In the National Assembly elections held on February 25, several long-serving members were re-elected to both the Senate and the House of Representatives. These lawmakers have spent over 20 years in the National Assembly, demonstrating their enduring presence in the federal parliament. The current ninth National Assembly was inaugurated in June 2019, and the 10th Assembly is anticipated to be inaugurated in June 2023. Traditionally, senior members of both chambers often ascend to leadership roles, including the presiding officers such as the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and their respective deputies. Additionally, the principal officers, who lead the majority and minority caucuses, play crucial roles in the governance of the chambers. This group includes the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip, and Deputy Minority Whip. Together, these ten individuals guide the legislative activities of the Senate and the House.
Among the notable figures returning to the Senate is Ahmad Lawan, the incumbent President of the Senate, who has been a member of the National Assembly since 1999. Initially elected to the House, where he served two terms representing the Bade/Jakusko federal constituency in Yobe State, Lawan transitioned to the Senate in 2007, representing Yobe North. He has since been re-elected in 2011, 2015, and 2019, becoming President of the 9th Senate in 2019. His recent re-election was marked by some controversy, as he had previously contested the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but lost. Despite another aspirant, Bashir Machina, winning the party’s senatorial ticket, the APC replaced Machina’s name with Lawan’s, leading to a legal dispute that the Supreme Court ultimately resolved in Lawan’s favor, allowing him to secure a seventh term.
Femi Gbajabiamila, the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, has also been re-elected for his sixth term. He expressed gratitude to his constituents in Surulere federal constituency I in Lagos State upon the announcement of his victory by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Gbajabiamila has been a member of the House since 2003, serving in various leadership roles, including Minority Leader and Majority Leader, before becoming Speaker in 2019. He is notable for being the only lawmaker from the South-West geopolitical zone to have been elected six times to represent his constituency and is recognized as the only lawmaker in Africa to have held such a diverse array of leadership positions.
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, is also joining the 10th Assembly for his sixth term. Ndume has been in the National Assembly since 2003, initially representing the Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza federal constituency before moving to the Senate in 2011. He has previously sought the presidency of the Senate and served as Majority Leader in the eighth Assembly, although he was removed from this position due to political differences with the then President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.
Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, the current Majority Leader of the House, has a long history in Nigerian politics, having first served in the House during the Third Republic. He returned to the Fourth Republic in 2007, representing the Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency in Kano State. Ado-Doguwa has now secured another term, allowing him to continue his legislative work until 2027.
Mohammed Monguno, who has represented Marte/Monguno/Nganzai federal constituency in Borno State, has been elected to the Senate, succeeding Senator Abubakar Kyari. Monguno has a long history in the National Assembly, having first been elected in the Third Republic and returning in 2007. He has made several attempts to secure the speakership of the House but has consistently stepped down in favor of other candidates.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who has represented Abia South since 2007, has returned to the Senate after a brief departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Abaribe, a former Deputy Governor of Abia State, has been a prominent figure in the Senate, serving as Minority Leader until 2022.
Khadijat Bukar Abba-Ibrahim has been re-elected to represent the Damaturu/Gujba/Gulani/Tarmuwa federal constituency in Yobe State. She has been in the House since 2007 and previously served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Abba-Ibrahim comes from a political family, with her husband having served as governor of Yobe State and both having held positions in the National Assembly.
Mukhtar Betara, who represents Biu/Bayo/Shani federal constituency in Borno State, has been re-elected for a fifth term. He currently chairs the House Committee on Appropriation and has been a significant figure in the House since 2007. His constituents have shown strong support for his re-election, indicating aspirations for him to become the next Speaker.
Nicholas Mutu has been a member of the House since 1999, representing Bomadi/Patani federal constituency in Delta State. He previously chaired the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission for a decade, making him one of the longest-serving committee heads. While not a prominent figure in legislative debates, he has been implicated in controversies regarding contracts with the NDDC. As of the time of this report, the election results for his constituency were still pending.
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