The defeat of 40 serving senators at last month’s party primaries dominated proceedings in the Senate Tuesday, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio moving to pacify colleagues who failed to secure return tickets for 2027.
Akpabio’s remarks came at the beginning of plenary after a three-week recess taken for party primaries and Sallah celebration.
While congratulating winners across party lines, Akpabio acknowledged the scale of losses was higher than anticipated.
“I congratulate the political parties, one or two of which emanated from these chambers. They recently concluded their primaries and all the internal democratic processes.
“I felicitate particularly with those who have secured their mandates to represent their parties in the next general election.
“In this Senate, we are promised that we will have very few disappointments. And I do know that the Senate Leader and the leadership of the Senate are working very hard towards that.
“So in advance, I will say congratulations to all of us across party lines,” he said.
For further pacification, Akpabio led senators into a closed-door session that lasted about two hours immediately after plenary.
It was gathered that the meeting was aimed at calming frayed nerves and discussing options for the 40 senators who lost out.
Before the primaries, the Senate held several closed-door sessions where leadership gave assurances of automatic or consensus return tickets to members.
However, at the end of the primaries, only Akpabio, (Akwa Ibom North West), and the Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, (Ekiti Central), got automatic tickets.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, (Kano North), the three senators from Borno State, and the three from Lagos State secured return tickets through consensus arrangements.
Statistically, 60 out of 105 serving senators secured return tickets across various political parties, while 40 failed in their bids.
Some of the senators who lost out include Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru, (Kwara South); Jibrin Isah, (Kogi East); Gbenga Daniel, (Ogun East); Ned Nwoko, (Delta North); and Abbas Aminu Iya, (Adamawa Central).
Others are Kaila Samaila Dahuwa, (Bauchi North); Titus Tartenger Zam, (Benue North West); Emmanuel Udende, (Benue North East); William Eteng Jonah, (Cross River Central); Neda Imasuen, (Edo South); Danjuma Goje, (Gombe Central).
Also on the list are Francis Ezenwa, (Imo East); Musa Garba, (Kebbi South); Adeniyi Adegbonmire, (Ondo Central); Olajide Ipinsagba, (Ondo North); Olubiyi Fadeyi Oluwole, (Osun Central); Diket Plang, (Plateau Central); and Banigo Ipalibo Harry, (Rivers West).
Some of the 40 senators who lost their return tickets had also contested for governorship seats but failed. They include Saliu Mustapha, (Kwara Central); Abdulfatai Buhari, (Oyo North); Shehu Buba, (Bauchi South); Onawu Mohammed Ogoshi, (Nasarawa South); and Abdul Ningi, (Bauchi Central).
The Senate is expected to continue consultations with party leaderships ahead of the 2027 general elections.
