Senate As Retirement: 15 Incoming Senators Are Outgoing, or Former Governors

After their two-term tenure of 8 years, most Nigerian governors proceed to the Senate to continue their political careers, even with corruption charges hanging around their necks.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reviewed some of the incoming senators facing corruption charges, here.

Despite the fact that the 9th Assembly is yet to start, there are already many similarities between the 8th and 9th Assembly. Beyond the corruption charges, about 15 senators in the 8th assembly of the Senate were former governors.

This time, about 15 of the incoming Senators for the 9th assembly are either incumbent governors whose tenure will end on May 29, or former governors trying their first hand at lawmaking.

Here are a few incoming senators who have served as governors:

Orji Uzor Kalu:

The former governor of Abia State and senatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu won the election with 30,580 votes, while his closest competition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Mao Ohuabunwa recorded 21,940 votes.

He served as the governor of Abia State between May 29, 1999, and May 29, 2007.

Ibikunle Amosun:

Ibikunle Amosun is the current governor of Ogun State, whose administration ends in May 2019.

He won the Ogun Central senatorial seat with 88,110 votes, defeating Solomon Sanyaolu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 33,276 votes.

He has been the governor of Ogun State since 2011.

Rochas Okorocha:

Rochas Okorocha is the outgoing governor of Imo State.

He was declared Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial zone after he polled a total of 97,762 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jones Onyereri of the PDP who received 63.117 votes.

He assumed office on May 29, 2011.

Theodore Orji:

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Theodore Orji of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the winner of the Abia Central senatorial election.

Mr Orji polled 55,461 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nkechi Nwaogu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 29,860 votes.

He was governor of Abia State assumed office on May 29, 2007, and re-elected in 2011.

Kashim Shettima:

The outgoing governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima won the senatorial seat for Borno Central district.

The governor, whose eight-year tenure ends on May 29 will be the first governor of Borno State to seamlessly transition from the government house to the Senate in the state’s history.

Mr Shettima of the APC polled 109,363 votes to beat other party candidates, including his strongest contender, Muhammed Abba-Aji, of the PDP who received 44,257 votes.

Chimaroke Nnamani:

Former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani won the Enugu East Senatorial Election conducted on Saturday the 23rd of February 2019.

Mr Nnamani of the PDP polled a total of 128,843 votes to beat his closest rival, Lawrence Eze of the APC, who received 14,225 votes.

He was the governor Enugu State between 1999 and 2007.

Danjuma Goje:

Former governor of Gombe state, Danjuma Goje of the APC, has won the seat of Gombe Central Senatorial District for the third time.

Mr Goje polled 110,116 votes to defeat his closest rival, Abubakar Nono of the PDP, who garnered 39,760 votes.

He was elected Governor of Gombe State under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), taking office on the 29th of May, 2003. He governed the state until 2011.

Sam Egwu:

Sam Egwu served as the Governor of Ebonyi State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007

In Ebonyi North Senatorial zone, Sam Egwu of the PDP won his second term bid with 80,711 votes

Ibrahim Shekarau:

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Kano state declared the APC senatorial candidate for Kano Central District, Ibrahim Shekarau, the elected Senator for the zone.

Mr Shekarau scored 506,271 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Aliyu Sani-Madawakingini who polled 276,768 votes.

He was elected governor in April 2003 and reelected in April 2007.

Abdullahi Adamu:

Mr Adamu of the APC won the Nasarawa West senatorial district election with 115,298 votes in the election that was held on Saturday, February 23.

The former governor of Nasarawa State worked between 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.

Aliyu Wamakko:

Mr Wamakko won the re-election in Sokoto State’s North Senatorial District.

The APC candidate defeated PDP Ahmed Muhammad-Maccido, by 172,980 votes to 138,922 votes.

Mr Wamakko was governor between 2007 and 2015.

Tanko Al-Makura:

Also in Nasarawa State, Governor Umaru Al-Makura emerged the winner of Nasarawa South Senatorial district election.

Mr Al-Makura of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 113,156 to defeat Suleiman Adokwe of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 104,595 votes.

He is the outgoing governor of the state.

Ibrahim Geidam:

He is the outgoing governor of Yobe State.

He won the Senatorial seat to represent Yobe East in the last election, after governing his state for two terms.

Abdul’aziz Yari:

INEC declared Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara as the winner of Zamfara West Senatorial election held on Saturday.

Mr Yari of the APC polled 153,626 votes, while Alhaji Lawal Hassan of the PDP received 69,293 votes.

The outgoing governor was elected Governor of Zamfara State in April, 2011.

Adamu Aliero:

He won Kebbi Central senatorial election.

Mr Aliero received 232,000 votes to win the poll.

He was governor of Kebbi State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.

Reactions:

A public affairs analyst, Chigozie Akpan has said that the system does not limit governors.

“While it not totally correct to have these men are there, it is not also wrong. The problem is that they don’t allow others to eat from national cake. That’s just the truth. I don’t see any of them working. They go there to display jokes and come back to their states with lots of money.”

“They know that nobody inspects constituency projects so, they love the place. If not, I see no reason for someone to finish as a governor as proceed to senate.”

Another Public Affairs Analyst at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, remarked that Nigeria is practising government of the ‘rich.’

“We are running government of the rich and that’s why it is difficult for anyone to just contest and win. They have the money to campaign from all they’ve stolen and that makes them find their way to the Senate easily.”