2023 Elections: Ortom, Lalong, Other Outgoing Governors Who Lost Senatorial Bid

At least six outgoing governors failed in their attempts to cross over to Nigeria’s Senate after their two-term tenure of eight years each.

The defeat is beyond party lines as two APC governors also lost their senatorial bid. One of them is Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong who is also the Director General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

The political heavyweight and former chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum lost the bid to clinch the Plateau South Senatorial District slot.

He lost to Bali Ninkap Napoleon of the PDP who scored 148,844 votes while the governor polled 91,674.

Ayade

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River also suffered a fatal defeat in his bid to return to the Senate after completing his eight-year tenure as governor.

Ayade, who was in the Senate from 2011 to 2015, had hoped to return to the role as Senator representing cross River North but he was defeated by the incumbent, Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.

PDP’s Agom-Jarigbe got 76,145 votes while Ayade polled 56,595.

Bagudu

Another APC governor, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State also lost his bid to represent Kebbi Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming 10 National Assembly. He lost to Senator Adamu Aliero.

Announcing the result in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State capital, the Returning Officer, Abbas Bazata declared the PDP candidate, Adamu Aliero winner having scored 126,588 votes as against Bagudu, the Chairman APC  Progressives Governors Forum who scored 92,389 votes.

The Taraba State Governor,  Darius Ishaku, has lost the election for the Taraba South senatorial district to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, David Jimkuta.

Declaring the results of the election on Monday in Wukari, the INEC returning officer for the election Prof. Solomon Adeyeye said Jimkuta polled 85,415 votes to defeat Governor Darius of the PDP who polled 45,708 votes.

3 out of G5 Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who vowed to retire the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar politically may have gotten their own share of the heartbreak.

Ortom

The Benue Governor lost the senatorial election to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Titus Zam, his former Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Zam, a strong disciple of the former governor of the state, George Akume, polled 143,151 votes to defeat Ortom who scored 106,882.

Ugwuanyi

Another member of the G5, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State lost his bid to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

Ugwuanyi was defeated by Okechukwu Ezea of the Labour Party in the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday.

While Ezea scored 104,948 votes to emerge the winner, Ugwuanyi came second with 46,948 votes.

Ikpeazu

Abia Governor, INEC on Tuesday declared the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Enyinnaya Abaribe the winner of Saturday’s senatorial election in Abia South District.

The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Chinedu Onyeizu, scored 43,903, while Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party scored 28,422 votes to come third.

Makinde

The Oyo State governor who is preparing for his possible re-election on March 11 under the PDP, lost all the three senatorial districts to the ruling party.