2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Benue State

2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Benue State

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
All 3 Benue State seats in the Senate of Nigeria
Majority party   Party PDP Last election 3 Seats before 3
PDP incumbent retiring      PDP incumbent running for re-election

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Benue State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Benue 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

In the previous Senate elections, none of the three incumbent senators were returned, with longtime Senator David Mark (PDP-South) retiring whilst Barnabas Andyar Gemade (SDP-North-East) and George Akume (APC-North-West) were defeated in their re-election bids. In the South district, Patrick Abba Moro retained the seat for the PDP with 49% of the vote; the PDP gained the other two seats as Gabriel Suswam unseated Gemade with 53% in the North-East while Akume was defeated in the North-West by Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev with 57% of the vote. These results were a part of a wider shift back towards the PDP in Benue as PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar narrowly won the state after Buhari had won it in 2015 and the PDP won seven House of Representatives seats. Similarly, Governor Samuel Ortom (PDP) won re-election by over 10% and the PDP won a majority in the House of Assembly.

Overview

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

Summary

This table is an excerpt from 2023 Nigerian Senate election § Benue State.[ edit ]

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Benue North-East	Gabriel Suswam	PDP	Incumbent lost re-election New member elected APC gain	▌Y Emmanuel Memga Udende (APC) [1] [2] ▌ Gabriel Suswam (PDP) [3] [2]
Benue North-West	Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev	PDP	Incumbent retired New member elected APC gain	▌Y Titus Zam (APC) [2] ▌ Samuel Ortom (PDP) [4] [2]
Benue South	Patrick Abba Moro	PDP	Incumbent re-elected	▌ Daniel Onjeh (APC) [5] [2] ▌Y Patrick Abba Moro (PDP) [6] [2]

Benue North-East

2023 Benue North-East Senatorial District election

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

Nominee Emmanuel Memga Udende Torngee Malu Gabriel Suswam Party APC LP PDP

Senator before election Gabriel Suswam PDP Elected Senator To be determined To be determined

The Benue North-East Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Kwande, Logo, Vandeikya, Ukum, and Ushongo. The district is often referred to as "Zone A" and is also noted for its ethnic Tiv majority. The incumbent Gabriel Suswam (PDP), who was elected with 52.6% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.

Primary elections

All Progressives Congress

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, seven candidates contested a direct primary that ended with Emmanuel Memga Udende—former MHR for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo—winning the nomination after results showed him defeating Terlumun Akputu by a 40% margin. ^[13]

APC primary results ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Emmanuel Memga Udende	211,887	66.80%
	APC	Terlumun Akputu	84,304	26.57%
	APC	Torngee Malu	16,139	5.09%
	APC	Andrew Ayabam	1,934	0.61%
	APC	Helen Atom	1,557	0.49%
	APC	Sam Zuga	1,078	0.34%
	APC	Manasseh Denga	304	0.10%
Total votes			317,203	100.00%

People's Democratic Party

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. ^[14] 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; ^[15] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May. ^{[16] [17] [18] [19]}

On the primary date, an indirect primary ended with Suswam's renomination as he was unopposed. ^[20]

Campaign

In December 2022, reporting from The Punch stated that while Udende and Suswam were the two frontrunners, Torngee Malu (LP) could obtain a significant share of the vote total. ^[21]

General election

Results

2023 Benue North-East Senatorial District election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	AA	Sam Zuga
	ADP	Kwamanda Kwamande
	ADC	Demian Jiraji
	APC	Emmanuel Memga Udende
	APGA	Williams Iyorwuese Ligom
	LP	Torngee Malu
	NRM	Kaor Sesugh Titus
	NNPP	Samuel Shangev-De Adzango
	PRP	Andrew Aondoaseer Isho
	PDP	Gabriel Suswam
	SDP	Martin Msughter Iorsamber
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes				N/A
Turnout

Benue North-West

2023 Benue North-West Senatorial District election

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

Nominee Titus Zam Mark Gbillah Samuel Ortom Party APC LP PDP

Senator before election Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev PDP Elected Senator To be determined To be determined

The Benue North-West Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Buruku, Gboko, Gwer East, Gwer West, Guma, Makurdi, and Tarka. The district is often referred to as "Zone B" and is also noted for its ethnic Tiv majority. The incumbent Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev (PDP), who was elected with 56.5% of the vote in 2019, is retiring from the Senate.

Primary elections

All Progressives Congress

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 30 May, a direct primary that ended with Titus Zam defeating two other candidates in a landslide.

APC primary results ^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Titus Zam	147,151	91.86%
	APC	Dave Awunah	6,821	4.26%
	APC	Benjamin Adanyih	6,209	3.88%
Total votes			160,181	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			0	N/A
Turnout			160,181	69.69%

People's Democratic Party

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. ^[14] 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; ^[23] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May. ^{[16] [17] [18] [24]}

Weeks before the primary, Orker-Jev declined to run for re-election in favour of outgoing Governor Samuel Ortom's senatorial ambition. On the primary date, Ortom was nominated unopposed at the venue in Makurdi. After the vote, Ortom thanked the people of the district and pledged to continue good representation. ^{[25] [20]}

Campaign

In review of the campaign in December 2022, reporting from The Nation observed regional elements to the election as Ortom's feud with PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu reflected on their native communities as Ortom is a Jemgba Tiv while Ayu is a Minda Tiv. Another key factor noted was the ability of Ortom to use the power of his state government to help campaigning. ^[26] In a piece later that month from The Punch, reporting indicated that Ortom had met with several Minda Tiv community leaders to gain their support while Zam had been hindered by the rising candidacy of Mark Gbillah (LP)—a MHR who, like Zam, originates from Gwer West LGA. ^[21] A piece from The Africa Report in January also noted regional sentiments and Gwer West vote splitting but focused more so on the Ortom versus former Governor George Akume dynamic. An analyst claimed "Zam is Akume's candidate" and thus the election was labeled effectively a contest between Ortom and Akume. ^[27]

In the fortnight prior to the election, the election came to national attention when Ortom endorsed Peter Obi in the presidential election on 17 February 2023. ^[28] While it was notable as he became the first incumbent governor to endorse Obi, in terms of the senatorial election, Ortom became in danger of internal PDP sanction due to the endorsement. Despite this threat, Ortom claimed that he was "sacrifice [his] senatorial ambition" for Obi's campaign. ^[29] Pundits noted the oddity of Ortom endorsing Obi while competing against Gbillah in addition to the rising popularity of APC gubernatorial nominee Hyacinth Alia. ^[30]

General election

Results

2023 Benue North-West Senatorial District election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	ADP	John Bosco Tyozenda
	ADC	Celestine Orbunde
	APC	Titus Zam
	APGA	Orahii Tertsea
	LP	Mark Gbillah
	NNPP	Aondoaver Francis Ako
	PRP	Godwin Terna Tile
	PDP	Samuel Ortom
	SDP	John Bosco Maria Tyozenda
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes				N/A
Turnout

Benue South

2023 Benue South Senatorial District election

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

Nominee Daniel Onjeh Joseph Ojobo Patrick Abba Moro Party APC LP PDP

Senator before election Patrick Abba Moro PDP Elected Senator To be determined To be determined

The Benue South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ado, Agatu, Apa, Obi, Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Oju, Okpokwu, and Otukpo. The district is often referred to as "Zone C" and is also noted for its population of predominantly ethnic Idoma and Igede peoples. The incumbent Patrick Abba Moro (PDP), who was elected with 48.6% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.

Primary elections

All Progressives Congress

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 30 May, a direct primary that ended with activist Daniel Onjeh defeating four candidates in a landslide. In Onjeh's acceptance speech, he called on the party to unite behind him as its nominee. ^{[22] [31]}

APC primary results ^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Daniel Onjeh	127,090	95.77%
	APC	Austin Oleho	2,917	2.20%
	APC	Nelson Alapa	1,313	0.99%
	APC	Jacob Ajene	1,016	0.77%
	APC	Ejeh Joseph Ekwote	364	0.27%
Total votes			132,700	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			0	N/A
Turnout			132,700	66.50%

People's Democratic Party

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. ^[14] 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; ^[32] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May. ^{[16] [17] [18] [33]}

On May 28, four candidates contested an indirect primary that ended with Moro winning renomination after results showed him defeating Hassan Anthony Saleh by a significant margin. ^[34]

PDP primary results ^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Patrick Abba Moro	179	58.31%
	PDP	Hassan Anthony Saleh	72	23.45%
	PDP	Joseph Ojobo	53	17.26%
	PDP	Bright Ogaji	3	0.98%
Total votes			307	100.00%

Campaign

In a December 2022 campaign analysis article, The Punch labeled Moro as the frontrunner while Onjeh and Joseph Ojobo (LP) were noted as other major candidates. ^[21]

General election

Results

2023 Benue South Senatorial District election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	ADP	Anne Enye Adegbe
	ADC	Ujah Matthew Onoja
	APC	Daniel Onjeh
	APGA	Madaki Jerry Omakwu
	LP	Joseph Ojobo
	NNPP	Isaac Jerome Idu
	PRP	Iyah Iyah
	PDP	Patrick Abba Moro
	SDP	Itodo F. Idoko
	ZLP	Simon Ocheme Ogbe
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes				N/A
Turnout

See also

• 2023 Nigerian Senate election
• 2023 Nigerian elections

References

1. Torough, David. "2022: Ex-Lawmaker, Udende Clinches Zone 'A' Senate Ticket in Benue". Daily Asset Newspaper. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
2. Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times . Retrieved 21 September 2022.
3. Duru, Peter. "PDP Primaries: 3 Benue Reps Members fail to secure party's ticket; Ortom, Suswam successful". Vanguard . Retrieved 25 May 2022. Meanwhile, both Governor Samuel Ortom and incumbent Senator Gabriel Suswam also secured the tickets of the party to represent Benue North West and Benue North-East Senatorial Districts respectively.
4. Charles, John. "Ortom picks PDP senatorial ticket unopposed". The Punch . Retrieved 24 May 2022.
5. "Daniel Onjeh gets APC senatorial ticket for Benue South". Peoples Gazette . News Agency of Nigeria . Retrieved 2 June 2022.
6. Opejobi, Seun. "Benue primaries: Abba Moro wins PDP senatorial ticket in Zone C". Daily Post . Retrieved 24 May 2022.
7. Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post . Retrieved 7 May 2022.
8. Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post . Retrieved 11 May 2022.
9. Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times . Retrieved 25 April 2022.
10. 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. APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 11, 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022– via Twitter.
12. APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 18, 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022– via Twitter.
13. Torough, David. "2022: Ex-Lawmaker, Udende Clinches Zone 'A' Senate Ticket in Benue". Daily Asset Newspaper. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
14. Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch . Retrieved 21 April 2022.
15. "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust . Retrieved 30 July 2022.
16. Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard . Abuja . Retrieved 7 April 2022.
17. Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable . Retrieved 7 April 2022.
18. Official PDP Nigeria [@OfficialPDPNig] (May 5, 2022). "2023 General Elections: @OfficialPDPNig updated Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections. See below" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 May 2022– via Twitter.
19. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch . Retrieved 30 July 2022.
20. Duru, Peter. "PDP Primaries: 3 Benue Reps Members fail to secure party's ticket; Ortom, Suswam successful". Vanguard . Retrieved 1 August 2022.
21. Charles, John. "Ortom, Suswam, Moro, others battle for Benue senatorial seats". The Punch . Retrieved 27 December 2022.
22. "Daniel Onjeh gets APC senatorial ticket for Benue South". Peoples Gazette . News Agency of Nigeria . Retrieved 1 August 2022.
23. "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust . Retrieved 30 July 2022.
24. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch . Retrieved 30 July 2022.
25. Opejobi, Seun. "Benue PDP primaries: Gov Ortom wins senatorial ticket". Daily Post . Retrieved 1 August 2022.
26. 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.
27. Ezeamalu, Ben. "Nigeria 2023: Six key battleground districts to watch during the Senatorial election". The Africa Report . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
28. Ejekwonyilo, Ameh. "Gov Ortom unveils Peter Obi as preferred presidential candidate". Premium Times . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
29. Ukpong, Cletus. "Gov Ortom willing to sacrifice senatorial ambition for Peter Obi to become president". Premium Times . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
30. Seye, Abdul. "Senate Race: 28 serving, ex-governors in race to 10th Senate". Daily Post . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
31. "TEXT OF MY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH As THE 2023 CANDIDATE OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) FOR BENUE ZONE 'C', FOLLOWING MY VICTORY AT THE APC SENATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION HELD ON 28TH MAY, 2022". Facebook . Daniel Onjeh . Retrieved 1 August 2022.
32. "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust . Retrieved 30 July 2022.
33. Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch . Retrieved 30 July 2022.
34. Opejobi, Seun. "Benue primaries: Abba Moro wins PDP senatorial ticket in Zone C". Daily Post . Retrieved 2 August 2022.