2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Cross River State

2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Cross River State

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
All 3 Cross River 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 Cross River State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Cross River 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, two of three incumbent senators were returned with John Owan Enoh (APC-Central) retiring to unsuccessfully run for governor while Rose Okoji Oko (PDP-North) and Gershom Bassey (PDP-South) were re-elected. In the Central district, Sandy Ojang Onor regained the seat for the PDP with 57% of the vote; the PDP held the other two seats as Oko was re-elected with 73% of the vote in the North while Bassey was returned with 55% in the South district. These results were a part of a continuation of the PDP's control of the state as Governor Benedict Ayade was re-elected with over 73% of the vote in the gubernatorial election and the party won every seat in the House of Assembly. However, the PDP did lose one House of Representatives seat to the APC and although the state was easily won by PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar, it still swung towards Buhari compared to 2015 and had lower turnout.

During the term, much of the news about Cross River senators focused on the Northern seat as Oko died in March 2020 with the legal and political battles over the ensuing by-election took place over a year. ^[1] After disputed PDP primaries, Stephen Odey initially won the seat and was sworn in but courts later ruled in MHR Agom Jarigbe's favour and he took office in September 2021. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Overview

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

Summary

This section is an excerpt from 2023 Nigerian Senate election § Cross River State.[ edit ]

     PDP incumbent retiring
     PDP incumbent running

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Cross River Central	Sandy Ojang Onor	PDP	Incumbent retired New member elected APC gain	▌Y Eteng Williams [5] [6] (APC) ▌ Bassey Ewa (PDP) [7] [6]
Cross River North	Agom Jarigbe	PDP	Incumbent re-elected	▌ Benedict Ayade (APC) [8] [6] ▌Y Agom Jarigbe (PDP) [7] [6]
Cross River South	Gershom Bassey	PDP	Incumbent retired New member elected APC gain	▌Y Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC) [5] [6] ▌ Ekpo Okon (PDP) [7] [6]

Cross River Central

2023 Cross River Central Senatorial District election

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

Nominee Eteng Williams Bassey Ewa Party APC PDP

Senator before election Sandy Ojang Onor PDP Elected Senator TBD

The Cross River Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Abi, Boki, Etung, Ikom, Obubra, and Yakurr. The incumbent Sandy Ojang Onor (PDP) was elected with 56.6% of the vote in 2019. In March 2022, Onor announced that he would run for governor of Cross River State instead of seeking re-election. ^[9]

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. ^[10] 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. ^[11] 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. ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

On the primary date, an indirect primary in Ikom resulted in the victory of Eteng Williams—the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and MHA for Yakurr II. Williams beat first runner-up Akin Ricketts, the chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, by a 14% margin. ^[16] Like other APC senatorial primary winners, Williams was noted for being an ally of Governor Benedict Ayade; ^[16] the primary itself was rejected by another candidate, Okoi Obono-Obla. ^[17] Months later in early December, a Federal High Court ruling annulled the primaries and ordered a rerun exercise. ^[18] The rerun primary was conducted on 17 December, with it also resulting in the nomination of Williams over his opponents. ^[19] Nevertheless, aspirant Mary Ekpere returned to court in an attempt to disqualify Williams and first runner-up John Inyang then declared herself as victor. ^[20]

Annulled primary results

APC primary results ^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Eteng Williams	152	48.26%
	APC	Akin Ricketts	109	34.60%
	APC	Mary Ekpere	35	11.11%
	APC	Okoi Obono-Obla	19	6.03%
Total votes			315	100.00%

APC rerun primary results ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Eteng Williams	270	88.52%
	APC	John Inyang	27	8.85%
	APC	Mary Ekpere	7	2.30%
	APC	Akin Ricketts	1	0.33%
Total votes			305	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			3	N/A
Turnout			308	93.3%

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. ^[21] 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; ^[22] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May. ^{[23] [24] [25] [26]}

On the primary date, candidates contested a direct primary that ended with Bassey Ewa winning the nomination after results showed him defeating former commissioner Goddy Eta by a narrow margin of eight votes. ^[27]

PDP primary results ^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Bassey Ewa	102	51.26%
	PDP	Godwin Ettah	94	47.23%
	PDP	Wilfred Usani	3	1.51%
	PDP	Other candidates	0	0.00%
Total votes			199	100.00%

General election

Results

2023 Cross River Central Senatorial District election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	AA	Roland Bassey Igboke
	ADC	Uti Uwana
	APC	Eteng Williams
	LP	Patrick Okomiso
	NNPP	Samuel Ubana Eno
	PRP	Simon Ebuta Akor
	PDP	Bassey Ewa
	SDP	Dominion Winner Esang
	YPP	Anthony Bissiong Attah
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes				N/A
Turnout

Cross River North

2023 Cross River North Senatorial District election

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

Nominee Benedict Ayade Agom Jarigbe Party APC PDP

Senator before election Agom Jarigbe PDP Elected Senator TBD

The Cross River North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Bekwarra, Biase, Obanliku, Obudu, Ogoja, and Yala. In 2019, Rose Okoji Oko (PDP) was re-elected to the seat with 73.3% of the vote. Oko died in March 2020, leading to a by-election in December 2020. Although the PDP won the by-election, a dispute over the legitimate PDP primary victor between Agom Jarigbe and Stephen Odey delayed the inauguration; Odey won both initial court decisions and took office late in December 2020. However, Jarigbe later won several court challenges which declared him the legitimate PDP nominee and thus Senator; he took office in September 2021. Jarigbe 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. ^[10] 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. ^[11] 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. ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

On the primary date, the indirect primary at the Liyel Imoke Pavilion in Ogoja ended with Martins Orim—former Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Government—emerging as the nominee unanimously. ^[28] Like other APC senatorial primary winners, Orim was noted for being an ally of Governor Benedict Ayade, having been on the "oga's list" of Ayade's anointed candidates. ^[16] The other candidate, Cecilia Adams, boycotted the Pavilion primary and held a parallel primary in which she won. ^[29] However, the APC recognized the Pavilion primary and accepted Orim as the legitimate nominee until he withdrew from the nomination in July. The withdrawal led to a new primary in Ogoja, won by Ayade himself unopposed after the failure of his presidential campaign. In his acceptance speech, Ayade thanked delegates and vowed to return to the Senate. ^[30] Although Adams challenged the primary in court, her case was dismissed in February 2023. ^[31]

Original primary results

APC primary results ^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Eteng Williams	254	100.00%
	APC	Cecilia Adams	0	0.00%
Total votes			254	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			1	N/A
Turnout			255	Unknown

APC rerun primary results ^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Benedict Ayade	252	100.00%
Total votes			252	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			3	N/A
Turnout			255	Unknown

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. ^[21] 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. ^{[23] [24] [25] [33]}

On the primary date, an indirect primary ended with Jarigbe's renomination as he was unopposed. ^[27]

Campaign

Opponents of Ayade noted the lack of development in the district throughout his first term as senator and two terms as governor as rationale to vote against him. ^[34]

General election

Results

2023 Cross River North Senatorial District election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	AA	Peter Banbeshie Ikwen
	ADC	John Ogar
	APC	Benedict Ayade
	APM	Joseph Odey Adula
	LP	Gboshe Aganyi Gboshe
	NNPP	Carolyn Williams Okem
	PRP	Williams Ibu
	PDP	Agom Jarigbe
	SDP	Gabriel Abbas Abuashe
	YPP	Unimke Kenneth Ogar
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes				N/A
Turnout

Cross River South

2023 Cross River South Senatorial District election

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

Nominee Asuquo Ekpenyong Ekpo Okon Party APC PDP

Senator before election Gershom Bassey PDP Elected Senator TBD

The Cross River South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Calabar Municipal, Calabar South, and Odukpani. The incumbent Gershom Bassey (PDP) was re-elected with 54.5% of the vote in 2019. In March 2022, Onor announced that he would run for governor of Cross River State instead of seeking re-election; he was defeated in the PDP gubernatorial primary. ^[9]

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. ^[10] 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. ^[11] 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. ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

Two candidates contested in the primary that ended with Asuquo Ekpenyong—former state Commissioner for Finance—emerging as the nominee unanimously. ^[16] Ekpenyong thanked his supporters in his acceptance speech. Like other APC senatorial primary winners, Ekpenyong was noted for being an ally of Governor Benedict Ayade, having been on the "oga's list" of Ayade's anointed candidates. ^[16]

APC primary results ^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Asuquo Ekpenyong	347	100.00%
	APC	Victor Effiom Ekpo (withdrawn)	0	0.00%
Total votes			347	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			4	N/A
Turnout			351	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. ^[21] 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; ^[35] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May. ^{[23] [24] [25] [36]}

On the primary date, two candidates contested a direct primary that ended with Ekpo Okon—former state PDP chairman—winning the nomination after results showed him defeating Joseph Edet by a 60% margin. After the primary, Edet conceded and accepted the results while Okon commended PDP internal democracy during the process. ^[27]

PDP primary results ^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Ekpo Okon	186	79.83%
	PDP	Joseph Edet	47	20.17%
Total votes			233	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			1	N/A
Turnout			234	99.57%

Campaign

In a January 2023 overview of legislative races in the South South, reporters from Vanguard noted key issues for the campaigns of Okon—he was caught in between the blocs of the state PDP with his longtime allies (former governors Liyel Imoke and Donald Duke) on one side while the PDP gubernatorial nominee Sandy Ojang Onor was on the other side—and disputed LP nominee Daniel Effiong Asuquo—some people blamed his refusal to withdraw from the PDP gubernatorial primary as the cause of Bassey's defeat. ^[37]

General election

Results

2023 Cross River South Senatorial District election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	ADC	Josee Offiong
	APC	Asuquo Ekpenyong
	APGA	Ukpong Chuwang Daniel
	APM	Gloria Odidi Orok
	LP	Daniel Effiong Asuquo
	NNPP	Ayi Etim Ekpenyown
	PRP	Celestine Awor Inyang
	PDP	Ekpo Okon
	SDP	Newton Bassey Edet
	YPP	Andem Archibong Ekeng
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes				N/A
Turnout

See also

• 2023 Nigerian Senate election
• 2023 Nigerian elections

References

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