- According to strong indications, 42 current serving senators will not return to the red chamber in 2019
- 19 out of the 42 senators voluntarily withdrew from the senatorial race while the remaining 23 actually bidded for tickets but lost out due to various issues
- Out of the 23 who actually bidded, some were opposed by their state governors who did not want them to return to the upper legislative chambers
- 67 of the serving lawmakers in the 8th Senate will battle it out to return to the Senate
Indications have reportedly emerged, showing that 42 of the 109 serving senators will not return to the chamber to resume for the 9th Senate, which would be inaugurated in June 2019.
Among the 42 affected senators are those who stepped down from the race on their own, and those who were forced to step down following political shenanigans within their parties, Vanguard reports.
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NAIJ.com gathers that a further breakdown of the statistics showed that 19 out of the 42 senators voluntarily withdrew from the senatorial race at primary level or went for other elective positions, particularly governorship primaries. The remaining 23 actually bidded for senatorial tickets on the platform of their political parties, but lost out due to various issues.
The 19 serving senators who voluntarily bowed out of the race or went for governorship race or for presidential primary elections are Senators Ahmed Sani (APC-Zamfara East), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (APC-Yobe East), Abu Ibrahim (APC-Katsina South), Abubakar Kyari (APC-Borno North ) and Kaka Gabbai (APC-Borno Central).
In this batch, others include Senators Jonah Jang (PDP-Plateau North), Jeremiah Useni (PDP-Plateau South ), David Mark (PDP-Benue South), Philip Gyunka (PDP-Nasarawa North), Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo East), Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako (ADC-Adamawa Central) and Usman Bayero Nafada (PDP-Gombe North).
Also in this category are Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara Central), Shaaba Lafiagi (PDP-Kwara North), Isiaka Adeleke (PDP-Osun West), Sonny Ogborji (APC-Ebonyi Central), John Enoh (APC-Cross River Central), Gbolahan Dada (APC-Ogun West) and Hope Uzodinma (APC-Imo West).
Out of the 23 who actually bidded, some were opposed by their state governors who did not want them to return to the upper legislative chambers.
A case at hand is that of Niger state where the governor, Sani Bello, has put in place a political machinery to ensure that two senators from the state, Senators Aliyu Sabi (Niger North) and David Umaru (Niger East), do not return to the Senate.
Also included in the category of 23 serving senators who contested for return tickets but lost are Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos East), Lanre Tejuoso (APC-Ogun Central), Fatima Raji Rasaki (APC-Ekiti Central), Sola Adeyeye (APC-Osun Central) and Babajide Omoworare (APC-Osun East).
Others are Rilwan Akanbi (APC-Oyo South), Gilbert Nnaji (PDP-Enugu East), Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa Central), Fosta Ogola (PDP-Bayelsa South) and Ahmed Abubakar (APC-Adamawa South).
Also, Senators Rafiu Ibrahim (PDP-Kwara South), Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC-Niger North), David Umoru (APC-Niger East) and Joshua Dariye (APC-Plateau Central) who is currently serving a jail term in Kuje Prison, Abuja, are included in this category.
67 of the serving lawmakers in the 8th Senate will battle it out to return to the Senate.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Gbenga Obadara, an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the Ogun Central senatorial district seat, withdrew from the race.
In a press statement, Obadara said his withdrawal was because the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, had declared interest to run for the seat.
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Source: Naija.ng