#ElectionResults: No Senate status for Ortom, Ugwuanyi, Bagudu, others
By: Taoheed Adegbite
Following Saturday's presidential election and National Assembly election, at least six incumbent governors have failed in their bid to secure a seat in the Nigerian Senate which has been described as a "retirement home" for former governors.
The governors, after their two terms, lost the elections in their respective constituencies to advance to the 10th National Assembly.
Meanwhile, in 2019, about 20 former governors were elected to the current Ninth National Assembly. Among them, who are still in the race to return to the Red Room, are; Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Orji Kalu (Abia), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano).
However, while some incumbent governors like Governors David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Abubakar Bello (Niger) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) were elected senators in the 10th Assembly, others like Okezie Ikpeazu ( Abia) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) still have their fate pending as they have not yet been announced by the electorate.
Here are the governors who failed in their attempt to move to the "retirement home".
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Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State)
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State is a member of the five aggrieved governors of the PDP – dubbed G5 – and lost his bid to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly after being beaten by Okechukwu Ezea of the Labor Party.< /p>
After eight years in power, Ugwuanyi scored 46,948 votes to concede defeat in a landslide victory for Ezea who garnered 104,948 votes to emerge victorious.
Samuel Ortom (Benoue)
Samuel Ortom is another G-5 member seeking a move to the Senate after his eight years as Governor of Benue State expires.
However, Ortom lost his bid to represent Benue North West Senate District in the National Assembly after losing to his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Titus Zam.
While Ortom garnered 106,882 votes, Zam, who was his former appointed aide in 2015, won the election under the APC umbrella after receiving 143,151 votes.
Darius Ishaku (Taraba)
Next is the incumbent PDP Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, who lost his senatorial candidacy to represent Taraba South Senatorial District after losing to APC's David Jimkuta who polled 85,415 to defeat Ishaku who got 45,708 votes.
Simon Lalong (Tray)
Not only did Simon Lalong, who is the chief executive of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), fail to deliver his statement to his party's candidate, but he also made a humble pie in his senatorial candidacy.
Lalong, who is a former chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, lost the bid to clinch the Southern Plateau Senatorial District seat after polling 91,674, losing to Bali Ninkap Napoleon of the PDP who took 148 844 votes.
Ben Ayade (Cross River)
Ben Ayade of Cross River is a professor known for his "crying" and common words for naming state appropriations bills. However, none of the grammars could save his candidacy for retirement to the Senate after completing his eight-year term as governor.
Meanwhile, Ayade won the PDP governor's ticket in 2015 as a sitting senator and had hoped to represent the people of Cross River North in the Red Chamber again, but was defeated by the incumbent, Agom-Jarigbe of the PDP who garnered 76,145 votes while Ayade garnered 56,595.
Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi)
Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State is not only an APC Platform Governor but also the Chairman of the APC Progressive Governors. However, residents of the central senatorial district of Kebbi defeated him to re-elect Senator Adamu Aliero of the PDP.
Adamu Aliero obtained 126,588 votes against incumbent Governor Bagudu, who received 92,389 votes.
Note: The results of National Assembly seats are trickling in and we will most likely see more surprises with the possible removal of lawmakers who have spent more than 20 years as senators.
READ ALSO IN NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
By: Taoheed Adegbite
Following Saturday's presidential election and National Assembly election, at least six incumbent governors have failed in their bid to secure a seat in the Nigerian Senate which has been described as a "retirement home" for former governors.
The governors, after their two terms, lost the elections in their respective constituencies to advance to the 10th National Assembly.
Meanwhile, in 2019, about 20 former governors were elected to the current Ninth National Assembly. Among them, who are still in the race to return to the Red Room, are; Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Orji Kalu (Abia), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano).
However, while some incumbent governors like Governors David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Abubakar Bello (Niger) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) were elected senators in the 10th Assembly, others like Okezie Ikpeazu ( Abia) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) still have their fate pending as they have not yet been announced by the electorate.
Here are the governors who failed in their attempt to move to the "retirement home".
Related News
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State)
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State is a member of the five aggrieved governors of the PDP – dubbed G5 – and lost his bid to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly after being beaten by Okechukwu Ezea of the Labor Party.< /p>
After eight years in power, Ugwuanyi scored 46,948 votes to concede defeat in a landslide victory for Ezea who garnered 104,948 votes to emerge victorious.
Samuel Ortom (Benoue)
Samuel Ortom is another G-5 member seeking a move to the Senate after his eight years as Governor of Benue State expires.
However, Ortom lost his bid to represent Benue North West Senate District in the National Assembly after losing to his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Titus Zam.
While Ortom garnered 106,882 votes, Zam, who was his former appointed aide in 2015, won the election under the APC umbrella after receiving 143,151 votes.
Darius Ishaku (Taraba)
Next is the incumbent PDP Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, who lost his senatorial candidacy to represent Taraba South Senatorial District after losing to APC's David Jimkuta who polled 85,415 to defeat Ishaku who got 45,708 votes.
Simon Lalong (Tray)
Not only did Simon Lalong, who is the chief executive of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), fail to deliver his statement to his party's candidate, but he also made a humble pie in his senatorial candidacy.
Lalong, who is a former chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, lost the bid to clinch the Southern Plateau Senatorial District seat after polling 91,674, losing to Bali Ninkap Napoleon of the PDP who took 148 844 votes.
Ben Ayade (Cross River)
Ben Ayade of Cross River is a professor known for his "crying" and common words for naming state appropriations bills. However, none of the grammars could save his candidacy for retirement to the Senate after completing his eight-year term as governor.
Meanwhile, Ayade won the PDP governor's ticket in 2015 as a sitting senator and had hoped to represent the people of Cross River North in the Red Chamber again, but was defeated by the incumbent, Agom-Jarigbe of the PDP who garnered 76,145 votes while Ayade garnered 56,595.
Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi)
Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State is not only an APC Platform Governor but also the Chairman of the APC Progressive Governors. However, residents of the central senatorial district of Kebbi defeated him to re-elect Senator Adamu Aliero of the PDP.
Adamu Aliero obtained 126,588 votes against incumbent Governor Bagudu, who received 92,389 votes.
Note: The results of National Assembly seats are trickling in and we will most likely see more surprises with the possible removal of lawmakers who have spent more than 20 years as senators.
READ ALSO IN NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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