In this piece, Leke Baiyewu examines the recent National Assembly elections held on Saturday, which signified the end of the legislative careers for several prominent members. As the ninth National Assembly concludes in June, numerous lawmakers will exit the federal parliament, either due to their failure to secure nominations from their political parties or losses to their opponents in the Senate and House elections that took place on February 25, 2023. This article highlights some of the ranking lawmakers who will not be returning to their respective chambers after June 2023.
Senator Kabiru Gaya, who has represented the Kano South Senatorial District since 2007, lost his bid for a fifth term. Gaya, a former governor of Kano State during the Third Republic, was defeated by Kawu Sumaila of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, who previously served as a Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters. Similarly, Senator James Manager, who has represented Delta South Senatorial District since 2003, will not be part of the 10th Assembly due to his ambition to run for governor. A viral photograph of Manager kneeling before former Delta State Governor James Ibori, a political godfather of the PDP, added to the intrigue surrounding his political journey.
The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, also faces an uncertain future. Representing the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency in Bauchi State since 2007, Dogara has had a tumultuous political career marked by multiple party defections. Although he was re-elected to the House on the PDP platform, he did not contest for his seat in the recent elections. Senator Ike Ekweremadu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, is another notable figure leaving the Senate. Serving since 2003, Ekweremadu has held the position of Deputy President of the Senate for an unprecedented 12 years. He announced his retirement in 2023 after losing the PDP governorship ticket and is currently facing legal challenges in the UK related to human trafficking and organ harvesting allegations.
Leo Ogor, who has represented the Isoko-North/Isoko-South Federal Constituency since 2003, will also exit the House. As a former Deputy Majority Leader and Minority Leader, Ogor was known for his leadership during contentious debates. Philip Aduda, a member of the PDP since 2003, will not return to the National Assembly after losing his bid for a fourth term as Senator for the FCT to Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party. Nicholas Ossai, representing Ndokwa-East/Ndokwa-West/Ukwani federal constituency since 2011, is recognized for his contributions to legislative debates and has sponsored numerous bills. However, he too failed to secure a return ticket on the PDP platform.
Uzoma Abonta, a lawyer representing Ukwa-East/Ukwa-West federal constituency in Abia State since 2007, is another experienced legislator leaving the House after failing to secure a return ticket. Senator Abiodun Olujimi, a former deputy governor of Ekiti State, has represented Ekiti South Senatorial District since 2015 and was the Minority Leader in the current Assembly. Despite her efforts to promote female participation in politics, she lost her re-election bid to an APC candidate. Toby Okechukwu, the incumbent Deputy Minority Leader of the House, also failed to obtain the PDP’s ticket for re-election, marking the end of his tenure representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency since 2011.
The turnover of lawmakers raises important questions about the dynamics within Nigeria’s political landscape. Since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, Nigeria has witnessed the leadership of four presidents while the National Assembly comprises 109 senators and 360 representatives. Despite the competition for these influential positions, some lawmakers manage to maintain their seats, while others face significant challenges. Political analysts are divided on whether long-serving lawmakers provide valuable institutional memory or if fresh faces are necessary for progress.
Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, has expressed concerns regarding the high turnover of lawmakers, which he attributes to various factors, including the influence of state governors over party primaries. He noted that approximately 130 members of the House failed to secure their party’s ticket in the recent primaries, potentially leading to the highest turnover rate since 1999. Sulaiman emphasized the need for constitutional amendments to address these issues and prevent the legislature from becoming a retirement home for former governors and executives.
Speaker of the House Femi Gbajabiamila echoed these sentiments, criticizing the excessive influence of governors in determining legislative candidates. He highlighted the detrimental effects of such practices on democracy and the importance of maintaining an independent legislature. The high turnover of legislators, he noted, is largely a consequence of the governors’ roles in the political landscape. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to ensure that the interests of the Nigerian people are prioritized over the ambitions of powerful political figures.
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