No fewer than 40 Senators will not return to the Red Chamber of the National Assembly next year, following their inability to secure return tickets. Chief Correspondent SANNI ONOGU examines the implications of the turnovers for legislative stability.

The battle for the 2027 general election is already reshaping the 10th Senate. No fewer than 40 serving senators—many from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—failed to secure renomination.

Spanning the APC, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and emerging coalitions like the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Senate appears headed for one of the largest turnovers in Nigeria’s recent democratic history.

Observers believe the number of non-returning senators could rise as the 2027 contests gather momentum. Some lawmakers are victims of their own governorship ambitions, while others have fallen in bruising primaries, internal party wars, or shifted alliances. These developments highlight the fragile nature of political survival in Nigeria, where legislative experience often takes a backseat to the influence of state governors and party structures.

The governor factor

In Adamawa State, the future of all three senators is in flux. Senator Aminu Iya Abbas (Adamawa Central) is reportedly eyeing the governorship, a move that would end his Senate stint regardless of the outcome. Senator Amos Yohanna (Adamawa North) faces a steeper challenge, as Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has reportedly moved to take over the senatorial ticket himself. Meanwhile, Senator Binos Dauda Yaroe (Adamawa South) faces an uphill battle following his defection to the ADC.

In Delta State, a high-profile power shift has seen former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa reportedly clinch the APC ticket, displacing Senator Ned Nwoko. While Nwoko remains defiant, sources suggest Okowa is successfully reasserting his dominance over the state’s political machinery.

Imo State reflects a similar trend. Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) appears to be a casualty of succession politics, with Governor Hope Uzodinma reportedly securing the ticket for himself.

In Gombe, veteran Senator Danjuma Goje may be heading for retirement after reportedly losing his grip on Gombe Central to an aspirant backed by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed.

Casualties of governorship ambitions

The quest for the Government House is a major driver of the projected turnover. In Bauchi, Senators Abdul Ahmed Ningi and Shehu Buba Umar are both linked to governorship bids, effectively foreclosing their return to the Senate. In Oyo, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari’s failed governorship bid and Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s current ambitions put their seats at significant risk.

In Ogun State, the influence of Governor Dapo Abiodun looms large. Former Governor Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East) has reportedly been sidelined as Abiodun secures the ticket for himself. Simultaneously, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) appears more focused on his governorship aspirations than a return to the Red Chamber.

Other casualties

Benue: Senators Emmanuel Udende and Titus Zam were reportedly displaced during fierce APC primaries.

Ondo: Senators Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) and Jide Ipinsagba lost their tickets to new challengers, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti and Gbenga Elegbeleye.

Bayelsa: Senator Benson Agadaga, who represents Bayelsa East, failed to secure a return ticket.

Plateau: Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central) lost out amid the state’s changing political calculations.

Volatility in Kaduna, Kano, and FCT

Kaduna State politics remain highly volatile. Senator Lawal Adamu Usman reportedly lost his ticket to former Senator Shehu Sani, whose political comeback has disrupted the status quo in Kaduna Central.

In Kano, the fate of Deputy Minority Whip Rufai Hanga (NDC) is tied to his party’s performance against an APC led by former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, who has reportedly secured the Kano Central ticket.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) presents one of the most intense three-way battles. Senator Ireti Kingibe (ADC) faces a gruelling cont’st against former Senator Philip Aduda (APC) and activist Aisha Yesufu (NDC). Her re-election bid is further complicated by the open opposition of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who has repeatedly vowed she will not return in 2027.

High stakes in Kogi, Kwara

In Kogi State, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is preparing for what many describe as the “battle of 2027” against the political machinery of former Governor Yahaya Bello. On the state’s eastern flank, Senator Isah Jibrin Echocho has reportedly lost his primary bid.

Kwara State may see a total overhaul. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reportedly consolidated control of the APC structure, taking the Kwara Central ticket from Senator Saliu Mustapha, who is now pursuing a governorship bid. Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru is also said to have failed to secure his return ticket.

A loss of Institutional memory?

The looming exit of nearly 40 per cent of the Senate raises serious concerns about institutional memory. A Red Chamber stripped of experienced lawmakers may struggle with legislative continuity at a time when Nigeria faces mounting economic and security pressures.

However, in the current political climate, legislative experience is rarely a guarantee of safety. As the 2027 season intensifies, the 10th Senate is bracing for a “clear-out” that proves, once again, that in Nigerian politics, the only constant is change. (The Nation)

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