2023 Nigerian Senate election in the Federal Capital Territory

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2023 Nigerian Senate election in the Federal Capital Territory
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
Registered1,570,307
 
Nominee Angulu Zakari Anthony Ezekwugo
Party APC APGA
 
Nominee Ireti Kingibe Philips Tanimu Aduda
Party LP PDP
     PDP incumbent running for re-election
Senator before election

Philips Tanimu Aduda
PDP

Elected Senator

TBD

The 2023 Nigerian Senate election in the Federal Capital Territory will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the single federal Senator from the Federal Capital Territory, with the senatorial district being coterminous with the Territory at-large. The election will coincide 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 with incumbent Senator Philips Tanimu Aduda being renominated by the Peoples Democratic Party while the All Progressives Congress nominated Angulu Zakari—former House of Representatives member for Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje.[1][2]

Background

The Federal Capital Territory Senatorial District covers the entire territory and its local government areas of Abaji, Abuja, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. The incumbent Philips Tanimu Aduda (PDP) was re-elected with 61.4% votes in 2019 and is seeking re-election. In other elections in the territory, the state was easily won by PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar, in addition to the PDP gaining both of the House of Representatives seats. Similarly, in 2022, the PDP won most of the councillors election but split the area council chairmanships in the local elections. At the start of the 2019–2023 term, Aduda retained his position as Minority Whip.[3] He then became Minority Leader in June 2022 to replace the defecting Abia South Senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe.[4]

Overview

Affiliation Party Total
PDP LP
Previous Election 1 0 1
Before Election 1 0 1
After Election 0 1 1

Summary

This table is an excerpt from 2023 Nigerian Senate election § Federal Capital Territory.[edit]
District Incumbent Results
Incumbent Party Status Candidates
FCT Philips Tanimu Aduda PDP Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected
LP gain

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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11][12][13]

On the date of the primary, the primary committee chairman noted discrepancies in the delegate lists before postponing the vote until the next day;[14] earlier on 27 May, a candidate—former Senator Nkechi Nwogu—withdrew over the state party's internal crisis.[15] On 28 May, Samuel Onuigbo—House of Representatives member for Umuahia North/Umuahia South/Ikwuano—won the primary, defeating former Commissioner for Industry Henry Ikoh by a 2% margin.[16] However, in the weeks after the primary, a plan to substitute in Emeka Atuma as the nominee was concocted by some state APC leadership members;[17] the plan went into motion in June when a 7 June rerun primary was won by Atuma and the APC submitted its list of senatorial nominees to INEC with Atuma instead of Onuigbo.[18] In response, Onuigbo sued before a High Court in Abuja to stop the substitution plot.[19] Although the court dismissed Onuigbo's lawsuit in October, his appeal was successful as a late December Court of Appeal judgment ordered INEC to recognize him as the APC nominee.[20][21][22] As both politicians awaited the Supreme Court ruling in late January, some elements of the Abia APC (including the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation) continued to label Atuma as the Central senatorial nominee.[23] However, the apex court upheld the Court of Appeal judgment and maintained Onuigbo as the valid nominee.[24]

On the primary date, an indirect primary at the National Women Centre in Abuja resulted in victory for Angulu Zakari—former House of Representatives member for Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje.[2] Results showed Zakari defeating first runner-up Dayo Benjamins-Laniyi by a 81% margin but controversy arose immediately as party members protested that the primary had been manipulated in favour of Zakari. Members critical of the primary conduct noted the sudden shift in the primary venue from the advertised Moshood Abiola National Stadium to the Women Centre in addition to the purported failure to publish the delegates' list or the voters' register. Benjamins-Laniyi supporters decried the imposition of Zakari as an example of the APC's failure to provide fair opportunities for women candidates but the primary's electoral committee chairman claimed that the election was free and fair.[25][26]

APC primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Angulu Zakari 277 90.22%
APC Dayo Benjamins-Laniyi 28 9.12%
APC Zaphaniah Jisalo 1 0.33%
APC Usman Jibrin Wowo 1 0.33%
Total votes 307 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 2 N/A
Turnout 309 100.00%

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.[27] 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;[28] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[29][30][31][32]

On the primary date, the screened candidates contested an indirect primary that ended in Austin Akobundu's victory. Akobundu, the former Minister of State for Defense, won with nearly 99% of the votes cast and electoral officer Amah Abraham labeled the primary as free, fair, and peaceful.[33][34]

The primary, held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, resulted in the renomination of Aduda after his two challengers stepped down for him. In his acceptance speech, Aduda thanked the electoral committee for ensuring peaceful primaries and assured his constituents of good representation.[1][35]

Campaign

As campaigning intensified in late 2022, OrderPaper Nigeria organized a town hall for FCT National Assembly candidates on 5 December. While minor party candidates gave speeches and offered proposals, both Aduda and Zakari did not attend the event.[36] By early February, reporting showed that Aduda and Zakari were no longer the only major candidates as Ireti Kingibe—the LP nominee who is the wife of Baba Gana Kingibe and sister of former First Lady Ajoke Muhammed—and Anthony Ezekwugo—the APGA nominee. Pundits focused on Aduda's strength in rural areas, Zakari's reliance on the votes of his native Gwagwalada, Kingibe's boost from supporters of Peter Obi, and Ezekwugo's targeting of non-indigenes originally from the South-East. Overall, it was noted that Aduda, Kingibe, and Ezekwugo were targeting the same formerly PDP base thus the split could help Zakari.[37]

Election debates and town halls

2023 Nigerian Senate election in the Federal Capital Territory debates and town halls
Date Organisers     P  Present[lower-alpha 1]    S  Surrogate[lower-alpha 2]  
 NI  Not invited   A  Absent invitee 
A ADC APC LP NRM PDP SDP Other parties Ref.
5 December 2022 OrderPaper Nigeria P
Yusuf 		P
Obasi 		A
Zakari 		P
Kingibe 		P
Enwerem 		A
Aduda 		P
Osho 		A
Multiple 		[36]

General election

Results

2023 Federal Capital Territory Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
A Abdulkarim Saulawa Yusuf
AA Jidejisos Josiah Ejie
ADC Paul Smith Obasi
APC Angulu Zakari 78,905
APGA Chikelue Anthony Ezekwugo
APM Chekwubechukwu Simon Ekwe
LP Ireti Kingibe 202,175
NRM Samuel Akaolisa Enwerem
New Nigeria Peoples Party Mubarak Ahmad Tijjani
PDP Philips Tanimu Aduda 100,544
SDP Olanrewaju Lawrence Osho
YPP Mohammed Mukhtar Mahamud
ZLP Swani D. Buba
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

By federal constituency

The results of the election by federal constituency.

Federal Constituency Angulu Zakari
APC 		Philips Tanimu Aduda
PDP 		Others Total Valid Votes
Votes Percentage Votes Percentage Votes Percentage
Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje Federal Constituency[lower-alpha 3] TBD % TBD % TBD % TBD
AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency[lower-alpha 4] TBD % TBD % TBD % TBD
Totals TBD % TBD % TBD % TBD

By local government area

The results of the election by local government area.

LGA Angulu Zakari
APC 		Philips Tanimu Aduda
PDP 		Others Total Valid Votes Turnout Percentage
Votes Percentage Votes Percentage Votes Percentage
Abaji TBA % TBA % TBA % TBA %
Abuja TBA % TBA % TBA % TBA %
Bwari TBA % TBA % TBA % TBA %
Gwagwalada TBA % TBA % TBA % TBA %
Kuje TBA % TBA % TBA % TBA %
Kwali TBA % TBA % TBA % TBA %
Totals TBA % TBA % TBA % TBA %

Notes

  1. ↑ Denotes a party senatorial nominee attending the event.
  2. ↑ Denotes a party senatorial nominee not attending the event, sending a surrogate in their place.
  3. ↑ Comprising the local government areas of Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kwali, and Kuje.
  4. ↑ Comprising the local government areas of Abuja and Bwari.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Isah, Abubakar Sadiq. "2023: Aduda Wins PDP Ticket For FCT Senate". Daily Trust. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Muhammad, Abdullahi. "Dobi emerges FCT APC senatorial candidate". Blueprint Newspaper. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  3. ↑ Umoru, Henry. "Senate: Abaribe is Minority Leader; Bwacha, deputy; Aduda, chief whip; Ordia, dep whip". Vanguard. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. ↑ Shibayan, Dyepkazah. "PDP nominates Philip Aduda as senate minority leader". TheCable. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  5. ↑ Muhammad, Abdullahi (29 May 2022). "Dobi emerges FCT APC senatorial candidate". Blueprint Newspaper. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  7. ↑ Isah, Abubakar Sadiq (23 May 2022). "2023: Aduda Wins PDP Ticket For FCT Senate". Daily Trust. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  10. ↑ Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 11, 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 18, 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ "APC postpones Abia Central Senatorial primary as Nwogu withdraws". Peoples Gazette. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  15. ↑ Oko, Steve. "JUS IN: Nkechi Nwogu withdraws from Abia senatorial race". Vanguard. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Sam Onuigbo Wins Abia Central APC Senatorial Ticket". ABN TV. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  17. ↑ Ezimakor, Tony. "Crisis Looms As APC NWC Moves To Alter Result Of Abia Central Senatorial District". Independent Nigeria. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  18. ↑ Omogbolagun, Tope. "Full list: APC submits senatorial candidates' names to INEC". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  19. ↑ Emeruwa, Chijindu. "Abia 2023: Senatorial Candidate, Sam Onuigbo asks Court to stop APC, INEC from substituting his name". Daily Post. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  20. ↑ Shuaibu, Ibrahim; Ugwu-Nwogo, Emmanuel. "2023: Court Clears Way for APC's Abia Central Senate Candidate". ThisDay. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  21. ↑ Stanley, Iro Oliver. "Appeal Court Sacks Emeka Atuma, Affirms Sam Onuigbo As APC Abia Central Senatorial Candidate". The Whistler. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  22. ↑ "INEC Enlists Sam Onuigbo As Abia Central APC Senatorial Candidate". ABN TV. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  23. ↑ "Concerns In Abia APC Over Candidate Substitution Plot". Leadership. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  24. ↑ Sobechi, Leo. "How Onuigbo, Electoral Act 2022 survived legal ambush". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  25. ↑ Yahaya, Hussein. "Why Adedayo, Others Not Satisfied With FCT APC Senate Primaries". Daily Trust. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  26. ↑ "APC And FCT Senatorial Contest". Leadership. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  27. ↑ Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  28. ↑ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  29. ↑ Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  30. ↑ Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  31. ↑ Official PDP Nigeria [@OfficialPDPNig] (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.
  32. ↑ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  33. ↑ Nwosu, Uche. "Col. Akobundu Emerges PDP Flag Bearer For Abia Central Senatorial District". Independent Nigeria. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  34. ↑ Oko, Steve. "Ikpeazu, Akobundu win PDP tickets in Abia". Vanguard. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  35. ↑ Bajah, Lawrence. "Senator Aduda Emerges PDP Senatorial Candidate For Fourth Time In FCT". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Atime, Elizabeth. "Aduda, Angulu absent as OrderPaper holds Townhall for FCT NASS candidates". OrderPaper Nigeria. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  37. ↑ Seye, Abdul. "2023: Can Obedient movement determine FCT Senate race". Daily Post. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
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