2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Enugu State

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Enugu State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Enugu State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections 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.

2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Enugu State
25 February 2023[lower-alpha 1]
All 3 Enugu State seats in the Senate of Nigeria
  Majority party
 
Party PDP
Last election 3
Seats before 3
     PDP incumbent retiring
     PDP incumbent running for re-election

Background

In the previous Senate elections, two of three incumbent senators were returned with Utazi Chukwuka (PDP-North) and Ike Ekweremadu (PDP-West) winning re-election while Gilbert Nnaji (PDP-East) lost renomination. In the East district, Chimaroke Nnamani retained the seat for the PDP with 88% of the vote; the PDP also held the other two seats as Chukwuka was re-elected with 86% of the vote in the North district while Ekweremadu was returned with 78% in the West district. These results were a part of a continuation of the PDP's control of the state as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was re-elected with over 95% of the vote in the gubernatorial election and the party won a majority in the House of Assembly. The PDP also swept all House of Representatives seats to the APC and the state was easily won by PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar.

At the beginning of the term, Ekweremadu lost his longtime Deputy Senate President office but remained a prominent senator until June 2022 when he and his wife were arrested in the United Kingdom for an organ-harvesting conspiracy.[1][2][3] For his colleagues, Chukwuka was noted for his criticisms of Buhari while Nnamani often got into online arguments.[4][5]

Overview
Affiliation Party Total
PDP
Previous Election 3 3
Before Election 3 3
After Election TBD 3

Summary
This table is an excerpt from 2023 Nigerian Senate election § Enugu State.[edit]
District Incumbent Results
Incumbent Party Status Candidates
Enugu East Chimaroke Nnamani PDP Incumbent renominated
Enugu North Utazi Chukwuka PDP Incumbent retired
New member elected
LP gain
Enugu West Ike Ekweremadu PDP Incumbent retired
New member elected
PDP hold

Enugu East
2023 Enugu East Senatorial District election
11 March 2023
 
APC
LP
Nominee Adaku Ogbu-Aguocha Kelvin Chukwu Chimaroke Nnamani
Party APC LP PDP
Senator before election

Chimaroke Nnamani
PDP

 Elected Senator

TBD

The Enugu East Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Enugu North, Enugu South, Isi Uzo, Nkanu East, and Nkanu West. The incumbent Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP) was elected with 88.3% of the vote in 2019 and is seeking re-election.

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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13][14][15][16]

On 28 May, the sole candidate—Adaku Ogbu-Aguocha—won the primary unopposed at the party's zonal secretariat in Enugu. After the primary, Ogbu-Aguocha said 'the days of sleeping senators are over for the district.'[17][18]

APC primary results[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Adaku Ogbu-Aguocha 270 100.00%
Total votes 270 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 14 N/A
Turnout 284 73.77%

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.[19] 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;[20] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[21][22][23][24]

The Agbani-held primary resulted in Nnamani winning renomination unanimously over former state government Chief of Staff Ifeoma Nwobodo and three other candidates.[25]

PDP primary results[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Chimaroke Nnamani 243 100.00%
PDP Other candidates 0 0.00%
Total votes 243 100.00%

Campaign

In the midst of the senatorial campaign, Nnamani rose to national attention in the presidential race as a prominent supporter of APC presidential nominee Bola Tinubu despite being a member of the PDP.[26] Due to this cross-party endorsement, Nnamani's PDP membership was suspended by the party's National Working Committee in January 2023 due to "anti-party activities."[27][28] In response, Nnamani decried the suspension process and vowed to continue his political career.[29] Nevertheless, his continued support for Tinubu led the NWC to expel him in mid-February.[30] Nnamani again rejected the process, and refused to stop his campaign or Tinubu support.[31][32][33]

Just days to the election, LP nominee Oyibo Chukwu was assassinated in an ambush after campaigning in Agbani on 22 February. In confirming the news, LP gubernatorial nominee Chijioke Edeoga revealed that at least five others had been murdered in the attack and blamed "political parties that felt threatened by the rise of the Labour Party in the state and are afraid they may lose the Saturday’s election."[34] The next day, the Labour Party requested that the election be postponed;[35] INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said a postponement could be ordered as soon as the commission received an official notification of death from the LP.[36][37] The LP later formally notified INEC of the death, leading the commission to postpone the election to 11 March—the date of state elections.[38] In a replacement primary, Kelvin Chukwu—a lawyer and Oyibo Chukwu's brother—won the LP nomination on 5 March.[39]

Results
2023 Enugu East Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
APP Ifeyinwa Elizabeth Onuorah
ADC Kenneth Emmanuel Ani
APC Adaku Ogbu-Aguocha
APGA Uchenna Harrison Sunday Nwegbo
LP Kelvin Chukwu
NRM Jerry Uche Chukwu
NNPP Johnson Okwudili Edeh
PDP Chimaroke Nnamani
SDP Okwuchukwu Okolie
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Enugu North
2023 Enugu North Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Simon Ejike Eze Okechukwu Ezea Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
Party APC LP PDP
Senator before election

Utazi Chukwuka
PDP

 Elected Senator

TBD

The Enugu North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Igbo Etiti, Igbo Eze North, Igbo Eze South, Nsukka, Udenu, and Uzo Uwani. The incumbent Utazi Chukwuka (PDP), who was elected with 86.1% of the vote in 2019, declined to seek re-election.[40]

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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13][14][15][16]

Simon Ejike Eze was submitted to INEC as the APC nominee.[41]

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.[19] 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;[42] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[21][22][23][43]

Before the primary, Chukwuka announced his retirement in favor of outgoing Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's candidacy.[40] On the primary date, Ugwuanyi was nominated in a landslide over three other candidates at the Nsukka Township Stadium. After the results were announced, Ugwuanyi thanked delegates.[44][45]

PDP primary results[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi 299 94.62%
PDP Other candidates 17 5.38%
Total votes 316 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 2 N/A
Turnout 318 100.00%

Campaign

In the midst of the senatorial campaign, Ugwuanyi rose to national attention in the presidential race as a member of the G5 group—a grouping of five PDP governors which refused to support PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar.[46] In the senatorial race, analysts labeled the election as a three-way race between Eze, Ugwuanyi, and Ezea (LP). By January 2023, rumors emerged that Ezea might withdraw in favor of Ugwuanyi as a part of a deal whereby the G5 would back LP presidential nominee Peter Obi; however, Ezea vehemently denied the reports and vowed to remain in the election.[47]

Results
2023 Enugu North Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
ADP Maryyaan Nellen Ngozichukwuka Abugu
APP Patrick Nwabueze Ubru
ADC Chika Emmanuel Idoko
APC Simon Ejike Eze
APGA Ugwu Casmir Kanayo
LP Okechukwu Ezea
NRM Emmanuel Okwudili Omeje
NNPP Onyeke Alphaeus Oyeke
PRP Emmanuel Ugwuodo
PDP Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
SDP Gideon Okey Agbo
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Enugu West
2023 Enugu West Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Nicholas Chika Ezeh Osita Ngwu
Party APC PDP
Senator before election

Ike Ekweremadu
PDP

 Elected Senator

TBD

The Enugu West Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu, Oji River, and Udi. Incumbent Ike Ekweremadu (PDP) was re-elected with 78.3% of the vote in 2019. In March 2022, Ekweremadu announced that he would run for governor of Enugu State instead of seeking re-election;[48] Ekweremadu withdrew on the day of the gubernatorial primary.[49]

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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13][14][15][16]

On the primary date, Oby Nwofor was the only candidate and thus was nominated by affirmation at the primary.[50] However, Nicholas Chika Ezeh later replaced Nwofor as the nominee.

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.[19] 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;[51] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[21][22][23][52]

The indirect primary ended with Osita Ngwu emerging as the nominee over former MHR Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi by a 53% margin.[53]

PDP primary results[53]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Osita Ngwu 177 75.97%
PDP Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi 53 22.75%
PDP Akuabata Njeze 3 1.29%
Total votes 233 100.00%

Results
2023 Enugu West Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
APP Onyekachukwu Nzekwe
ADC Stella Nneamaka Chukwuma
APC Nicholas Chika Ezeh
APGA Ndubuisi Kenechukwu Enechionyia
LP Dennis Oguerinwa Amadi
NRM Dominic Obiora Maduekwe
NNPP Cletus Nwannebuike Udeagulu
PDP Osita Ngwu
SDP Chares Osita Eluke
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout


See also

Notes
  1. The election for Enugu East was postponed to 11 March due to the death of LP nominee Oyibo Chukwu.

References
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  3. "Ike Ekweremadu: Nigerian faces trial over UK organ-harvesting plot". BBC. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. Igwe, Ignatius. "Buhari Should Change His Attitude Towards South-East, Says Senator Utazi". Channels TV. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
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  12. Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
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  50. "2023: Former Enugu APC women leader, Nwofor wins senatorial ticket of the party". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
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