By Emeka Alex Duru
Baring contrary pronouncements from the Courts, some prominent members of the National Assembly, especially in the Senate, may not return to their seats when the next session is inaugurated in June.
Some of the Senators, based on existing understanding in their Senatorial Districts and other reasons, did not offer themselves for re-election.
In this class, is erstwhile Senate President, David Mark, who gives way for former Internal Affairs Minister, Abba Moro, for Benue South Senatorial District. Ben Murray-Bruce, who represents Bayelsa East, is also in this league.
Some however failed to get reelected into the upper lawmaking chambers. Leading the pack, is Senate President and Director-General of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Council, Bukola Saraki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who lost his Kwara Central District to Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oloriegbe polled a total of 123,808 votes to beat Saraki who scored 68,994 votes in the four local governments of the Senatorial District.
For the Senate President, the outcome marks an anti-climax to a glorious political career that had seen him at the frontline of Kwara politics in the last 16 years during which he had been governor twice and senator, on two occasions. With the latest development, Saraki’s next move remains a subject of conjectures.
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, who represents Abia North, is also another face to be missed. He lost to former governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ohuabunwa, who entered the National Assembly from the House of Representatives, had made impressive outings when he was at the green chambers. But on coming to the Senate, he has not been that vibrant, at least at the plenary, hence his lost to Kalu, with whom he had stiff challenge four years ago, did not come as a surprise to many.
Mao Ohuabunwa
Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, equally lost to his arch rival, Uche Ekwunife of the PDP. This would be the second time Ekwunife would be humiliating Umeh on the field.
In 2015, results from the polls had given the victory to Ekwunife. Umeh however regained the seat, almost three years after, through the Courts. With the current situation, Ekwunife, who had had good outings at the House of Representatives, has asserted her superiority over the senator. Poor leadership, internal squabbles and intrigues in Umeh’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) accounted mostly for his loss. In the build-up to the election, the party, in a bizarre manner, elbowed out known aspirants of various positions in the party and in their places, brought in even non-members and handed them tickets. The sordid politics resonated in the five states of the South East. Thus disenchanted by the wired brand of politics, hitherto committed members of the party were either forced out of its fold or remained behind and worked against it. Rightly or wrongly, many fingered Umeh in the sordid act.
Victor Umeh
The unprincipled stance of the Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, in dumping the party’s Presidential Candidate, General Gbor in support of President Muhammadu Buhari, also worked against APGA candidates, including Umeh. Thus humbled and denied a chance for return to the senate, Umeh’s next political move becomes uncertain.
Andy Ubah, who represents Anambra South on the ticket of APC, is equally giving to Ifeanyi Uba of the Young Progressives Party (YPP). Uba was among the victims of the APGA senseless politics, as he was disqualified from going for the senatorial primary on spurious grounds. Rejected and frustrated, Uba, a grassroots politician, crossed over to YPP from where he defeated APGA candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, and Chris Ubah of the PDP.
In Ondo, Donald Alasuadura of the APC, lost to the PDP candidate, Pius Akintelure. In Kaduna, erstwhile activist, Shehu Sani, of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), who had been having running battles with the governor, Nasir el-Rufai, lost in his return bid. His supporters blame his poor outing on the machinations of the governor, who drove him out of APC. There are other senators that will not return.
