In this piece our correspondents examine how several governors lost their senatorial bids after being defeated by opposition candidates in their respective districts – a setback that represents one‑third of the states they govern. In Nigeria, governors wield considerable influence and often shape electoral outcomes. During recent elections, a presidential candidate’s chances were seen as partly dependent on the number of governors backing them, because governors seemed able to deliver their states’ votes. However, the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections revealed that some governors could not “deliver” for their preferred presidential candidates, and those with senatorial ambitions were beaten by opposition contenders. For the losers, the defeat also signaled an inability to win even a third of their states after eight years in office.
**Zam vs. Gov. Ortom (Benue)**
Dr. Titus Zam, a member of the All Progressives Congress, is the senator‑elect for Benue North‑West, having defeated his former boss, incumbent governor Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party. Zam, 54, served as Ortom’s Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs from 2015 to 2018 before being relieved of duty, reportedly because he refused to follow Ortom to the PDP after the governor’s defection from the APC. Zam secured 143,151 votes to Ortom’s 106,882. A PhD holder in political science and former civil servant, Zam had earlier been appointed by former Governor George Akume as Transition Committee Chairman of Gwer‑West Local Government and served in the state APC chapter before joining Ortom’s administration. He attributed his victory to the governor’s poor performance, citing unpaid pensions, unpaid student bursaries and lack of fertilizer for farmers. Zam called the result “a referendum on the poor quality of leadership” and warned that, with BVAS, power has returned to the electorate. Ortom is a member of the G‑5 PDP governors who opposed their party’s presidential candidate.
**Abaribe vs. Gov. Ikpeazu (Abia)**
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, defeated incumbent governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP in the February 25 senatorial election, with the governor finishing a distant third. After losing the PDP ticket in 2022, Abaribe defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and scored 49,903 votes; the APC candidate received 43,903, while Ikpeazu garnered only 28,422. Despite APGA’s limited popularity in Abia and Abaribe’s resignation as Senate Minority Leader, he secured a fifth term in the 10th Assembly. His media aide, Uche Awom, said Abaribe won because “people love him,” noting his constant engagement with constituents, lack of a formal campaign council, and strong grassroots presence across almost every ward. He defeated the governor in five of six local governments. Ikpeazu also belongs to the G‑5.
**Ezea vs. Gov. Ugwuanyi (Enugu)**
Chief Okechukwu Ezea of the Labour Party defeated incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in the Enugu North senatorial race, obtaining 104,492 votes to Ugwuanyi’s 46,948; the APC candidate, Simon Eze, received 6,816. Since 1999 the PDP has dominated Enugu, making Ezea’s victory surprising and attributed in part to the “LP wave” generated by presidential candidate Peter Obi. A lawyer who previously contested the governorship in 2003 and 2007 on the LP platform, Ezea later joined the Action Congress of Nigeria and the APC before returning to the Labour Party in 2022. Although he could not be interviewed, analysts noted his grassroots appeal and the perception that the governor failed to honor a regional rotation agreement, costing him the election. Ugwuanyi is also a G‑5 member.
**Jarigbe vs. Gov. Ayade (Cross River)**
Senator Agom Jarigbe (PDP) retained his seat for Cross River North, defeating incumbent Governor Ben Ayade (APC), who previously held the same Senate seat from 2011 to 2015. Jarigbe received 76,145 votes to Ayade’s 56,595. Jarigbe, a former House of Representatives member (2015‑2019) for Ogoja/Yala, entered the Senate after a 2020 by‑election dispute that was resolved in his favor by the Supreme Court in 2021. He studied chemistry at the University of Calabar and is currently pursuing a law degree. Ayade had hoped to retire to the Senate, but his loss ended that plan.
**Aliero vs. Gov. Bagudu (Kebbi)**
Former governor Adamu Aliero (now PDP) won the Kebbi Central senatorial seat, defeating outgoing governor Atiku Bagudu (APC). Aliero, who governed Kebbi from 1999 to 2007 and previously served as a senator, withdrew from the APC primary in May 2022, accusing the party of “shambolic” primaries and hand‑picked delegates. He secured 126,588 votes to Bagudu’s 92,389. Aliero credited his constituents for giving him another chance to serve.
**Jimkuta vs. Gov. Ishaku (Taraba)**
APC candidate David Jimkuta defeated Governor Darius Ishaku (PDP) for the Taraba South senatorial seat, obtaining 85,415 votes to Ishaku’s 45,708. Jimkuta swept all local governments, including the governor’s hometown, Takum, and expressed satisfaction at “defeating a sitting governor.” He previously led the Southern Taraba Youths for Positive Change and coordinated Northern Minority Youths for former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. The Court of Appeal affirmed his candidacy on February 8, 2023, overturning a Federal High Court decision. Ishaku, an architect and former minister, had also intended to retire to the Senate.
**Bali vs. Gov. Lalong (Plateau)**
Air Vice Marshal Napoleon Bali (PDP), a retired pilot with a master’s in Security and Strategic Studies, won the Plateau South senatorial district with 148,844 votes, defeating Governor Simon Lalong (APC), who received 91,674. Lalong, the APC presidential campaign director‑general and former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, lost his polling unit to the Labour Party. Bali’s military background and academic credentials contributed to his appeal. Lalong’s defeat halted his attempt to join the Senate after his term ends on May 29.
*Report by Tunde Ajaja, John Charles, Sunday Nwakanma, Raphael Ede, Patrick Odey and James Abraham*
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