2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Imo State

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Imo State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Imo 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 Imo State
25 February 2023
All 3 Imo State seats in the Senate of Nigeria
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party APC LP PDP
Last election 2 0 1
Seats before 2 1 0
     APC incumbent retiring or lost renomination
     LP incumbent running for re-election

Background

In the previous Senate elections, only one of the three incumbent senators were returned with Benjamin Uwajumogu (APC-North) winning re-election while and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-East) and Hope Uzodinma (APC-West) retired to run for governor. In the East district, Onyewuchi Francis Ezenwa retained the seat for the PDP with 69% of the vote but the other two elections were more controversial as alleged election irregularities initially drew into question Uwajumogu's re-election in the North district while Rochas Okorocha (APC) was alleged to have forced a false election declaration in his favour. Overall, the inaugurations of Uwajumogu and Okorocha were delayed to later in June 2019.[1][2] These results were a part of a showcase of the state's electoral competitiveness as the gubernatorial election was very close before having its results partially overturned in favour of APC nominee Uzodinma while the PDP won a majority in the House of Assembly. The AA, APC, and PDP split the House of Representatives seats while the state was easily won by PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar.

After their belated inauguration, Okorocha and Uwajumogu were noted as two of the few APC senators from the South East. Uwajumogu died in December 2019 leading to a prolonged political and legal battle to succeed him that eventually resulted in Chukwuma Frank Ibezim (APC) becoming senator in 2021. By 2022, Okorocha unsuccessfully ran for president while Onyewuchi defected to the LP.

Overview
Affiliation Party Total
APC PDP LP
Previous Election 2 1 0 3
Before Election 2 0 1 3
After Election TBD TBD 1 3

Summary
This section is an excerpt from 2023 Nigerian Senate election § Imo State.[edit]
     APC incumbent retiring or lost renomination
     LP incumbent running
District Incumbent Results
Incumbent Party Status Candidates
Imo East Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi LP[lower-alpha 1] Incumbent lost renomination[lower-alpha 2]
Incumbent re-elected under nomination of new party

LP gain
Imo North Chukwuma Frank Ibezim APC Incumbent lost renomination
New member elected[6]

APC hold
  • ▌Green tickY Patrick Ndubueze (APC)[3][4]
  • ▌Emmanuel Okewulonu (PDP)[7][4]
Imo West Rochas Okorocha APC Incumbent retired
New member elected
APC hold

Imo East
2023 Imo East Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Alex Mbata Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi Uche Onyegucha
Party APC LP PDP
Senator before election

Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi
LP

 Elected Senator

TBD

The Imo East Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ikeduru, Mbaitoli, Ngor Okpala, Owerri Municipal, and Owerri West. The district is centered around the city of Owerri and is sometimes referred to as the "Owerri Zone." The incumbent Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi (LP) was re-elected with 68.8% of the vote in 2019 as a member of the PDP; he initially sought renomination in the PDP but lost the primary before defecting to win the LP nomination in June 2022.

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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12][13][14]

Before the primary, pundits noted three major candidates: businessman Jerry Chukwueke, businessman Alex Mbata, and Ondo State First Lady Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu.[15][16] On 28 May, the primary was disrupted by thugs who forced Anyanwu-Akeredolu to flee the venue. After the escape, Anyanwu-Akeredolu told the party that "any result coming from this kangaroo election...should be rejected" and claimed that Governor Hope Uzodinma had hijacked the primary but when the primary process continued, she withdrew in protest in a letter saying "the circumstances that have shrouded events preceding this primary have proven to be far from [my] ideals."[17][18][19] The primary was won by Mbata, who allegedly had the support of Uzodinma, with a 87% margin.[19] In a post-primary statement, Mbata attempted to reach out to his former opponents but both Anyanwu-Akeredolu and Kemdi Opara rejected the primary.[20]

APC primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Alex Mbata 425 91.59%
APC Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu (withdrawn) 21 4.53%
APC Jerry Chukwueke 14 3.02%
APC Kemdi Opara 3 0.65%
APC Lucy Uloaku Oguzie 1 0.21%
APC Hillary Nwachukwu 0 0.00%
Total votes 464 100.00%

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.[21] 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;[22] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[23][24][25][26]

Before the primary, pundits noted three major candidates: incumbent Onyewuchi, former House of Representatives member and former Secretary to the State Government Uche Onyeagocha, and businessman Basil Maduka.[27][15][16] The indirect primary was held at The Mall Aladinma in Owerri and resulted in Onyeagocha defeating Onyewuchi by an 8% margin.[28] Onyewuchi promptly left the PDP to obtain the LP senatorial nomination.

PDP primary results[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Uche Onyeagocha 134 43.51%
PDP Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi 110 35.71%
PDP Basil Maduka 64 20.78%
Total votes 308 100.00%

Campaign

As the general election campaign began, observers noted controversies with Onyewuchi's sudden LP nomination and Mbata's fraud scandal while also focusing on the infighting within both the state APC and PDP.[29] As the election neared in February, some pundits gave the advantage to Onyewuchi due to his incumbency and the coattail effect of LP presidential nominee Peter Obi. In the same piece, APGA nominee Chyma Anthony was dismissed as a major contender due to his party's dwindling popularity in the state while Onyegucha's campaign was notably hurt by continued PDP infighting and Mbata was benefited by growing APC popularity.[30]

Results
2023 Imo East Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
A Michael Chiaka Nwachukwu
AA Osondu Ogueri Darlington Opara
APP Christian Kelechi Njemanze
ADC Chijioke Julian Valentine Odaghara
APC Alex Mbata
APGA Chyma Anthony
APM Obinna Valentine Emeto
BP Godwin Iwuanyanwu
LP Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi
NRM Mike Kekechi Eze
NNPP Chioma Augusta Onyeneho
PDP Uche Onyegucha
SDP John Okechukwu Ucheoma
YPP Jonathan Onyemauchechukwu Okere
ZLP Chukwuemeka Samuel Osuji
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Imo North
2023 Imo North Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Patrick Ndubueze Ifeanyi Ararume Jr. Emmanuel Okewulonu
Party APC LP PDP
Senator before election

Chukwuma Frank Ibezim
APC

 Elected Senator

TBD

The Imo North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ehime Mbano, Ihitte/Uboma, Isiala Mbano, Obowo, Okigwe, and Onuimo. The district is centered around the city of Okigwe and is sometimes referred to as the "Okigwe Zone." In 2019, Benjamin Uwajumogu (APC) was re-elected to the seat. Uwajumogu died in December 2019, leading to a by-election in December 2020.[31] Although the APC won the by-election, a dispute over the legitimate APC primary victor between Chukwuma Frank Ibezim and Ifeanyi Ararume delayed the inauguration; Ibezim won the court cases and took office late in April 2021.[32] Ibezim sought re-election but lost renomination.

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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12][13][14]

Before the primary, there were four major candidates: Ibezim, former MHR Patrick Ndubueze, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, and former MHR Matthew Omegara; however, Ohakim and Omegara withdrew a few days before the primary.[33] Ndubueze won the nomination.[34]

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.[21] 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;[35] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[23][24][25][36]

Before the primary, pundits noted two major candidates: Ifeanyi Ararume Jr. (former commissioner and son of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume) and 2020 by-election nominee Emmanuel Okewulonu.[27][15][16] On the primary date, candidates contested an indirect primary that ended with Okewulonu emerging as the nominee after results showed him defeating Ararume Jr. by a 37% margin.[37]

PDP primary results[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Emmanuel Okewulonu 132 68.04%
PDP Ifeanyi Ararume Jr. 61 31.44%
PDP Nwachukwu Ugochukwu 1 0.52%
Total votes 194 100.00%

Campaign

Campaign analysis in February noted the competitiveness of the election and the potential coattail effect of LP presidential nominee Peter Obi that could benefit LP nominee Ifeanyi Ararume Jr.[30]

Results
2023 Imo North Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
AA Louis Uche Anyanwu
APP Ernest Ndidi Ezirim
ADC Amarachi Justina Ehiogu
APC Patrick Ndubueze
APGA Uchenna Henry Okike
APM Jorge Nkwoh
BP Eugen Alaoma Aligwekwe
LP Ifeanyi Ararume Jr.
NRM Assumpta Ifeoma Ofoeze
NNPP Rufus Amaefule
PDP Emmanuel Okewulonu
SDP Egbomuche Chijioke Nwoke
YPP Anthony Okwudiri C. Odu
ZLP Uchechukwu Stephen Okolorie
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Imo West
2023 Imo West Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Osita Izunaso Charles Ugochukwu Ahize
Party APC LP
Senator before election

Rochas Okorocha
APC

 Elected Senator

TBD

The Imo West Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ideato North, Ideato South, Isu, Njaba, Nwangele, Nkwerre, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, and Oru West. The district is centered around the city of Orlu and is sometimes referred to as the "Orlu Zone." Incumbent Rochas Okorocha (APC) was elected with 47.6% of the vote in 2019. In January 2022, Okorocha announced that he would run for president instead of seeking re-election;[38] Okorocha came joint-last in the APC primary.[39]

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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12][13][14]

Before the primary, there were two major candidates: Goodluck Nanah Opiah (former House of Representatives member for Oguta/Ohaji/Egbema/Oru West) and Osita Izunaso (former Senator); however, Opiah dropped out just before the primary.[16] On the primary date, Izunaso was nominated in a landslide over former MHR Greg Mbadiwe.[40]

APC primary results[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Osita Izunaso 589 93.49%
APC Greg Mbadiwe 41 6.51%
Total votes 630 100.00%

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.[21] 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;[41] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[23][24][25][42]

Before the primary, pundits noted three major candidates: Jerry Alagbaoso (House of Representatives member for Oru East/Orsu/Orlu), ThankGod Ezeani (former House of Representatives member for Ideato North/Ideato South), and Jones Onyereri (former House of Representatives member for Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele).[27][15][16] In the primary, Onyereri defeated runner-up Ezeani by 27%.[28] However, the primary was challenged up to the Supreme Court, which nullified the exercise in January 2023. The judgment, based on the primary taking place in Owerri instead of a location inside the district, also barred the PDP from fielding a nominee.[43] In response, the PDP claimed it had informed INEC of the changed location and vowed to find a path to the ballot.[44]

Invalid primary results
PDP primary results[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Jones Onyereri 228 56.58%
PDP ThankGod Ezeani 118 29.28%
PDP Jerry Alagbaoso 57 14.14%
Total votes 403 100.00%

Campaign

Originally a competitive race between Izunaso (APC), Onyereri (PDP), and Charles Ugochukwu Ahize (LP); the court ruling removing Onyereri as legitimate nominee greatly impacted the election. Although some pundits began to write that Izunaso was now favoured to win the seat, other observers noted that some PDP figures and Orlu community leaders had thrown their support behind Ahize.[30]

Results
2023 Imo West Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
AA Emeka Uzomah
ADC Alphonsus Obiajulu
APC Osita Izunaso
APGA Patrick Anayo Azumma
APM Akubueze Ikechuckwu Kingdom Akubueze
BP Emmanuel Osin Uwe
LP Charles Ugochukwu Ahize
NRM Stephen Amaechi Uwaezuoke
NNPP Paul Aballa
PRP Uchechukwu Ernest Ishiodu
PDP N/A
SDP Austin Kalu Egwuagu
YPP Cyril Chukwudi Opurum
ZLP Joseph Chudi Nnanna
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Notes
  1. This senator was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the LP during their term.
  2. Senator defected to new party after withdrawing from or losing their former party's primary.

See also

References
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  2. "Benjamin Uwajumogu Sworn in as Imo North Senator". Vanguard. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  3. Njoku, Chris. "Izunaso, Mbata, Ndubueze get APC senatorial tickets in Imo". The Nation. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  4. Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  5. Alozie, Chinonso. "PDP primaries: Serving Imo Senator, Rep member defeated". Vanguard. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  6. "Imo state Senatorial district election results and data 2023 - Stears Elections". www.stears.co. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
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  8. Alozie, Chinonso. "Izunaso wins Okorocha's Senate seat in Imo". Vanguard. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  9. Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  10. Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  11. Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  12. Angbulu, Stephen; Ayeni, Victor; Dada, Peter; Naku, Dennis; Ede, Raphael (21 April 2022). "Presidential primary: APC silent on zoning, Nigerians condemn N100m nomination fee". The Punch. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  13. APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 11, 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 18, 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  15. "2023: Contestants Gear Up for Senatorial Battle In Imo". ThisDay. 6 April 2022. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  16. Njoku, Chris. "2023: Battle of the titans for Senate seats in Imo". The Nation. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  17. "IMO: Thugs chase Akeredolu's wife from APC primary venue". Vanguard. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  18. Akinboyo, Temidayo. "Ondo First Lady, Betty Akeredolu, withdraws from Imo APC senate race". Premium Times. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  19. Alozie, Chinonso. "Imo East Senatorial primary: Mbata wins as Ondo first lady withdraws from race". Vanguard. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  20. Agbai, Gele. "APC Senatorial Candidate Extends Olive Branch To Co-Aspirants". Niger Delta Connect. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
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  22. "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
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  24. Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
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  26. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  27. Onyejiuwa, George. "Roadto 2023: Alagbaoso, Ezenwa, Ezeani, Onyeaguocha, Ararume, Onyeriri battle for Owerri, Orlu, Okigwe senatorial tickets". The Sun. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  28. Alozie, Chinonso. "PDP primaries: Serving Imo Senator, Rep member defeated". Vanguard. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  29. Uneze, Amby. "2023 Curious Political Calculations in Imo". ThisDay. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
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  31. Aborisade, Sunday. "Imo Senator, Benjamin Uwajumogu, is dead". The Punch. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  32. Iroanusi, QueenEsther. "Lawan swears in Frank Ibezim as Imo North senator". Premium Times. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  33. Okeoma, Chidiebube. "Ex-gov Ohakim withdraws from Imo APC senatorial primary". The Punch. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  34. Njoku, Chris. "Izunaso, Mbata, Ndubueze get APC senatorial tickets in Imo". The Nation. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  35. "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  36. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  37. Alozie, Chinonso. "PDP Primaries: Ararume's son loses senatorial battle". Vanguard. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  38. Simon, Emperor. "Okorocha Formally Declares For Presidency, Says 'I Will Beat Buhari's Record'". Channels TV. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  39. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "Full result of APC presidential primary". The Punch. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  40. Alozie, Chinonso. "Izunaso wins Okorocha's Senate seat in Imo". Vanguard. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  41. "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  42. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  43. Blankson, Esther. "S'Court nullifies Imo West PDP senatorial primary". The Punch. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  44. Adedeji, Tunji. "Imo PDP in shock over cancellation of Orlu senatorial primaries by Supreme Court". Daily Post. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
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