At least five outgoing governors failed in their attempts to cross over to Nigeria’s Senate after their two-term tenure of eight years each.
The outgoing governors lost the February 25 National Assembly elections in their respective senatorial districts.
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 after years of military rule, the National Assembly which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives has been described as a ‘retirement home’ for former governors who ride on the power of incumbency to win elections into the red and green legislative chambers.
About 20 former governors were elected into the Ninth National Assembly in 2019. Former governors presently in the National Assembly include Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Orji Kalu (Abia), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), amongst others.
Notably, all of them are in the race to return to the red chamber.
Already, Governors David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abubakar Bello (Niger), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) won Saturday’s parliamentary election. The results of others like Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) are yet to be announced by the electoral body. Ex-governors who won senatorial seats so far include Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom
