2023 Senate elections in Kogi
2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Kogi State
| ← 2019 |
25 February 2023 |
2027 → |
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All 3 Kogi State seats in the Senate of Nigeria |
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Majority party
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| Party
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APC
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| Last election
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3
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| Seats before
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3
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 APC incumbent retiring or lost renomination
APC incumbent running for re-election |
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Kogi State were held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Kogi State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections coincided with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
Background
In terms of the previous Senate elections, none of the three incumbent senators were returned as Ahmed Ogembe (PDP-Central) lost re-election and Isaac Alfa (PDP-East) retired from the Senate while Dino Melaye (PDP-West) initially was re-elected but lost the rerun election. In the Central district, Yakubu Oseni (APC) unseated Ogembe with 53% of the vote while Jibrin Isah (APC) won the East district with 55%. In the West district, the original election was won by Melaye but it was annulled leading to a rerun election where Smart Adeyemi (APC) took 55% to unseat Melaye. The senatorial results were an example of APC gains in the state as the party also gained several House of Representatives seats; it also won a majority in the House of Assembly and Buhari won the state in the presidential election. Later in 2019, incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello controversially won the gubernatorial election.
Overview
| Affiliation
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Party
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Total
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| APC
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| Previous Election
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3
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3
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| Before Election
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3
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3
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| After Election
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3
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3
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Summary
This table is an excerpt from 2023 Nigerian Senate election § Kogi State.
Kogi Central
2023 Kogi Central Senatorial District election
| ← 2019 |
25 February 2023 |
2027 → |
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The Kogi Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene, and Ogori/Magongo. The district largely corresponds with Ebiraland, the cultural region of the Ebira people; the district also has significant non-Ebira ethnic minorities (mainly Gbagyi and Nupe peoples). Incumbent Yakubu Oseni (APC), who was elected with 52.9% of the vote in 2019, declined to seek re-election.
Primary elections
All Progressives Congress
On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May. After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.
In late April, reports revealed that Oseni had not purchased primary forms due to Governor Yahaya Bello's endorsement of former commissioner Abubakar Sadiku Ohere for the seat. On the primary date, Ohere was nominated over Ramat Tijani Atta and Dalhatu Sheriff by a wide margin; however, both losing aspirants rejected the process and staged a walkout.
People's Democratic Party
On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May; challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.
On the primary date, two candidates contested an indirect primary in Okene that ended with Natasha Akpoti—SDP nominee in 2019—winning the nomination after results showed her defeating Adamu Mahmoud Atta by a significant margin. Akpoti had defected from the SDP in March 2022. Although Atta contested the results, a Federal High Court dismissed his lawsuit in August and his appeal was dismissed by an Appeal Court in November.
Campaign
A few weeks after the start of the official campaign period in late September, the senate race rose to national attention due to a public spat between Akpoti and Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello (APC). The feud began in late October when Okene Local Government Chairman Abdulrazak M. Yusuf (APC) ordered the Okene PDP office to close; sources claimed that it was an order from Bello, who wanted to hurt Akpoti's campaign in her home LGA. The state PDP rejected the order by claiming the order was an unconstitutional infringement on the right to assembly in addition to stating that a local government chairman did not have the right to shutter a building by fiat. Later that week, Bello directly entered the dispute by releasing a statement that called for Akpoti, her husband, and local PDP leaders to be questioned by security forces over alleged ties to terrorism. In response, Akpoti said she was open to questioning but requested that Bello also be invited; she also dismissed the allegations as politically-motivated as the previous APC attack line—that Akpoti was unmarried—no longer worked after her wedding in early 2022.
The contentious campaigning worsened into violence in early December when Akpoti's formal campaign commencement was attacked, injuring multiple people. The Akpoti campaign blamed Bello and the APC, accusing them of sponsoring the assailants. The next month, Akpoti received the endorsement of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim despite a reported threat by Bello against traditional leaders supportive of non-APC candidates. On the day prior to Election Day, the Bello administration destroyed roads leading to Akpoti's hometown in an alleged attempt to prevent INEC officials from reaching the community.
General election
Results
Kogi East
2023 Kogi East Senatorial District election
| ← 2019 |
25 February 2023 |
2027 → |
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The Kogi East Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu, Ofu, Olamaboro, and Omala. The district largely corresponds with Igalaland (Anẹ Igáláà), the cultural region of the Igala people; the district also has significant non-Igala ethnic minorities (mainly Agatu, Basa-Komo, Idoma, Igala, and Igbo groups). Incumbent Jibrin Isah (APC), who was elected with 54.5% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.
Primary elections
All Progressives Congress
On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May. After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.
In the primary, Isah defeated Yahaya Audu—brother of former Governor Abubakar Audu—by a wide margin; however, Audu rejected the results as fabricated and claimed that both him and his agent were denied entry to the primary venue.
People's Democratic Party
On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May; challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.
On the primary date, an indirect primary resulted in Victor Alewo Adoji winning the nomination after results showed him defeating runner-up Aminu Abubakar Suleiman by a significant margin.
General election
Results
Kogi West
2023 Kogi West Senatorial District election
| ← 2019 |
25 February 2023 |
2027 → |
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The Kogi West Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ijumu, Kabba/Bunu, Kogi, Lokoja, Mopa Muro, Yagba East, and Yagba West. The district largely corresponds with Okunland, the cultural region of the Okun Yoruba subgroup; the district also has significant non-Okun minorities (mainly fellow Yoruba subgroups like the Ogori, Oworo, and Magongo subgroups along with Gbagyi and Nupe ethnicities). In the regularly scheduled 2019 election, Dino Melaye (PDP) won with 53% of the vote and was sworn in as senator in June; however, the election was annulled in August and a rerun was held in November. Smart Adeyemi (APC) was elected with 54.9% of the vote in the rerun election. Adeyemi sought re-election but lost the APC nomination.
Primary elections
All Progressives Congress
On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May. After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.
The primary, held in Kabba, resulted in Adeyemi losing renomination to Sunday Karimi—former House of Representatives member for Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro. Karimi received 288 votes compared to runner-up Aina's 73 votes and third place Adeyemi's 43 votes. The next month, Adeyemi thanked five delegates for returning his bribes; later that month, Adeyemi rejected the results while claiming that Governor Yahaya Bello tried to force him to withdraw and the primary itself was manipulated.
People's Democratic Party
On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May; challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.
The original primary resulted in a tie between former Senator Dino Melaye and MHR Tajudeen Yusuf with Sam Aro in third position. A rerun primary was held on 24 May with only Melaye and Yusuf as candidates; Yusuf was nominated by a wide margin as Aro-supporting delegates switched to him. Melaye accepted the result and congratulated Yusuf but lamented the "gang-up" against him. Pundits viewed the primary as a proxy battle between two PDP presidential candidates as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar supported Melaye while Rivers State Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike backed Yusuf.
General election
Results
Notes
- ^ In the regularly scheduled 2019 election for Kogi West, Dino Melaye (PDP) was originally elected Senator and was sworn in alongside other senators in June of that year. However, an August Election Petition Tribunal ruling and October Appeal Court decision annulled the election; the rerun was held in November 2019 and was won by Smart Adeyemi (APC).
See also
References
- ^ Obahopo, Boluwaji. "Tribunal sacks Dino as Kogi West Senator". Vanguard. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- Yahaya, Halimah. "Dino Melaye loses again, Appeal Court upholds sack from Senate". Premium Times. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- ^ Jimoh, Yekini (28 May 2022). "Controversy Trails Kogi APC East, Central Senatorial Primaries". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- Oyewale, Ibrahim. "Natasha Picks PDP Kogi Central Senatorial District's Ticket". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- "PDP Primaries: Victor Adoji Wins Kogi East Senatorial Ticket". Kogi Reports. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- Akinfehinwa, John (28 May 2022). "Kogi West 2023: Smart Adeyemi loses fourth term bid to Senate". Daily Post. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- Obahopo, Boluwaji (24 May 2022). "PDP Primaries: Dino Melaye fails to secure PDP Ticket, loses rerun to Reps Member, TJ Yusuf". Vanguard. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- "BREAKING: Atiku's Candidate, Dino Melaye Loses PDP Senatorial Ticket To Rivers Governor, Wike's Candidate, TJ Yusuf". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ Angbulu, Stephen; Ayeni, Victor; Dada, Peter; Naku, Dennis; Ede, Raphael (21 April 2022). "Presidential primary: APC silent on zoning, Nigerians condemn N100m nomination fee". The Punch. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ APC Nigeria (May 11, 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ APC Nigeria (May 18, 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Twitter.
- "Smart, Echocho Pick Nomination Forms; Embattled Oseni Undecided". Ebira Reporters. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ Jimoh, Yekini. "Controversy Trails Kogi APC East, Central Senatorial Primaries". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- Adeyemi, Emmanuel. "Kogi APC Senatorial Primary: Female aspirant calls for cancellation of results". The Sun. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ Official PDP Nigeria (May 5, 2022). "2023 General Elections: @OfficialPDPNig updated Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections. See below" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 May 2022 – via Twitter.
- Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Oyewale, Ibrahim. "Natasha Picks PDP Kogi Central Senatorial District's Ticket". ThisDay. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- Odogun, Gbenga. "Kogi SDP ex-gov candidate, Akpoti, chairman defect to PDP". The Punch. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- Oyeyemi, Fadehan. "Court dismisses suit against Kogi Central Senatorial candidate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan". Daily Post. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- Ugwu, Francis. "Appeal Court upholds PDP's Akpoti-Uduaghan's candidacy for Kogi Central". Daily Post. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- "Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello Shuts Down Opposition PDP Office In Okene To Weaken Natasha Akpoti's Chances For Senate Seat". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- "Kogi PDP Replies Governor Yahaya Bello's Stooge, Rejects One-Week Ultimatum To Vacate Okene Secretariat". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- "Terrorism: Governor Yahaya Bello Must Be Questioned Over Links To Suspects Involved In Owo Massacre, Kuje Prison Attack – PDP Candidate, Natasha Akpoti". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- Akoni, Olasunkanmi. "Terrorism sponsor: Kogi govt, Natasha in war of words". Vanguard. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- "One Shot, Many Injured As Thugs Working For Governor Bello Attack Natasha Akpoti's Senatorial Campaign Flag-Off In Kogi". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- "Campaign Organisation Of PDP Senatorial Candidate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Laments Attack, Shooting Of Supporters By APC Loyalists In Kogi". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- "Kogi Monarch Backs PDP Senatorial Candidate, Natasha Akpoti Amid Threats From Governor Yahaya Bello". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- Mom, Claire. "'Security measure' | 'Voters trapped' — Kogi government, Akpoti clash over road excavation amid polls". TheCable. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Akinpelu, Yusuf. "INEC declares Smart Adeyemi winner of Kogi West senatorial election". Premium Times. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ Akinfehinwa, John. "Kogi West 2023: Smart Adeyemi loses fourth term bid to Senate". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- Salau, Abdullateef. "Kogi Senator Offers Hajj Slots To Delegates Who Returned Cash After Voting Against Him". Daily Trust. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- Aborisade, Sunday. "Kogi West Primary: Adeyemi Rejects Result, Petitions Adamu". ThisDay. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Jimoh, Yekini. "Kogi West PDP Senatorial Primary Ends In Deadlock". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ Obahopo, Boluwaji. "PDP Primaries: Dino Melaye fails to secure PDP Ticket, loses rerun to Reps Member, TJ Yusuf". Vanguard. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- Oyeleke, Sodiq. "Why I lost PDP primary in Kogi -Dino Melaye". The Punch. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- "BREAKING: Atiku's Candidate, Dino Melaye Loses PDP Senatorial Ticket To Rivers Governor, Wike's Candidate, TJ Yusuf". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
Categories:
APC incumbent retiring or lost renomination
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