators and members of the House of Representatives, he said: “We are elected on different political platforms to represent our constituents. But in the National Assembly, we are united by the common goal to legislate for the good governance, peace and unity of Nigeria. I also felicitate with our other compatriots who will be coming to the National Assembly in the next dispensation.”

    Mark congratulated his colleagues who won elections as governors.

    The senate president added: “Also deserving of commendation are two of our colleagues, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Senator Abiola Ajimobi, re-elected in Ogun and Oyo states. This is a clear demonstration of their hard work and diligence.”

    Mark praised Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) boss, Prof. Attahiru Jega and his team for a job well done.

    Mark ended his speech, appealing to his colleagues that they should all “utilise whatever time is left of our tenure to conclude what may be outstanding in our legislative calendar so that the incoming parliament will be given a solid foundation to build upon in the service of our country.”

    Some of the senators, who captured the mood in the chamber, included Senators Chris Anyanwu, Zainab Kure, Gbenga Obadara, Ganiyu Solomon, Ita Enang and Abdul Ningi.

    Anyanwu said: “This is one of those times in history, where the most unexpected happened. A lot of change happened. I think the wind was very strong and being very strong, it pulled a lot of surprises such that some of the best people we had for instance in the National Assembly were affected by it. Some people were just in the wrong party at the wrong time and got blown away because of that and not because they did not perform and all that.”

    On her part, Kure, who lost her bid for re-election, said: “A situation whereby the electorates like in my own area are illiterates, they couldn’t differentiate what ballot paper was for whom. So, when they collected the three ballot papers and for them not to lose a particular election that they feel they should vote for the broom, they decided to just thumbprint the broom all through. But above all, I believe that is the will of the Almighty God.”

    The senator representing Niger East, David Umaru, said:”I want to let us know that we have come a long way. We come a long and winding road to get here and that is why I am all the more grateful that God has made it happen. I want to thank the judiciary for upholding justice. Without them, I would not have been here. I consider myself lucky that I am being made to have a taste of the old wine while I wait to taste the new wine in June.”

    Obadara noted: “We thank God that elections have held and there is peace. As people have predicted that there will be problems and Nigeria will break, it was peace and it is enough victory for our nation as a country. The Senate coming is a continuous progress, cohesion and advancing the cause of unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    For Ganiyu Solomon, “Nigerians collectively have spoken and we have to obey their words and we have a lot of lesson to learn from the elections. One, the electorates are becoming more enlightened and they are also becoming more interested in participating in the electoral system. We are also making some huge success in terms of responsibility of the umpire. Yes, there are some flaws here and there, but I think we are moving in the right direction. Giving another set of two elections, I think we would have crossed the Rubicon and be able to say that we have arrived.”

    Ningi said: “I think for a person like me, who has been in the National Assembly for 16 years, having won four times, losing in this one should not be a problem. Generally, on the outcome of the elections, Nigerians have spoken. They have expressed their dismay with my party. They have shown that the party has not done well. They have shown that the government has not carried people along. We were like this in 1999.”

    Enang submitted: “I want to congratulate Nigerians for the way they voted, that is those who were allowed to vote and in states where they were privileged to be allowed to vote.”

     

  • Senators who will not return

    Senators who will not return

    For some Senators, last Saturday’s election signalled an end to their membership of the National Assembly. Assistant Editor Sina Fadare takes a look at those who will be missing when the Red Chamber is inaugurated for legislative business in June.

    With the results of the last Saturday’s National Assembly election, some incumbent senators will not be returning to the Upper Legislative Chamber when the lawmakers resume for duty in June. Those who will be missing include:

     

    • Smart Adeyemi

    Smart Adeyemi is one of the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State. Before his foray into partisan politics, he was the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) between 1999- 2006. He worked with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), where he made his mark as a seasoned reporter and a unionist.

    He was elected into the National Assembly in 2003 to represent the Kogi West Senatorial District. Adeyemi was returned to the Senate in 2007 and 2011. The three-time senator, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was defeated in the last Saturday’s election by a former House of Representatives member Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress (APC). With this defeat, the Ijumu-born politician will bow out of the Senate at the expiration of the Seventh National Assembly to face his hospitality business.

     

    • Chris Ngige

    Chris Nwabueze Ngige, a medical-doctor turned politician, began his political sojourn when he joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He served as the party’s National Secretary between 2000 and 2003 and was a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP between 2001 and 2003. He contested the governorship seat of Anambra under the auspices of the ruling party and won in 2003 before he was removed in 2006 through a judicial process.

    Dr. Ngige was ejected from the Anambra State Government House by a judicial pronouncement, which arose from an election petition instituted by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Peter Obi. Against this backdrop, Ngige had a running battle with the PDP which later accused him of anti-party activities. He eventually defected to the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later teamed up with two other parties and a faction of another to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In April 2011, Ngige contested the Anambra Central Senatorial seat on the platform of the ACN and defeated a former Minister of Information & Communications, the late Prof Dora Akunyili of APGA. He polled 69,765 votes against the late Prof. Akunyili’s 69,292.

    Ngige, who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Science and Technology, will be taking a bow from the National Assembly on the eve of May 29. He was defeated by a House of Representatives member, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife of the PDP.

     

    • Femi Lanlehin

    Ibadan, Oyo State-born Femi Lanlehin trained as lawyer. As a legal practitioner, he had made an impact in civil litigation, commercial and land law before venturing into partisan politics. He served as a Commissioner for Special Duties and a Special Adviser to the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.  He was elected on the APC ticket in 2011 to represent the Oyo South Senatorial District.

    Lanlehin is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Economic & Poverty Alleviation.  He later dumped the APC for the Accord Party. But his ambition to return to the Senate on the platform of his new party was truncated at the weekend when he was defeated by the APC candidate, Soji Akanbi. His tenure ends in May.

     

    • Hosea Agboola

    Ayoola Hosea Agboola has been a grassroots politician since 1999. He was the Supervisory Councilor, Works, Isehin Local Government Area of Oke Ogun, Oyo State. He capped his political feat when he was appointed the Commissioner for Local Government in the Pacesetter State and he served between 2003 and 2010.

    The estate management expert, politician was a Senator on the platform of the PDP in 2015. He is the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs Narcotics & Financial Crime. With the electoral loss he suffered at the weekend, Agboola will not be returning to the Legislative Chamber at the expiration of the Seventh National Assembly.  He lost his seat to his APC challenger Fatai Buhari, who was a Commissioner in the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

     

    • Olubunmi Adetumbi

    Olubunmi Adetunmbi, an Agricultural Economist, who veered into politics in his Ifaki Ekiti country home contested and won the Ekiti North Senatorial District seat of Ekiti State in 2011. His election into the Senate was his first public service. He is the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Interior Affairs. With his defeat by a former House of Representatives member, Duro Faseyi of the PDP, Senator Adetunmbi will not be returning to the Senate after serving out his term on May 28.

     

    • Ahmed Makarfi

    Trained as an accountant, Ahmed Markafi began his career with the Universal Bank where he rose to the position of Assistant General Manager. He was introduced to the public service as the Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning, Kaduna State in 1994. He later became the governor of the state for two consecutive terms between 1999 and 2007.

    He is representing the Kaduna North Senatorial District at the National Assembly for the second term after his election in 2007. He has served as a member of various Senate Committees including; Agriculture & Rural Development, Appropriation, Aviation, Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institution & the Chairman Senate Committee on Finance.

    He was trounced at the poll by his APC challenger on Saturday.

     

    • Abdul Ahmed Ningi

    Abdul Ahmed Ningi could be given the sobriquet ‘veteran Lawmaker’ after spending about 16 years in the National Assembly. From 1999 to 2011, he was in the House of Representatives. He was the Majority Leader of the Lower Legislative Chamber between 2003 and 2007.

    Ningi, a graduate of Sociology had his first public service experience when he was employed as a social welfare officer in the state civil service. He has a brief stint with the First Bank in 1986 before he ventured into private business as the Chairman/ Chief Executive  of NAJ Resources Limited.

    His activities in politics has been rich and robust. He has served on  various committees of the House of Representatives during his 12-year sojourn in the Green Chamber. The articulate and veteran lawmaker is the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Population & Identity Card.

    Ningi will in May bow out of the National Assembly after 16 unbroken years following his defeat in the last Saturday’s election.

     

    • Anthony Adeniyi

    Anthony   Olumuyiwa Adeniyi is a member of the APC, a platform that took him to the National Assembly to represent the Ekiti South Senatorial District. The legal practitioner  ventured into partisan politics as a unionist and human right activist. He was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure branch between 1990 and 1992.

    The Ikere-Ekiti born lawyer was a former Chairman, Omega Bank. He is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market.

    The Tsunami of the PDP that swept through Ekiti State last Saturday, denied Adeniyi the opportunity to return to the National Assembly on the platform of the APC.

     

    • Ayo Adeseun

    He was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of the PDP in 2003 and was reelected in 2007 to represent the Ogbomoso Federal Constituency. In 2011, Adeseun dumped the PDP for the ACN and was elected into the Senate to represent the Oyo North Senatorial Zone. He later defected to his former political platform – the PDP but his attempt to return to the National Assembly was scuttled on Saturday, when he was defeated by  Fatai Buhari of the APC. Adeseun will be returning from the National Assembly after 12 years as a lawmaker.

     

    • Adegbenga Kaka

    Adegbenga Kaka was deputy  to former Governor Olusegun Osoba between 1999 and 2003 under the AD/ACN platfom. His shot at the Ogun State governorship under the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in 2007 failed. He returned to the progressives fold in 2011 and was elected to represent the Ogun East Senatorial District  at the Senate. Kaka, followed Chief Osoba out of the APC to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP), under which he sought reelection into the Senate but he was defeated by the PDP candidate, Prince Buruji Kashamu. Kaka is expected back from the Senate after the expiration of his  tenure in May.

  • APC may have 60 senators

    APC may have 60 senators

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) is likely to be in the majority in the incoming Senate, with no fewer  than 60 senators. About 46 of them may be from the North. The Senate has 109 members.
    The party will have three senators each from Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kogi and Kwara states.

    It will parade two each from Ogun, Ondo and Nasarawa states and one from Edo.

     

    Some of the Incoming Senators

    •Prince Lanre Tejuosho (APC, Ogun Central)

    •Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu (APC, Oyo Central)

    •David Jonah Jang (PDP, Plateau North)

    •Rabiu Kwankwanso APC, Kano Central

    •Uche Ekwunife (PDP, Anambra Central,

    •Mallam Shehu Sani, (APC, Kaduna Central)

    •Godswill Akpabio (PDP, Akwa Ibom Northwest)

    •Gbolahan Dada (APC, Ogun West)

    • Clifford Ordia (PDP, Edo Central)

    • Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West)

    • Abubakar Abdulrahman (APC, Kogi East)

    • Uthman Hunkuyi  (APC, Kaduna North)

    • Rabiu Kwankwaso (APC, Kano Central)

    • Barau Jibril (APC, Kano North)

    • Francis Alimekhena (APC, Edo North)

    • Salihu Egebona (APC, Nasarawa South)

    • Sabo Nakudu (APC, Jigawa Central)

    • Muhammadu Shittu (APC, Jigawa Northeast)

    • Abdullahi Abubakar Ojo ( APC, Jigawa Northwest)

    • Ali Wakili (APC, Bauchi South)

    • Adeola Solomon (APC, Lagos West

    •Duro Faseyi (PDP, Ekiti North)

    • Theodore Orji (PDP, Abia Central)

    •Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti East)

    •Mrs. Fatima Rasaki (PDP, Ekiti Central)

    •Jeremiah Useni (PDP, Plateau South)

  • APC produces three senators, 12 reps in Oyo

    Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the three senatorial districts of Oyo State have been declared winners of Saturday’s National Assembly election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, defeated his main rival, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He polled 528,620 votes to Jonathan’s 303,376 votes.

    The APC candidate defeated the incumbent in 27 local governments; Jonathan won in Itesiwaju, Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Oriire, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa councils.

    All the newly elected are first time senators. They defeated senators Femi Lanlehin (Accord), Hosea Agboola (PDP) and Ayo Adeseun (PDP).

    In Oyo Central Senatorial District, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu scored 105,378 to defeat Chief Bisi Ilaka of Accord, who polled 84,675 votes.

    Following are candidates of the PDP, Labour Party (LP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    In Oyo North, Fatai Buhari scored 104,056 to defeat his closest rival, Tajudeen Kareem (LP), who polled 75,469. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord candidates trailed them.

    In Oyo South, Soji Akanbi scored 147,583 to beat Lanlehin (Accord), who polled 93,256 votes. They were trailed by Mrs. Lanre Otiti (PDP), 47,152; Nurudeen Akinyo (LP), 28,993 and SDP candidate, 11,541.

    Only four serving members of the House of Representatives retained their seats. They are Abiodun Awoleye (APC), Saheed Fijabi (APC), Sunday Adepoju (APC) and Olusegun Odebunmi (PDP).

  • It’s a plot to derail democracy, say APC senators

    It’s a plot to derail democracy, say APC senators

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) senators yesterday condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for postponing the February 14 and 28 elections.

    Spokesman for the group, Senator Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central), in a statement in Abuja, described the postponement as a “tele-guided plot” by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to derail democracy.

    Ojudu said: “What we are seeing is a desperate and jittery response to the imminent defeat of the PDP. The postponement has shown the helplessness of INEC in the face of a malicious cabal bent on destroying the fabric of democracy.”

    The APC senators said the decision has raised a big credibility question on INEC and the forthcoming elections.

    He added: “This decision is borne out of fear of defeat and malice against the people of Nigeria in the face of the overwhelming support the APC command across the country.”

    He insisted that the PDP leadership in collaboration with INEC have put Nigeria in extremely bad light among the international community.

    The postponement, according to him, “is a diversionary tactic, which undermines the aspirations of Nigerians and dims the hope for change in a country that in the past has seen bitter upheavals due to similar partisan posture of the electoral umpire.”

    He alleged that the INEC has placed itself above the interest of the people, adding that the action of the electoral body runs contrary to the decision of the Council of State.

  • Senators, Reps: Season of dashed hopes

    Senators, Reps: Season of dashed hopes

    Many senators and House of Representatives members will not return to the National Assembly when a new session is inuaugurated in June because they failed in their renomination bids. Others are running for governor. A few of them have also decided to step down honourably. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports

    No condition is permanent. Many members of the National Assembly will not return to the chambers when a new legislative session is inaugurated in June.

    Some of them failed to secure their parties’ nomination after the primaries. The lawmakers fall into various categories. There are those who sought for governorship tickets in their states and lost out. A few of them were enjoined not to contest to pave way for others who have similar ambition. There are also those who failed to secure  tickets because they were swept off by intrigues. Some could not  meet the expectation of their constituencies. These lawmakers may not play a prominent role in shaping the destiny of the country this year and beyond.

     

    Odion Ugbesia

    Ugbesia is the Senate Vice Chairman, Committee on Commerce. He will not return to the House in 2015. The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain represents Edo Central Senatorial District. He lost the PDP ticket to Mr. Clifford Ordia who polled 141 votes, while he got 62 votes. The political science graduate of the University of Illinois, United States of America and former lecturer at the University of Benin is one of the prominent faces that will be missing in the 8th Assembly. The incumbency factor failed to work in his favour for his third term bid.

    Similarly, Patrick Ikhariale and Friday Itulah of the PDP and members of the House of Representatives failed to pick their party nomination at the primaries. The lawmakers would be absent at the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly when a fresh session commences.

     

    Uche Chukwumerije

    Senator Chukwumerije’s fourth term ambition in Abia North  District failed to scale through at the party primary. He was defeated by Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa, his kinsmen, who accused him of poor representation.  The former Minister of Information in the last lap of the General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration was elected to the Senate in 2003.

    The PDP chieftain would be remembered for his strong opposition to the third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. This pitched him against the PDP leadership and he defected to the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in 2006 to secure his seat. He later returned to the PDP.

     

    Victor Ndoma-Egba

    Ndoma-Egba was elected to the Senate in the 5th National Assembly to represent the Cross River Central  District. The Majority Leader of the House will not feature in the 8th Assembly because he was defeated at the primary by Hon. John Enoh.

    Ndoma-Egba had rejected the December 7 shadow polls, saying it fell short of expectation. He said the exercise was fundamentally poor and fatally flawed. He noted that the poll did not conform to the rules and regulations of the party guiding the exercise.

    He said the violence witnessed during the conduct of the primary supported his claim that it should be voided. He said militants were imported from outside the state to disrupt the process.

    Another Cross River State lawmaker, Senator Bassey Otu failed to pick the PDP ticket for Cross River North. He lost to Chief Gershom Bassey, who shelved his governorship ambition due to the zoning of the ticket to the Cross River North. A House of Representatives member, Dr. Rose Oko  would be replacing Senator Ben Ayade, who is the PDP governorship.

     

    Ita Enang

    Enang, Chairman Senate Committee on Rule and Business, will not be at the National Assembly next year. He represents the Uyo Senatorial District. The Senator lost the PDP ticket to Obong Albert at the primary in Akwa Ibom State.

    Enang got only five votes, while Albert won the ticket with 346 votes. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 and later contested for the Senate 2011.

     

    Ayogu Eze

    Eze represents Enugu North Senatorial District. He was elected to the Senate on the PDP platform in 2007. He had served as commissioner and special adviser in the state before moving to the National Assembly.

    He refused to seek for a ticket to return to the house, but opted for the governorship position. But, the PDP ticket went to Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is the preferred candidate of the Governor Sullivan Chime.

    Eze’s camp had a parallel primary, but the chime camp is likely to carry the day. As part of the deal to bring peace to the crisis-ridden chapter, Chime had to shelve his ambition to go to the Senate to pave way for incumbent Senator Ike Ekweremadu to retain his seat.

    The fallout of all this is that Eze will not be returning to the House.

     

    Domingo Obende

    Obende of the All Progressives Congress (APC) represents Edo North Senatorial District. He lost the ticket to Francis Alimekhena who polled 831 at the primary. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere came very close to the winner with 815 votes, while Obende trailed far behind with 198 votes.

    The public administration graduate of the University of Benin is reputed for his anti-gay stance at the National Assembly. He sponsored the same sex prohibition bill which attracted interest both in Nigeria and at the international community. He was elected to the House in 2011.

     

    Ganiyu Solomon

    The APC lawmaker opted for the Lagos State governorship position which was won by Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, former Lagos State Accountant General. Therefore, the Senate Minority Whip has no chances of returning to the 8th assembly, as the slot has been taken by Hon. Olamilekan Adeola of the House of Representatives, who won the APC primary.

    Solomon took over the Lagos West  District from Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi in 2007. He was Chairman of Committees on Work, Sports, Rule and Business, Integration and Cooperation and Capital Market.

    The University of Lagos political science graduate has pledged to work for his party’s success across the board in the forthcoming election.

     

    Abike Dabiri-Erewa

    The chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa is in the category of the lawmakers who stepped aside to give others a chance. Dabiri-Erewa, who is representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, said having served 12 years as a lawmaker, it was necessary to give others the opportunity to contribute their quota to their fatherland. The APC lawmaker said she would devout her time to the success of the party in the  elections and thereafter. The House will miss her robust contribution to lawmaking in the National Assembly.

     

    Victor Lar

    He was elected into the National Assembly to represent Plateau South  District. The senator, a Tarok from Langtang, was a former member of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) when he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999. He later switched allegiance to the PDP.

    He would be remembered for his opposition to the third term agenda of Chief Obasanjo. He had escaped assassination when four gun men attempted to kill him.

     

    Nkechi Nwaogu

    Nwaogu who represents Abia Central is not recontesting. Her position had been taken over by the Abia State Governor Theodore Orji. She was elected to the National Assembly in 2003. The card-carrying member of the PDP was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institution.

    She was at the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007 and is just completing her second term at the Senate. She was one of the contestants for the Abia State PDP governorship primary that produced Dr. Victor Ikpeazu.

     

    Kabiru Gaya

    Senator Kabiru Kaya, who represents Kano South  District on the platform of the APC, is equally not among those seeking to return to the incoming National Assembly. He opted out of the race to seek the APC governorship ticket for his state. But, he lost the ticket to Deputy Governor Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who triumphed at the primary.

    Gaya was governor of Kano between 1992 and 1993. He will be rounding off his second term at the National Assembly. He has served in the committee on Gas, Local and Foreign Debts States and Local Government.  He had also served at the Upstream Resources and Works.

    He sponsored several bills.

     

    Saidu Alkali

    Senator Saidu Alkali does not also stand a chance of returning to the House. He represents Gombe North Senatorial District on the platform of the APC. He was a member of the PDP until recently, when he defected to the opposition party. He stepped down for former Speaker House of Representatives Hon. Usman Nafada who picked the APC ticket for the constituency.

     

    Aminu Tambuwal

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives has secured the APC ticket to contest the governorship of Sokoto State. Another lawmaker from the state, Senator Umar Dahiru Tambuwal, representing Sokoto South will not be in the House when fresh mandate begins after the election. Umar Tambuwal was one of those who contested against Aminu Tambuwal for the APC ticket.

     

    Paulinus Nwagu

    The Senator represents the Ebonyi Central Senatorial District at the House. He contested the PDP governorship primary of the state, but lost. He was in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 before moving to the Senate.

    The political science graduate served in various committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate. He was the Chairman Committee of Police Affairs of the Senate.

     

    Alloysius Etuk,

    Helen Esuene

    Senators Etuk and Esuene, both of the PDP, are not like to be seen at the National Assembly after the forthcoming election. They lost their tickets to Governor Godswill Akpabio and Effiong Nelson respectively in Akwa Ibom State. The two serving senators in the state will be missing at the National Assembly.

    Senator Esuene contested the PDP governorship ticket. She was Minister of State for Health between 2005 and 2006. Later, she became Minister of Environment. She was elected into the Senate in 2011.

     

    Ifeanyi Okowa

    Senator Okowa has secured the PDP governorship ticket for Delta State. Therefore, he will not be at the House when the new assembly commences. He was chairman of the Ika North Local Government Area and coordinator of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) before joining the PDP in 1998.

    He became senator in 2011 representing Delta North when he took over from Senator Patrick Osakwe. The one-time Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Delta State had equally served as Commissioner for Water Resources Development in the state.

     

    Chris Anyanwu

    Senator Anyanwu will not be at the National Assembly to represent Imo East Senatorial District. She contested for the PDP governorship ticket in the state, but lost.

    She was the only female contestant at the PDP primary; she vied for the ticket with 21 other contestants. The journalist/publisher was elected to the senate in 2007. She served on the committees on Women, Youth, States and Local Government, Millennium Development Goals, Health, Environment, Defence and Army.

    She contested for the same seat on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2011.

     

    Babafemi Ojodu

    Senator Ojodu from Ekiti Central opted out of the race. His position has been taken by Ambassador Gbenga Olofin, who will contest the election. He was voted to office in 2011. His impact at the National Assembly underscored the contribution the journalist had made to lawmaking in the country.

     

    Ibrahim Musa

    Senator Musa represents Niger North on the platform of the APC. He has no chances of returning to the National Assembly; he voluntarily opted out of the race to contest for the governorship position against Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello. But, he lost the governorship ticket.

    Senator Shem Nuhu Zagbayi, also of the PDP, is not among those aspiring to go back to the senate. He voluntarily gave up his slot to allow Governor Babangida Aliyu to contest for the seat.

    In Kebbi State, the three PDP senators, Isa Galaudi (Kebbi North), Mohammad Magoro(Kebbi South) and Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi Central) are also not in the parliamentary race. They opted for the governorship ticket. Bagudu defected to the APC where he got the party ticket.

     

    Hussein Mudashiru

    Mudashiru lost the APC ticket of the Osun West to Senator Isiaka Adeleke. The former was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 to represent Oshodi-Isolo, in Lagos State, on the platform of the Alliance For Democracy. In 2011, he moved to the upper chamber where he succeeded Adeleke to represent Osun West. He will not be around when the 8th assembly takes off.

     

    Ahmed Barata

    Senator Barata and Bello Tukur are also not in contention to return to the senate, because they failed to secure the tickets of their party, the PDP, to contest the senatorial election. The duo, who hail from Adamawa, lost at the party primary, which took place at Abuja, as directed by the party National Working Committee (NWC). The senators will bow out after serving their current term. Meanwhile, Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’Adua, who represents Katsina Central on the platform of the PDP, opted for the governorship seat, which he could not secure.

  • Governors v. Senators

    •The senators, just like the governors, have no moral ground on which to stand

    Going by reports of what transpired during the nationwide ward congresses of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the stage appears set for war as most of its senators that lost out are not taking things slightly.

    The lopsided outcomes of the congresses across the states, in favour of the governors, have reportedly compelled the senators to threaten fire and brimstone against President Goodluck Jonathan, believed by the senators to have created the uninhibited platform for the governors to sweep the congress elections.

    To underscore the severity of the pains suffered by the senators through the outcome of the ward elections, the Senate leadership reportedly met the president to present their grievances. And if this fails, according to reports, they are purportedly planning to commence compilation of impeachable offences against the president. A principal officer of the Senate quoted in the media declared against the president:  ”….. If the best way to pay us back is by working with the governors to ensure that majority of us do not return to the Senate, we will also pay him back in his own coin.”

    The senators’ grouse is against party structures in the states being in the pockets of the governors. To drive home their selfish point, they are henceforth planning to frustrate pending executive bills, stoppage of consideration of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and other issues pending before the Senate.

    We wonder why the senators, for selfish reasons, abandoned their duty posts. Yet, they will at the end of the day collect millions of naira, drawn from tax payers’ money, as salary and allowances, for jobs delayed, or not done at all. We ask: Why would they allow whatever differences exist between them and the president/governors affect effective discharge of legislative duties to the nation?

    We refer to the maxim that says ‘he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.’ Following from the nation’s antecedent of internal political party selection process, we are aware that most of the senators are beneficiaries of the sort of imposition they are up in arms against. They are now grouchy simply because the current regime seems not to be tilting to their side. Obviously, they could not be said to have come to equity with clean hands. And this ugly trend, sadly, cuts across the political divide in this nation.

    We deplore the politics of hypocrisy that the senators and others in their shoes are trying to foist on the nation. They are currently enjoying the booty of democracy without necessarily trying to be true democrats. The same set of legislators, simply because of the untidy manner in which they got their candidacy, merely got to the National Assembly only to subordinate their constitutional rights to the executive arm of government. Rather than do the right things, they opted to scramble after constituency project votes that hardly get to the constituencies.

    The senators, having won their seats at the behest of governors, had sold their legislative birthrights to the executive. Now they are asserting their pride against the executive who made them through a perverted system. It is morally late in the day for them to cry foul.

    We note, too, that the executive arm of government could not be exonerated from this sad practice. Both the executive and legislators are shamefully not distinguished in this game where money and highly compromised delegates play leading roles in the selection process.

    The battle for political survival between governors and the legislators is rooted in lack of proper internal democracy within political parties. We condemn it in its entirety because it is an undeniable instrument that is destroying, because of individual greed for power sustenance, a salient ingredient of democracy – the political party.

  • Senate adjorns sitting over PDP ward crises

    Aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  Senators have shut down National Assembly vowing  not to sit over disputes arising from ward congresses of the party held last weekend.

    The Senate sitting on Tuesday was adjourned after the opening prayer to enable PDP senators attend a meeting with the Senate President David Mark.

    Details later