2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Kaduna State

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

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

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

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Kaduna State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Kaduna 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 the previous Senate elections, only one incumbent senator was returned: in the South district, Danjuma Laah (PDP) was re-elected but Shehu Sani (PRP-Central) and Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (PDP-North) both lost re-election. In the South district, Laah held his seat with 64% of the vote; both of the open seats were won back by APC as Uba Sani won the North district with 56% and Suleiman Abdu Kwari gained the Central seat with 68% of the vote. These results were a part of a slight swing to the Kaduna APC as most House of Representatives seats were won by the party, it won a majority in the House of Assembly, and Buhari won the state in the presidential election.

Overview[edit]

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

Summary[edit]

District Incumbent Results
Incumbent Party Status Candidates
Kaduna Central Uba Sani APC Incumbent retired
New member elected
PDP gain
Kaduna North Suleiman Abdu Kwari APC Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected
PDP gain
Kaduna South Danjuma Laah PDP Incumbent lost renomination
New member elected
PDP hold

Kaduna Central[edit]

2023 Kaduna Central Senatorial District election
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Lawal Adamu Usman
Party APC PDP

Senator before election

Uba Sani
APC

Elected Senator

TBD

The Kaduna Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Kajuru. The incumbent Uba Sani (APC) was elected with 55.8% of the vote in 2019. In March 2022, Sani announced that he would run for governor of Kaduna State instead of seeking re-election.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9][10][11][12]

The APC senatorial primary was heavily affected by the party's gubernatorial primary. The Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai-aligned camp of the Kaduna APC (which Sani was a part of) held an endorsement process to decide on a single gubernatorial candidate from former commissioner Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Senator Uba Sani, and Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe; eventually Sani was selected as the gubernatorial candidate while Abdullahi was to run to replace Sani in the Senate and Balarabe would become Sani's running mate.[13][14][15][16][17][18] Abdullahi promptly withdrew from the gubernatorial race and entered the senatorial primary in early May.[19] On the primary date, an indirect primary resulted Abdullahi being nominated unopposed as the two other candidates—Rabi Salisu and Usman Garba—withdrew.[20]

APC primary results[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Muhammad Sani Abdullahi 388 100.00%
Total votes 388 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 8 N/A
Turnout 396 100.00%

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.[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]

On the primary date, Lawal Adamu Usman—the 2019 nominee—defeating runner-up Usman Ibrahim and four other candidates to emerge victorious.[27] However, the state party initially annulled the primary, citing the National Assembly Appeal Committee's report and recommendation.[28] The party later backtracked and accepted Usman as nominee despite protests from Ibrahim who claimed to have video evidence of over-voting during the primary.[29] Ibrahim went onto sue the PDP for a new primary; Justice Muhammed Umar of a Federal High Court ruled in favor of Ibrahim on 2 November and ordered a new primary to be conducted.[30][31] The new primary was held on 8 November with Ibrahim defeating Usman and four other candidates by a wide margin; however, the state PDP noted that Usman would be reinstated as nominee if his judicial appeal was successful.[32] On 17 February, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Usman, reinstating him as nominee just about a week before the election.[33]

PDP primary results[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Lawal Adamu Usman 99 39.92%
PDP Usman Ibrahim 84 33.87%
PDP Musa Bello 43 17.34%
PDP Ahmed Inuwa 15 6.05%
PDP Talatu Shehu 5 2.02%
PDP Usman Muhammed 2 0.81%
Total votes 248 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 N/A
Turnout 248 Unknown
Annulled rerun primary results
PDP rerun primary results[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Usman Ibrahim 210 96.77%
PDP Lawal Adamu Usman 5 2.30%
PDP Usman Muhammed 2 0.92%
PDP Other candidates 0 0.00%
Total votes 217 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes Unknown N/A
Turnout 217 Unknown

Campaign[edit]

During the primary period, pundits viewed the Central district as the most competitive of Kaduna's senate seats as observers noted that the lack of Sani's incumbency advantage had boosted PDP prospects.[34] However, early November brought a new surprise to the race as Usman was removed as PDP nominee by a court ruling that annulled its primary due to overvoting and ordered a new primary to be conducted.[30] Usman lost the rerun primary to Ibrahim; however, the state PDP noted that Usman would be reinstated as nominee if his judicial appeal was successful.[32]

In terms of the general election campaign, reporting from The Nation labeled the seat as a bellwether for the state at-large. The analysis also labeled Abdullahi as the frontrunner due to the PDP infighting and court battle.[35] Just about a week before the election, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Usman, reinstating him as PDP nominee.[36]

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Kaduna Central Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
AA Olakunle Akinsoyinu
APP Umar Mansur
ADC Ibrahim Musa
APC Muhammad Sani Abdullahi
APGA Samuel Kattey Gankon
APM Chichet Bala
LP Muhammad Sani Ibrahim
NRM Ismail Aliyu
New Nigeria Peoples Party Ahmad Tijjani Umar
PRP Mohammed Ali
PDP Lawal Adamu Usman
SDP Hajara Idris
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Kaduna North[edit]

2023 Kaduna North Senatorial District election
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Suleiman Abdu Kwari Khalid Mustapha
Party APC PDP

Senator before election

Suleiman Abdu Kwari
APC

Elected Senator

TBD

The Kaduna North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ikara, Kubau, Kudan, Lere, Makarfi, Sabon Gari, Soba, and Zaria. The incumbent Suleiman Abdu Kwari (APC), who was elected with 67.7% of the vote in 2019, is seeking 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9][10][11][12]

The primary was beset by violence when armed assailants attacked the Zaria venue during voting, injuring several delegates and stealing journalists' cameras and electronics. Nonetheless, the results were announced later that day with Kwari winning renomination nearly unanimously.[37] Both of his challengers—Haliru Ibrahim and Turad Sani Sha'aban (son of former MHR Sani Sha'aban and son-in-law of President Muhammadu Buhari)—rejected the results with Ibrahim suing the party while groups opposed to Kwari called for Kwari's disqualification.[38][39] By September, hearings began on Ibrahim's suit to have himself declared the legitimate nominee.[40]

APC primary results[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Suleiman Abdu Kwari 406 99.75%
APC Haliru Ibrahim 1 0.25%
APC Turad Sani Sha'aban 0 0.00%
Total votes 407 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 4 N/A
Turnout 411 100.00%

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.[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]

The primary resulted in the sole candidate—Khalid Mustapha—winning the nomination by affirmation. After the primary, Mustapha expressed gratitude to the delegates and urged party members to work for a general election victory.[43]

Campaign[edit]

During the primary period, observers noted that the PDP seemed not to be strongly contesting the seat due to its strong APC lean.[34] By December 2022, that analysis remained due to Kwari's reported strength as a candidate along with potential vote splitting between the PDP and NNPP.[35]

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Kaduna North Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
ADC Suleiman Abdullahi
APC Suleiman Abdu Kwari
APM Sambo Yakubu
LP Sidi Ibrahim Bamalli
New Nigeria Peoples Party Usman Shehu Bawa
PRP Abdullahi Wakili Ahmad
PDP Khalid Mustapha
SDP Adamu Rabiu
ZLP Muntari Ussaini
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Kaduna South[edit]

2023 Kaduna South Senatorial District election
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Bulus Audu Michael Ayuba Sunday Marshall Katunɡ
Party APC LP PDP

Senator before election

Danjuma Laah
APC

Elected Senator

TBD

The Kaduna South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Jaba, Jema'a, Kachia, Kagarko, Kaura, Kauru, Sanga, and Zangon Kataf; it is largely coterminous with the Southern Kaduna region, noted for its ethnic diversity and Christian majority in a state that is mainly ethnic Hausa-Fulani and majority Muslim. Incumbent Danjuma Laah (PDP) was elected with 64.4% of the vote in 2019 and sought re-election but lost the PDP nomination.

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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9][10][11][12]

On the primary date, an indirect primary in Kafanchan ended with Bulus Audu—an aide to Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai—emerging as the nominee by voice vote after his sole opponent—Anthony Hassan—withdrew right before the primary. In his acceptance speech, Audu thanked Hassan and delegates before vowing to bring development to the district.[44][45]

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.[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;[46] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[23][24][25][47]

The primary, held in Kafanchan, resulted in Laah losing the nomination to Sunday Marshall Katunɡ—former House of Representatives member for Zangon Kataf/Jaba. Katunɡ received 112 votes compared to Laah's 74 votes and third place MHR Shehu Nicholas Garba's 52 votes.[48]

PDP primary results[48]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Sunday Marshall Katunɡ 112 42.11%
PDP Danjuma Laah 74 27.82%
PDP Shehu Nicholas Garba 52 19.55%
PDP Samson Monday Dikko 21 7.89%
PDP Jagaba Adams Jagaba 7 2.63%
PDP Other candidates 0 0.00%
Total votes 266 100.00%

Campaign[edit]

During the primary period, observers noted that the APC seemed not to be strongly contesting the seat due to its strong PDP lean.[34] However, by December 2022, reporting from The Nation categorized the election as newly competitive due to the lack of incumbent and the rise of the LP in the region.[35]

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Kaduna South Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
ADC Luti Kuti
APC Bulus Audu
LP Michael Ayuba
NRM Adams Suleiman
New Nigeria Peoples Party Ahmed Rufai Chanchangi
PRP Babalo Nuruddeen Babalo
PDP Sunday Marshall Katunɡ
SDP Habibu Murtala
ZLP Yusuf Ishaku
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Thugs turn Kaduna North senatorial district primary election of APC bloody". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  3. ^ "2023: Mustapha wins PDP ticket for Kaduna North Senatorial District". Premium Times. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Bulus Audu emerges Kaduna South APC senatorial candidate". Peoples Gazette. News Agency of Nigeria. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  5. ^ Nseyen, Nsikak (24 May 2022). "2023: Katung beats Danjuma La'a to win Kaduna South Senatorial PDP ticket". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  6. ^ Isenyo, Godwin. "Kaduna Senator declares governorship ambition, distributes 59 cars". The Punch. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b c APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (11 May 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ a b c APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (18 May 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Isenyo, Godwin. "El-Rufai names Uba Sani as preferred successor". The Punch. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  14. ^ Mudashir, Ismail. "Kaduna: El-Rufai Anoints Uba Sani, Drops Dattijo, Others". Daily Trust. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  15. ^ Gbadebo, Bode. "Kaduna Guber: El-Rufai Anoints Uba Sani, Asks Dattijo To Contest Senate Seat". Leadership. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  16. ^ Lere, Mohammed. "Kaduna 2023: El-Rufai endorses Uba Sani as successor". Premium Times. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  17. ^ Kalu, Vincent. "Kaduna: How Uba Sani emerged as choice of APC stakeholders". The Sun. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  18. ^ Mudashir, Ismail. "APC Ticket: Real Reasons El-Rufai Anointed Uba Sani". Daily Trust. Retrieved 7 May 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.
  23. ^ a b c Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  24. ^ 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.
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  27. ^ a b Adubi, Abdulwaheed Olayinka. "Kaduna PDP Senatorial Primaries: Mr. LA Floors 5 Other Aspirants To Emerge Winner". Money Central. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  28. ^ Gabriel, John. "PDP cancels Kaduna Central Senatorial primary, gives reason". Daily Post. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  29. ^ Ojo, Sola. "Kaduna: We have video evidence of over-voting during PDP Kaduna central primary – Counsel to aspirant". The Sun. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Kaduna Central: Court Nullifies PDP Primary, Orders Fresh Election Within 14 Days". Channels TV. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
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  32. ^ a b c Ahmadu-Suka, Maryam. "Usman Wins PDP Re-Run Primary For Kaduna Central". Daily Trust. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
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  34. ^ a b c Alabelewe, Abdulgafar. "Kaduna: APC, PDP in familiar battles over Senate seats". The Nation. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  35. ^ a b c 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 (11 December 2022). "Senate races to watch (2)". The Nation. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
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  38. ^ "INEC's Absence Stalls Hearing On Kaduna Senatorial District APC Primary". Leadership. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  39. ^ Moses, Orjime. "Senatorial Primary: Group Seeks Disqualification Of Kwari As APC Candidate". Leadership. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  40. ^ "Court To Hear Suit On Kaduna North Central Senatorial Primary Tomorrow". Leadership. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  41. ^ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
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  44. ^ Sabiu, Muhammad. "Audu Emerges APC Senatorial Candidate For Southern Kaduna". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  45. ^ "Bulus Audu emerges Kaduna South APC senatorial candidate". Peoples Gazette. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  46. ^ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  47. ^ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  48. ^ a b Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: Katung beats Danjuma La'a to win Kaduna South Senatorial PDP ticket". Daily Post. Retrieved 18 August 2022.