2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Kwara State
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Kwara State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Kwara 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.
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All 3 Kwara State seats in the Senate of Nigeria | |||||||||||||
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APC incumbent retiring or lost renomination APC incumbent running for re-election |
Background
In the previous Senate elections, none of the three incumbent senators were returned as Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi (PDP-North) retired from the Senate while both Bukola Saraki (PDP-Central) and Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (PDP-South) lost re-election. In the North district, Suleiman Sadiq Umar (APC) gained the seat for the APC with 74% while Saraki lost in the Central district to Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, who obtained 63% of the vote; similarly, Ibrahim was unseated by Lola Ashiru, who got 66%. These results were a part of the APC-led Ó Tó Gẹ́ movement against the Saraki dynasty as every House of Representatives seat was won by the APC, it won a majority in the state House of Assembly, and Buhari won the state in the presidential election by a wide margin.
Overview
Affiliation | Party | Total |
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APC | ||
Previous Election | 3 | 3 |
Before Election | 3 | 3 |
After Election | 3 | 3 |
Summary
District | Incumbent | Results | ||
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Incumbent | Party | Status | Candidates | |
Kwara Central | Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe | APC | Incumbent lost renomination New member elected APC hold |
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Kwara North | Suleiman Sadiq Umar | APC | Incumbent re-elected |
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Kwara South | Lola Ashiru | APC | Incumbent re-elected |
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Kwara Central
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The Kwara Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, and Ilorin West. The incumbent Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC), who was elected with 63.2% of the vote in 2019, ran for re-election but lost renomination.
All Progressives Congress
Before the primary, pundits noted five major candidates: incumbent Oloriegbe, Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, Saliu Mustapha, Yinka Aluko and former Senator Khairat Abdulrazaq-Gwadabe—the sister of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Aluko and Abdulrazaq-Gwadabe withdrew prior to the primary.[12] On the primary date, the exercise held in Ilorin and resulted in the nomination of Mustapha as Seriki and Oloriegbe came second and third place, respectively.[13] In June, Oloriegbe admitted to bribing delegates and receiving refunds from those that did not vote for him;[14] leaked audio from Oloriegbe also revealed that he blamed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the loss and refused to campaign for AbdulRazaq's re-election.[15]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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APC | Saliu Mustapha | 136 | 59.39% | |
APC | Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki | 78 | 34.06% | |
APC | Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe | 15 | 6.55% | |
Total votes | 229 | 100.00% | ||
Invalid or blank votes | 22 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 251 | 100.00% | ||
People's Democratic Party
Initially the PDP primary was overshadowed by rumours that former Senator (and de facto Kwara PDP leader) Bukola Saraki would run for the seat again. When he instead announced a presidential run, four candidates purchased forms—former minister Bolaji Abdullahi, Sarat Adebayo, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, and Abubakar Amuda-Kannike; however, the Saraki rumours still dominated the primary conversation as observers questioned if Saraki would still run for Senate as a backup plan if unsuccessful in his presidential bid.[12] In early April, Saraki and other Kwara PDP leadership effectively guaranteed Abdullahi would become nominee by zoning the nomination to his LGA—Ilorin West;[22] the move was made official later that month when the other aspirants withdrew and backed Abdullahi as the "consensus" pick.[23] On the primary date, Abdullahi was nominated via affirmation.[24] Despite the rumours, Saraki did not drop to the senatorial race after losing the PDP presidential primary and thus Abdullahi remained the nominee.
Campaign
After the primaries, nominations showed that the general election would be the first election in the district since 1999 to not have a Saraki on the ballot. For the general election campaign, observers noted the Saraki family's past strength in the district as a potential boost for Abdullahi, a Saraki loyalist, but also pointed out Bukola Saraki's substantial loss in 2019. For Mustapha and SDP nominee Ridwanullahi Apaokagi, pundits claimed the defections from the APC to the SDP could help Apaokagi despite his party's relatively small size.[25] In July and August, the Mustapha and Abdullahi campaigns were noted as being among several election campaigns that used the catastrophic Alanamu Market fire to hawk for votes.[26][27] Later analysis noted Oloriegbe's anger at Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over the primary result as a potential harm to Mustapha's campaign while his traditional title of the Turaki Ilorin could boost his candidacy.[28][29] In December 2022, reporting from The Nation identified the closeness of the race while noting the effect of Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi (ADC).[30]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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AA | Akeem Ismaila | |||
ADP | Ganiyu Abdullahi | |||
APP | Ibrahim Ganiyat Aderonike | |||
ADC | Abubakar Abolarin Abdulraheem | |||
APC | Saliu Mustapha | |||
APM | John Temitayo Anjorin | |||
LP | Umar Farooq Akanbi | |||
NRM | Adepoju Davidson Adekunle | |||
NNPP | Kayode Abdul Aiyelabegan | |||
PDP | Bolaji Abdullahi | |||
SDP | Ridwanullah Apaokagi | |||
Total votes | 100.00% | |||
Invalid or blank votes | N/A | |||
Turnout | ||||
Kwara North
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The Kwara North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Baruten, Edu, Pategi, Kaiama, and Moro. The district is noted its majority-ethnic minority makeup with non-Yorubas forming the majority of the population.[lower-alpha 1] The incumbent Suleiman Sadiq Umar (APC), who was elected with 73.9% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.
All Progressives Congress
On the primary date, two candidates contested an indirect primary that ended with Umar's renomination over Tauheed Daudu Toyin by a significant margin.[13]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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APC | Suleiman Sadiq Umar | 202 | 72.92% | |
APC | Tauheed Daudu Toyin | 75 | 27.08% | |
Total votes | 277 | 100.00% |
People's Democratic Party
Unlike nearly every other Kwara PDP primary, the North senatorial primary was not decided using the consensus method as former MHR Aisha Ahman Pategi insisted on a primary against former commissioner Isa Adamu Bawa. Bawa was backed by the state party as, in exchange for micro-zoning the gubernatorial nomination to the Edu-Moro-Pategi area, state party leadership agreed to back a senatorial candidate from the Baruten-Kaiama area. At the primary in Edu LGA, Bawa defeated Ahman Pategi by a wide margin.[33]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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PDP | Isa Adamu Bawa | 132 | 82.50% | |
PDP | Aisha Ahman Pategi | 28 | 17.50% | |
Total votes | 160 | 100.00% | ||
Invalid or blank votes | 2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 162 | 100.00% | ||
Campaign
In a December 2022 senate campaign analysis piece, The Nation reporters categorized the election as a threeway race between Umar, Bawa, and Jiya (NNPP).[30]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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AA | Mohammed Bako Jibrin | |||
ADP | Naomi Temako | |||
APP | Lateef Bello Olabisi | |||
ADC | Aliru Bio | |||
APC | Suleiman Sadiq Umar | |||
APM | Adedimeji Samuel Lala | |||
LP | Rebecca O. Noace Moses | |||
NRM | Ogheneruona Kingsley Oghoufo | |||
NNPP | Kolo Baba Jiya | |||
PDP | Isa Adamu Bawa | |||
SDP | Abdulkadir Attahiru Adamu | |||
ZLP | Haliru Usman Idris | |||
Total votes | 100.00% | |||
Invalid or blank votes | N/A | |||
Turnout | ||||
Kwara South
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The Kwara South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ekiti, Oke Ero, Offa, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Isin, and Oyun. Incumbent Lola Ashiru (APC), who was elected with 65.5% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.
All Progressives Congress
Before the primary, pundits noted three major candidates: incumbent Ashiru, MHR Raheem Olawuyi, and Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi.[12] On the primary date, the indirect primary ended with Ashiru winning renomination after results showed him defeating Olawuyi by a narrow four vote margin.[13]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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APC | Lola Ashiru | 158 | 50.64% | |
APC | Raheem Olawuyi | 154 | 49.36% | |
Total votes | 312 | 100.00% |
People's Democratic Party
Like in Kwara Central, the state PDP organized a process to find a "consensus" nominee; however, Saraki and other PDP leadership effectively guaranteed the nomination to former Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim by zoning the nomination to his LGA—Oyun—in early April.[22] Thus the process resulted in Ibrahim being selected as the "consensus" pick.[36] On the primary date, Ibrahim was nominated via affirmation.[24]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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A | Olutola John Onijala | |||
AA | Abdulakeem Olalekan Yusuf | |||
ADP | Mohammed Abdullahi Balogun | |||
APP | Feyisayo Ogunsola | |||
ADC | Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi | |||
APC | Lola Ashiru | |||
APM | Olayemi Ibidemi Ajayi | |||
LP | Olagunju Abidoye | |||
NRM | Kehinde Ayoola Popoola | |||
NNPP | Adetoyese David Omokanye | |||
PDP | Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim | |||
SDP | Olawale Adeniyi Rafiu Sulaiman | |||
YPP | Olanrewaju Peter Abraham | |||
Total votes | 100.00% | |||
Invalid or blank votes | N/A | |||
Turnout | ||||
Notes
References
- Akinyemi, Demola. "Kwara Central senator loses ticket, Mustapha, Ashiru, Sodiq win". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- Adebayo, Abdulrazaq (23 May 2022). "PDP primary: Abdullahi, Ibrahim emerge Senatorial candidates in Kwara". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- Akpan, Samuel (23 May 2022). "Bolaji Abdullahi secures PDP ticket to contest Kwara central senatorial seat". TheCable. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- Adebayo, Abdulrazaq (23 May 2022). "Isa Adamu Bawa wins Kwara North PDP Senatorial ticket". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- 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.
- APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (11 May 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022 – via Twitter.
- APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (18 May 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Twitter.
- Jimoh, Adekunle. "2023: Fierce jostling for Kwara senate seats". The Nation. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- Akinyemi, Demola. "Kwara Central senator loses ticket, Mustapha, Ashiru, Sodiq win". Vanguard. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- "Ruling APC Senator, Oloriegbe Admits Bribing Delegates During Primaries, Says He Was Refunded By 17 Of Them After Losing Re-election Bid". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- Shittu, Hammed. "Oloriegbe: I will Not Be Part of Kwara Governor's Re-election Bid". ThisDay. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- Official PDP Nigeria [@OfficialPDPNig] (5 May 2022). "2023 General Elections: @OfficialPDPNig updated Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections. See below" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 May 2022 – via Twitter.
- Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- "Senate: Bolaji Abdullahi, Rafiu Ibrahim tipped as Kwara PDP consensus candidates". TheCable. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- Are, Jesupemi. "Bolaji Abdullahi selected as PDP consensus senatorial candidate for Kwara central". TheCable. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- Adebayo, Abdulrazaq. "PDP primary: Abdullahi, Ibrahim emerge Senatorial candidates in Kwara". Daily Post. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- Edward, Odun. "2023: Undercurrents shaping Kwara Central Senatorial seat poll". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- AbdulKareem, Mumini. "2023: How APC, PDP Turned Market Fire Disaster To Political Campaign In Kwara". Daily Trust. Ilorin. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- Oyekola, Tunde. "Kwara market fire: Tragedy attracting politicians' 'heart of gold'". The Punch. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- Jimoh, Adekunle. "2023: Titanic battle ahead for APC, PDP in Kwara Central". The Nation. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- Sobechi, Leo. "Kwara central: The contours and challenge of political history". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- Onogu, Sanni; Duku, Joel; Ihyongo, Fanen; Shittu, Sola; Rufa’i, Ahmed; Alabelewe, Abdulgafar; Saidu, Khadijat; Adenuga, David; Emmanuel, Uja; Asishana, Justina; Alao, Onimisi; Adeyemi, Kolade; Okezie, Augustine; Oota, Linus; Jimoh, Adekunle. "Senate races to watch (3)". The Nation. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Adebayo, Abdulrazaq. "Isa Adamu Bawa wins Kwara North PDP Senatorial ticket". Daily Post. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Shittu, Hammed. "2023: Senator Ibrahim Emerges Kwara South PDP Consensus Candidate". ThisDay. Retrieved 6 September 2022.