…60 senators secure return tickets, 40 lose out
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has assured senators who lost their bid to secure their parties’ tickets for re-election that the leadership of the Red Chamber, led by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, is working to reduce their number.
Speaking on Tuesday while delivering his welcome remarks as the Senate resumed plenary after the Easter and Sallah recess, Akpabio said the Senate leadership had earlier assured senators that they would not be abandoned and was working to fulfil that promise.
His remarks came against the backdrop of the recently concluded party primaries in which 60 out of the 105 serving senators secured return tickets for the 2027 general election, while 40 failed in their bids to obtain their parties’ nominations.
Akpabio congratulated political parties that had successfully concluded their primary elections and senators who emerged as candidates for the next general election.
He stated, “I felicitate particularly with those who have secured their mandates to represent their parties in the next election. I know that there will always be victories and disappointments, yet above every individual triumph stands a greater triumph, the triumph of democracy itself.
“And in this Senate, we are promised that we will have very few disappointments. And I do know that the Senate leader and the leadership of the Senate is working very hard towards that. So in advance, I will say congratulations to all of us across party lines.”
According to figures from the primaries conducted by various political parties, 60 serving senators secured return tickets while 40 lost their bids.
Among those who failed to secure return tickets were the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru; Senators Jibrin Isah, Gbenga Daniel, Ned Nwoko, Abbas Aminu Iya, Kaila Samaila Dahuwa, Titus Zam, Emmanuel Udende, William Eteng Jonah, Neda Imasuen, Danjuma Goje, Francis Ezenwa, Musa Garba, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Olajide Ipinsagba, Olubiyi Fadeyi Oluwole, Diket Plang and Ipalibo Harry Banigo, among others.
Akpabio urged lawmakers to remain committed to their constitutional responsibilities and expressed confidence that the 10th Senate would continue to provide leadership in addressing the nation’s challenges.
“Let us continue to conduct ourselves with dignity so that future generations will say that when Nigeria faced difficulties, this Senate did not falter. When leadership was required, this Senate did not shrink, and when duty called, the Senate answered,” he said.