2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Delta State

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2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Delta State
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

All 3 Delta State seats in the Senate of Nigeria
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party APC PDP
Last election 1 2
Seats before 2 1

     APC incumbent retiring
     APC incumbent running for re-election
     PDP incumbent retiring

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Delta State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Delta 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.

Background[edit]

In terms of the previous Senate elections, all three incumbent senators were re-elected: in the Central district, Ovie Omo-Agege (LP-turned-APC) held his seat for the APC with 51% of the vote; on the other hand, the PDP's Peter Nwaoboshi and James Manager won with 82% in the North district and 66% in the South district, respectively. These results were a part of a continuation of the PDP's control of the state as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was re-elected with over 80% of the vote in the gubernatorial election and the party held its sizeable majority in the House of Assembly. However, the PDP did lose one House of Representatives seat to the APC and although the state was easily won by PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar, it still swung towards Buhari compared to 2015 and had lower turnout.

At the start of the 2019–2023 term, Omo-Agege was elected Deputy President of the Senate.[1] By the middle of the term, Omo-Agege had filed 20 bills compared to Nwaoboshi's and Manager's two bills each.[2] However, Nwaoboshi was also high-profile due to his defection to the APC in June 2021 and his continued legal cases.[3] Three major corruption scandals struck Nwaoboshi with the federal government filing three counts of false asset declaration against him in June 2019, the Niger Delta Development Commission accusing him of using front companies to defraud the Commission out of ₦3.6 billion in June 2020, and his continued trial on ₦322 million fraud and money laundering;[4][5] the fraud trial ended in July 2022 with a seven-year prison sentence for Nwaoboshi but he stated his intent to appeal and feigned illness in attempt to avoid the sentence.[6][7][8][9]

Overview[edit]

Affiliation Party Total
APC PDP
Previous Election 1 2 3
Before Election 2 1 3
After Election 2 1 3

Summary[edit]

     APC incumbent retiring
     APC incumbent running
     PDP incumbent retiring
District Incumbent Results
Incumbent Party Status Candidates
Delta Central Ovie Omo-Agege APC Incumbent retired
New member elected
APC hold
Delta North Peter Nwaoboshi APC[a] Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected
PDP gain
Delta South James Manager PDP Incumbent retired
New member elected
APC gain

Delta Central[edit]

2023 Delta Central Senatorial District election
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Ede Dafinone Ighoyota Amori
Party APC PDP

Senator before election

Ovie Omo-Agege
APC

Elected Senator

To be determined
To be determined

The Delta Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Sapele, Okpe, Udu, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Uvwie. The incumbent Ovie Omo-Agege (APC) was re-elected with 51.3% of the vote in 2019. In April 2022, Omo-Agege announced that he would run for governor of Delta State, instead of seeking re-election.[15]

Primary elections[edit]

All Progressives Congress[edit]

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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18][19][20][21]

Prior to the primary, Omo-Agege endorsed Ede Dafinone as his anointed successor in a reported attempt to further his political network and become a godfather. The primary in Ughelli resulted in Dafinone—the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group—emerging as the nominee unopposed.[22] Like other APC senatorial primary winners, Dafinone was unopposed reportedly due to an agreement between Omo-Agege, Nwaoboshi, and other state APC leaders.[22]

APC primary results[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Ede Dafinone 383 100.00%
Total votes 383 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 4 N/A
Turnout 387 Unknown

People's Democratic Party[edit]

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.[23] 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;[24] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[25][26][27][28]

Pre-primary analysis noted the primary as one of many proxy battles between former Governor James Ibori and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa with the former backing former Senator Ighoyota Amori and the latter supporting John Nani.[29] The primary resulted in Amori defeating runner-up Nani by 7% at the Sapele Stadium; the result was a rare win for Ibori's camp as its candidate lost the gubernatorial primary and other Okowa loyalists won other nominations.[30]

PDP primary results[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Ighoyota Amori 142 53.58%
PDP John Nani 123 46.42%
Total votes 265 100.00%

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Delta Central Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
A Osheo Felix Evwierhurhoma
AA Giane Nelson Gwede
ADP Ogheneovo Evah
APP Oghenekevwe Ewhrudjakpor
ADC Maver Sylvester Avworo
APC Ede Dafinone
APGA Peters Omoruayigbe Omaruaye
APM Monday Nurhierume
NRM Ovie Julius Animam
New Nigeria Peoples Party Glory Rukevwe Anigboro
PDP Ighoyota Amori
SDP Oviemuno Ekpekpo
YPP Ogheneovo Edewor
ZLP MacPherson Obenobe
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Delta North[edit]

2023 Delta North Senatorial District election
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Peter Nwaoboshi Ned Nwoko
Party APC PDP

Senator before election

Peter Nwaoboshi
APC

Elected Senator

To be determined
To be determined

The Delta North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili South, Oshimili North, and Ukwuani. The incumbent Peter Nwaoboshi (APC) was elected with 82.2% of the vote in 2019 as a member of the PDP; he defected to the APC in June 2021. Nwaoboshi is running for re-election.

Primary elections[edit]

All Progressives Congress[edit]

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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18][19][20][21]

The primary at the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Asaba resulted in Nwaoboshi emerging as the nominee unopposed.[22] Like other APC senatorial primary winners, Nwaoboshi was unopposed reportedly due to an agreement between Omo-Agege, Nwaoboshi, and other state APC leaders.[22]

People's Democratic Party[edit]

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.[23] 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;[31] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[25][26][27][32]

In the months before the primary, some pundits expected outgoing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to run for a return to the Senate; however, he declined to run and was later selected as the PDP vice presidential nominee.[29] Okowa chose to support Ned Nwoko for the PDP nomination.[29] The primary at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba resulted in Nwoko—a former MHR, businessman, and husband of Regina Daniels—emerging as the nominee over businessman Paul Osaji by a 57% margin. After collation completed, Nwoko claimed that his entrance into the Senate would positively impact the entire nation.[33]

PDP primary results[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Ned Nwoko 242 78.32%
PDP Paul Osaji 67 21.68%
Total votes 309 100.00%

Campaign[edit]

After the start of the official campaign period in October, Nwoko went on the offensive by deriding Nwaoboshi's tenure as senator as useless along with daring Nwaoboshi to start open campaigning.[34] By late November, pundits and civil groups had also noted Nwaoboshi's absence from campaigning with rumors that it was connected to his avoidance of his prison term.[35] In early January 2023, the Supreme Court briefly granted Nwaoboshi bail while fast tracking the date of his appeal hearings.[36][37] However, near the end of the month, the court revoked the bail based on the fact that Nwaoboshi had remained a fugitive since his sentencing.[38] On 6 February, Nwaoboshi was finally caught in Lagos by the EFCC and imprisoned at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre.[39]

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Delta North Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
A Ijomah Federick Obi
ADP Chionye Hencs Odiaka
APP Gochi Ugo Apuamaga
ADC Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi
APC Peter Nwaoboshi
APGA Isaac Obodo
APM Clement Iselegwu
LP Kennedy Onochie Kanma
New Nigeria Peoples Party Marian Nneamaka Ogoh-Ali
PRP Chiazor Ahumibe
PDP Ned Nwoko
SDP Peter Nwafor
ZLP Emeka Nkwoala
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Delta South[edit]

2023 Delta South Senatorial District election
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Joel-Onowakpo Thomas Michael Diden
Party APC PDP

Senator before election

James Manager
PDP

Elected Senator

To be determined
To be determined

The Delta South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Bomadi, Burutu, Isoko North, Isoko South, Patani, Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West. The incumbent James Manager (PDP) was elected with 66.2% of the vote in 2019. In April 2022, Manager announced that he would run for governor of Delta State, instead of seeking re-election;[40] he lost the PDP gubernatorial primary.[41]

Primary elections[edit]

All Progressives Congress[edit]

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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18][19][20][21]

The primary in Oleh resulted in Joel-Onowakpo Thomas—the former Chairman of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue—emerging as the nominee unopposed.[22] Like other APC senatorial primary winners, Thomas was unopposed reportedly due to an agreement between Omo-Agege, Nwaoboshi, and other state APC leaders.[22]

APC primary results[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Joel-Onowakpo Thomas 285 100.00%
Total votes 285 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 75 N/A
Turnout 360 Unknown

People's Democratic Party[edit]

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.[23] 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.[25][26][27][43]

Former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was the APC nominee for the seat in 2019 and returned to the PDP in 2020, initially announced a new run for the seat but he withdrew and retired from politics in March 2022.[44] Both of the two remaining major candidates—former DESOPADEC Chairman Michael Diden and former MHR Daniel Reyenieju—solicited Uduaghan's endorsement before the primary.[29] On the primary date, Diden defeated Reyenieju by a 47% margin at the Warri Township Stadium.[45][30] After the vote, Diden said the victory was a demonstration of the electorate's confidence in him.[30]

PDP primary results[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Michael Diden 176 64.71%
PDP Daniel Reyenieju 48 17.65%
PDP Ayodele Othihiwa 46 16.91%
PDP Kent Omatsone 2 0.73%
Total votes 272 100.00%

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Delta South Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
APP Peter Avinyeze
ADC Regina Oke Emevwereni
APC Joel-Onowakpo Thomas
APGA George Ugulasuowei Timinimi
APM Whiskey Arerosuoghene Ewubareh
LP Terence Ogagaoghene Obaoghe
NRM Toju Awiu Binitie
New Nigeria Peoples Party Omatseye O'weyimmi Nesiama
PRP Oyibo Waibode
PDP Michael Diden
SDP Princewill Oghenovo
YPP Franklin Miebi Garry
ZLP Lucky Akakasi
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ This senator was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC during their term.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Olasupo, Abisola. "Omo-Agege wins deputy Senate presidency election". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  2. ^ Olaogun, Michael. "MIDTERM: Omo-Agege maintains lead in Team Delta". OrderPaper Nigeria. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  3. ^ Edeme, Victoria. "Delta Senator, Nwaoboshi, defects to APC, meets Buhari". The Punch. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  4. ^ Adesomoju, Ade. "FG charges Senator Nwaoboshi with false assets declaration at CCT". The Punch. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  5. ^ Ukpong, Cletus. "NDDC says senator used 11 companies to secure N3.6 billion contracts from commission". Premium Times. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  6. ^ Ayomide, Chukwuemeka. "Court of Appeal convicts Senator Nwaoboshi of money laundering". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Nigerian Senator bag seven years prison sentence for fraud - EFCC". BBC Pidgin. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  8. ^ Dania, Onozure. "Money laundering: APC senator, Nwaoboshi, to spend seven years in jail". The Punch. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  9. ^ Akintade, Adefemola. "One month after prison sentence, Senator Nwaoboshi feigns sickness, remains at National Hospital". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Amaize, Emma. "Nwaoboshi, Dafinone, Joel-Onowakpo pick Delta APC senate tickets". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  12. ^ a b Adurokiya, Ebenezer (23 May 2022). "Diden, Amori, Win PDP Delta South, North Senatorial Primaries". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  13. ^ "2023: Ned Nwoko wins PDP Senate ticket for Delta North". Premium Times. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  14. ^ Obukata, Joseph (23 May 2022). "Ex-lawmaker Ejele picks Delta South PDP ticket". The Sun. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Omo-Agege officially declares for Delta governorship race". TVC News. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  17. ^ a b c Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  18. ^ a b c Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  19. ^ a b c 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.
  20. ^ a b c APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 11, 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ a b c APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 18, 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h Onoyume, Jimitota; Ahon, Festus; Akuopha, Ochuko; Olayemi, Paul. "APC primaries: Nwaoboshi, Dafinone, Joel-Thomas win senatorial tickets in Delta". Vanguard. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  23. ^ a b c Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  24. ^ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  25. ^ a b c Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  26. ^ a b c Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  27. ^ a b c Official PDP Nigeria [@OfficialPDPNig] (May 5, 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.
  28. ^ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  29. ^ a b c d Amaize, Emma. "DELTA 2023: Okowa, Ibori, Omo-Agege's men battle for NASS tickets". Vanguard. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  30. ^ a b c d Adurokiya, Ebenezer. "Diden, Amori, Win PDP Delta South, North Senatorial Primaries". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  31. ^ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  32. ^ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  33. ^ a b "2023: Ned Nwoko wins PDP Senate ticket for Delta North". Premium Times. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  34. ^ Igbekoyi, Felix. "Nwoko Vows To Defeat Nwaoboshi For Delta North Senatorial Seat". Leadership. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  35. ^ Ochei, Matthew. "Delta North: Despite Nwaoboshi's imprisonment, victory song far from Nwoko, others". The Punch. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Supreme Court Grants Bail To Jailed Nigerian Senator Peter Nwaoboshi Pending Appeal, Moves Date To Hear Application Against 7 Years Jail Term Forward". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  37. ^ "Supreme Court Grants Sen Nwaoboshi Reprieve". Leadership. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  38. ^ Ejekwonyilo, Ameh. "Supreme Court refuses to grant bail to convicted Nigerian senator". Premium Times. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  39. ^ "N805m Fraud: EFCC arrests convicted senator who avoided jail for seven months". Premium Times. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  40. ^ Angbulu, Stephen. "Senator Manager picks Delta PDP gov form". The Punch. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  41. ^ Are, Jesupemi. "Delta guber: Oborevwori, Okowa's candidate, defeats Ibori's associate to secure PDP ticket". TheCable. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  42. ^ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  43. ^ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  44. ^ Omafuaire, Akpokona. "Why I stepped aside my senatorial ambition —Uduaghan". Vanguard. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  45. ^ a b Obukata, Joseph. "Ex-lawmaker Ejele picks Delta South PDP ticket". The Sun. Retrieved 6 August 2022.