Analysis: Six Sitting Governors Eye 2023 Senatorial Seats

The Senate is gradually becoming a retirement home for former Governors, as almost every Governor who completes his two terms in office heads for the Red Chamber.

There were 17 former State Governors in the Senate at the outset. They are Kashim Shettima (Borno), Tanko Al-Makura and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abdullaziz Yari (Zamfara). Others are Kabiru Gaya and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Theodore Orji and Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu) and Gabriel Suswan (Benue).

There are also two former Deputy Governors in the Senate chamber. They are Eyinnaya Abaribe who represents Abia Central and Biodun Olujimi, the Senator representing Ekiti South at the Red Chamber.

That trend is not likely to abate, as six sitting Governors are set to join the bandwagon. They are Samuel Ortom (Benue), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Simon Lalong (Plateau).

1. SAMUEL ORTOM

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom is one of the second term Governors that have indicated that he would make the transition from the Benue State Government House to the Senate chamber next year.

After months of speculations, Ortom finally confirmed recently that he has yielded to the appeal of his constituents that he should vie for a seat in the Senate in next year’s general election.

2. SIMON LALONG

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has also indicated his interest to run for Plateau South Senatorial election in 2023. The Governor, who is the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, has obtained the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the National Secretariat of the ruling APC in Abuja. A group identified as The Plateau Legacy Group led by Yusuf Gagdi collected the forms and guidelines on behalf of Governor Lalong.

3. DARIUS ISHAKU

Taraba State’s Governor Darius Ishaku has also accepted to contest for a senatorial seat to continue the good work he is doing for the people. A group under the auspices of the Southern Taraba Women and Youth Coalition has been appealed to Governor Darius Ishaku to contest the Southern Taraba senatorial seat and the governor is believed to have accepted to contest.

4. lFEANYI UGWUANYI

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had been in a dilemma over whether to contest for the Enugu North Senatorial seat or go for the Presidency. This was based on the clamour for a president of Igbo extraction to succeed the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari when the latter completes his second term by May next year.

However, the Governor appears to have eventually settled for the senatorial race. There was jubilation in the constituency recently when the lawmaker currently representing the district, Chukwuka Utazi, announced his decision not to re-contest for the seat next year. Utazi said he decided not to run to pave the way for the smooth emergence of Governor Ugwuanyi to represent the district in the 10th National Assembly.

5. IFEANYI OKOWA

Delta State’s Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is another Southern Governor that is hoping to be picked as Vice President if the PDP eventually settles for a Northerner as its flag bearer for next year’s presidential election. But, Okowa who was in the Senate from 2011 and 2015 was recently reported to have picked up his nomination and expression of interest forms for the Delta North senatorial race.

6. UMAR GANDUJE

Kano State’s Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, is still weighing his exit plans and political future outside the Government House. He has openly said he has no plan to quit active politics after his exit from the State House. The 71-year old says he will remain politically active after the expiration of his second term in 2023.

Ganduje’s close allies have indicated however that he is aspiring for two key positions, but is still pondering on which one would be feasible within the calculations of his party for the next general elections. From all indications, Ganduje’s first interest is to be picked as a running mate to whoever the party picks as its presidential flag bearer.
But, if his Vice Presidential ambition does not work out, Ganduje, it is said, will settle for the Senate. If he runs for the Senate, he will have only a few hurdles to cross. One of such close allies said: “The leadership of the APC has already planned to cede the ticket to him, if he aspires for Senate, after all, Sen. Barau Jibrin the incumbent senator representing Kano North district where the Governor comes from, is running for Governor.”