Marcus Fatunmole (Abuja)
Presidential and National Assembly elections of last Saturday February 23 will go down in history of Nigeria’s politics as one of the most intriguing, interesting and shocking.
Not only did it startlingly humiliate many giants at the Red Chambers, it provided opportunities for new commers to participate in the business of law making for their fatherland.
The biggest shock in National Assembly election was the defeat of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in Kwara Central.
Saraki, whose relationship with the executive, headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, has been strained from inception in mid-2015, lost his election to candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Yahaya Oloriegbe.
A candidate of the main opposition, People Democratic Party (PDP), Saraki polled 68,994 votes, coming behind Oloriegbe who secured 123, 808 to end the dominance of the Sarakis in Kwara state.
Similar loss was that of Godswill Akpabio in Akwa-Ibom. A first time senator and former governor of his state like Saraki, Akpabio joined the APC in the build up to the 2019 general elections. He presented himself as ‘uncommon’ senator who would hand his state over to the APC’s fold. But, he failed.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Chris Ekpenyong of the PDP winner of the election in Akwa Ibom North-West District. Akpabio got 83,158 votes, while Mr Ekpenyong scored 118,215 votes to win the district’s seat.
In Benue state, another heavyweight collapsed. George Akume, a former governor in the state an a kingmaker who sought re-election as senator for fifth time, saw his ambition snatched by candidate of the PDP, Orker Jev.
While Akume scored 115,422 at Benue Zone B district, Jev polled 157,726.
In Oyo, incumbent governor, Abiola Ajimobi, of the APC came behind candidate of the PDP for Oyo South Senatorial District, Dr. Muhammed Balogun. Balogun, a former Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives in the state scored a total of 105,720 votes to stop Ajimobi who garnered 92,218.
Senator Shehu Sani was also humbled in Kaduna Central senatorial district. He came far distant third in his bid to secure a secure term at the Red Chamber.
Sani, who ran on the platform of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) got 70, 613, coming behind both candidates of the APC, Uba Sani, and PDP, Lawal Usman, who secured 355, 242 and 195, 497 votes respectively.
Shehu Sani’s rift with his governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is believed to have played major role in his loss to the governor’s aide, Uba Sani.
But for being a first timer, Orji Kalu, who won Abia North seat would be among major contenders for the senate presidency. That is if the APC zones the senate presidency to his region. Incumbent Senate President, Bukola Saraki allegedly forged the Senate Rules in 2015 to clinch leadership of the upper chamber against his party’s wish.
Kalu won with 30,580 votes to defeat the incumbent of PDP, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa who got 21,940 votes.
The whole of northern Nigeria will not have any woman representing it in the Senate. The only woman from the region at the Senate, Binta Garba, was defeated by Ishaku Cliff of the PDP to clinch Adamawa North’s seat. Cliff scored 43,117 votes, while Binta of the APC scored 16,219.
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima won the Borno Central seat, defeating candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Sen. Mohammed Abba Aji. Shettima scored 340,898 votes, while the PDP candidate won 75, 509 votes.
Sen. Ali Ndume was re-elected on the platform of the APC. He got 300,637 to beat candidate of the PDP, Hon. Kudla Satumari, who scored 84,804.
Incumbent Senator Abubakar Kyari of the APC was also re-elected for Borno North. Kyari earned 75,565 votes to beat Hon. Isa Lawan Kangar of the PDP who garnered 35, 123 votes.
Senator Tayo Alasoadura of Ondo Central will not return to the Senate for the second time. Alosoadura of the APC lost to the candidate of the PDP, Ayo Akinyelure. Akinyelure polled 67,994 votes to beat Alasoadura who polled 58,092 votes. Former governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, who ran on the platform of Zenith Labour Party, got 56,628 votes.
In Ondo North, Senator Ajayi Borroface defeated a candidate backed by the state governor, Tunji Abayomi of the Action Alliance, to retain his seat. The lawmaker scored 53,199 votes, while Mr Abayomi polled 43,100 votes.
In Kwara North Senatorial District, Umar Sadiq of the APC polled 98,170 votes to defeat candidate of the PDP, Hon. Zakari Muhammed, who polled 33, 364.
Lola Ashiru of the APC polled 89,704 to rout candidate of the PDP, Rafiu Ibrahim, who won 45,176 votes.
Senator Danjuma La’ah of the PDP emerged victorious in Kaduna South. He polled 268,923 votes to humble Deputy Governor Barnabas Bala Bantex of the APC who scored 133,287 votes.
Meanwhile, in Kaduna North Abdu-Kwari, the incumbent Commissioner of Finance in the state beat incumbent senator representing the district, Suleiman Hunkuyi. While the APC candidate got 411,498 votes, Hunkuyi got 181,955.
There is no surprise in Lagos state as the APC candidate won all three districts in the state. A state controlled by National Leader of the APC since inception of the nation’s return to democracy has APC candidate, Sen. Solomon Adeola, winning Lagos West. Adeola polled a total of 323,817 votes to beat his closest rival Gbadebo Rhodes, of the PDP who secured 243,516 votes.
Mr Bayo Osinowo of the APC won Lagos East with18,713 votes, while Mr. Abiodun Oyefusi of the PDP got 13,075.
Wife of the APC National Leader, Oluremi Tinubu retained her seat in Lagos Central. She polled 131,735 to defeat her closest rival Onitiri David of the PDP who had 89,107 votes.
In Ogun, INEC declared Chief Tolu Odebiyi of the APC winner of Ogun-West Senatorial seat. Odebiyi would represent the district at the Senate having polled the highest votes of 58,452. His closest rival, Mr Olusegun Gbeleyi of the Allied Peoples Movement, won 48,611 votes, and Mr Leye Odunjo of the PDP came third with 43,454 votes.
Also in Ogun East, APC candidate, Lekan Mustapha, was the winner. He polled 85,761 votes to defeat Ayoola Sosanwo of PDP who had 83,528 votes.
Incumbent governor Ibikunle Amosun would represent Ogun Central, having polled 88,110 votes to defeat Mrs Tunji Oseni-Gomez of the African Democratic Congress(ADC), who had 37,101 votes.
Former Senate leader and APC flagbearer for Oyo Central, Teslim Folarin, beat his closest opponent, Oyebisi Ilaja, of PDP with 91,080 against the PDP candidate who garnered 83,600 votes.
Oyo North has Abdulfatai Buhari of the APC winning with 107, 703 votes. His closest rival Mulikat Akande Adeola of the PDP scored 89, 365 votes.
Comr. Abba Patrick Moro of the PDP was declared winner of Benue South district. Moro got 85,162 votes to defeat his closest rival and APC candidate, Ochagwu Steven Lawani, who scored 47,721
Dino Melaye of the PDP was declared winner of Kogi West Senatorial election. He got 85, 395 votes to beat Smart Adeyemi of the APC who garnered 66, 901 votes.
Also, Ike Ekweremadu won Enugu West Senatorial District for the fifth time. Ekweremadu polled 86,088 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu of the APC who scored 15,187 votes.
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