BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi are among many prominent faces that will be conspicuously missing on parade when the 9th National Assembly is inaugurated in June 2019.
The two frontline Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Senators were roundly trounced by All Progressives Congress (APC) opponents in their return bids to the Red Chamber during the February 23 National Assembly election.
While Saraki lost to Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe in Kwara Central Senatorial District, Senator Olujimi was defeated by Prince Dayo Adeyeye for the Ekiti South Senatorial district.
According to official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oloriegbe polled a total of 123,808 votes to defeat the Senate President who scored 68,994 votes in the four local government councils of Kwara Central Senatorial district while Adeyeye amassed 77,621 to humble Olujimi who polled 53,741.
Orji Kalu wins Senate seat for APC
In Abia State, former Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu of APC proved political pundit right by snatching Abia North Senatorial seat from PDP.
The returning officer, Dr Charles Anumodu, who declared Kalu winner, said he polled 31,203 votes to thrash incumbent Senator Mao Ohuabunwa that scored 20,801 votes, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Chief David Ogba placed third with a score of 11,410 votes.
In his reaction, Senator Ohuabunwa rejected the result, claiming irregularities in the conduct of the election.
A statement by Ukpai Ukairo, for Senator Ohuabunwa’s campaign Organisation, said ‘the true results’ of Abia North senatorial election were still being collated.
According to him; “It has come to our knowledge that INEC operatives in their haste to arrive at a pre-determined conclusion manipulated the electoral process to the shock of all well- meaning patriots who believe in democracy.
“In this respect, it is tragic that INEC could conduct an election without the issuance of form EC40G, a form used to capture cancelled votes and places where there was no voting.
“In the circumstances of the above, we demand that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Abia State should direct the Returning Officer of the Abia North Senatorial Election to make the requisite declaration in accordance with the dictates of Rule 17E (e) of the guidelines for the conduct of elections issued by INEC by cancelling the elections completely”. – With agency report
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa rejects results
