2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State

2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
All 3 Edo State seats in the Senate of Nigeria
Majority party Minority party   Party PDP APC Last election 2 1 Seats before 3 0

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Edo 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 terms of the previous Senate elections, all three incumbent senators were re-elected: Clifford Ordia (PDP) held his seat with 53% of the vote in the Central district, Francis Alimikhena (APC) won with 59% in the North district, and Matthew Urhoghide was returned with 51% in the South district. These results were a showcase of Edo State's electoral competitiveness as the APC won slightly more House of Representatives seats than the PDP and a sizeable APC majority was elected to the House of Assembly but PDP nominee Atiku Abubakar narrowly carried the state in the presidential election. Over a year after the senatorial elections was the state's gubernatorial election where incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki (APC-turned-PDP) was re-elected under the banner of his new party.

Later in the term, Ordia and Urhoghide sided with Obaseki in the battle over control of the Edo PDP and took part in his faction's primaries for 2023. ^[1] Alimikhena left the APC in May 2022 and joined the PDP, also siding with the Obaseki-aligned faction. ^[2]

Overview

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

Summary

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

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Edo Central	Clifford Ordia	PDP	Incumbent lost re-election New member elected APC gain	▌Y Monday Okpebholo (APC) [3] [4] ▌ Clifford Ordia (PDP) [5]
Edo North	Francis Alimikhena	PDP [lower-alpha 1]	Incumbent withdrew from primary [lower-alpha 2] Incumbent lost re-election under nomination of new party New member elected APC gain	▌Y Adams Oshiomhole (APC) [6] [7] [3] [4] ▌ Francis Alimikhena [8]
Edo South	Matthew Urhoghide	PDP	Incumbent lost renomination New member elected LP gain	▌ Valentine Asuen (APC) [7] [3] [4] ▌Y Neda Imasuen (LP) [4] ▌ Matthew Iduoriyekemwen (PDP) [5] [9] [4]

Edo Central

2023 Edo Central Senatorial District election

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

Nominee Monday Okpebholo Clifford Ordia Party APC PDP

Senator before election Clifford Ordia PDP Elected Senator To be determined To be determined

The Edo Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Esan Central, Esan North-East, Esan South-East, Esan West, and Igueben; it largely corresponds with the Esan cultural area of Esanland. The incumbent Clifford Ordia (PDP), who was re-elected with 52.9% 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. ^[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, Monday Okpebholo was the sole candidate and was nominated unopposed. ^[16]

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. ^[17] 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; ^[18] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May. ^{[19] [20] [21] [22]}

In the year before the primaries, the Edo State PDP split between two factions: one group led by incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki and his allies who joined the PDP with him in 2020 with a rival bloc led by the national PDP South-South Deputy National Vice-Chairman Dan Orbih and longtime party members. The dispute escalated in late 2021 when the Obaseki-aligned state PDP leadership attempted to suspend Orbih's membership and the two factions held separate party congresses. ^[23] Despite a court order that recognised the Orbih faction a few days before the primary date, both factions held separate primaries with longtime party members mainly winning the Orbih factional primaries and recent defectors mainly winning the Obaseki factional primaries. ^{[24] [25]}

In the Orbih-aligned factional primary, former Minister of Works Mike Onolememen emerged victorious over former MHR Friday Obomezele Itulah by a large margin. ^[26] In the Obaseki-aligned factional primary, Ordia also defeated Itulah in a landslide. ^[26] In INEC's final list of nominees in September, the Orbih faction's nominees were recognized due to the previous court order; ^[27] however, Federal High Court promptly ordered the recognition of the Obaseki faction's nominees before the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Orbih’s faction. ^{[28] [29]} However, it was not until 2 February 2023 that the apex court definitively ruled on the matter, again siding with the Obaseki faction. ^[30]

Orbih-aligned primary results

PDP Orbih-aligned primary results ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Mike Onolememen	123	87.86%
	PDP	Friday Obomezele Itulah	17	12.14%
	PDP	Other candidates	0	0.00%
Total votes			140	100.00%

PDP Obaseki-aligned primary results ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Clifford Ordia	148	99.33%
	PDP	Friday Obomezele Itulah	1	0.67%
	PDP	Other candidates	0	0.00%
Total votes			149	100.00%

Campaign

By the start of the official campaign period in October, Okpebholo supporters began to use the PDP crisis to campaign with claims that the ongoing litigation could deprive the district of representation if the PDP won the seat but litigation continued. ^[31]

General election

Results

2023 Edo Central Senatorial District election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	A	Alex Ehi Aidaghese
	AA	Saint Lovinson Anenih
	ADP	Iboi Lucky Emmanuel
	ADC	Odion Kennedy Osas
	APC	Monday Okpebholo
	LP	Oseremen Christ Omofoma
	NNPP	Okoduwa Akhigbe
	PDP	Clifford Ordia
	SDP	Sebastian Iyere
	ZLP	Mercy Ogeide
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes				N/A
Turnout

Edo North

2023 Edo North Senatorial District election

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

Nominee Adams Oshiomhole Francis Alimikhena Party APC PDP

Senator before election Francis Alimikhena PDP Elected Senator To be determined To be determined

The Edo North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Akoko Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Etsako West, Owan East, and Owan West. The incumbent Francis Alimikhena (PDP) was re-elected with 59.0% of the vote in 2019 as a member of the APC; he initially sought renomination in the APC before withdrawing from the primary and defecting to win the PDP nomination in June 2022.

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]}

About two months before the primary date, Alimikhena declared for re-election but former Edo State Governor and former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole also announced that he would run for the seat; ^{[32] [33]} however, Oshiomhole also declared his campaign for president around the same time. ^[34] Despite calls from pro-Alimikhena groups for Oshiomhole to continue his presidential campaign, he dropped the presidential campaign in mid-May causing Alimikhena to withdraw from the senatorial primary and leave the APC. ^{[35] [36] [37]} At the primary in Auchi, Oshiomhole won easily and said afterwards that he "will ensure that the voice of Edo North will be loud and clear" in the Senate and called on Alimikhena to accept the primary. ^{[38] [39]}

APC primary results ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Adams Oshiomhole	309	98.41%
	APC	Francis Alimikhena (withdrawn)	5	1.59%
Total votes			314	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			3	N/A
Turnout			317	99.06%

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. ^[17] 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; ^[40] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May. ^{[19] [20] [21] [41]}

In the year before the primaries, the Edo State PDP split between two factions: one group led by incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki and his allies who joined the PDP with him in 2020 with a rival bloc led by the national PDP South-South Deputy National Vice-Chairman Dan Orbih and longtime party members. The dispute escalated in late 2021 when the Obaseki-aligned state PDP leadership attempted to suspend Orbih's membership and the two factions held separate party congresses. ^[42] Despite a court order that recognised the Orbih faction a few days before the primary date, both factions held separate primaries with longtime party members mainly winning the Orbih factional primaries and recent defectors mainly winning the Obaseki factional primaries. ^{[43] [44]}

In the Orbih-aligned factional primary, Pascal Ugbome—a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly—defeated runner-up Tony Ezekiel by a 47% margin. ^[26] In the original Obaseki-aligned factional primary, Victoria Edelokun defeated Ugbome by an even greater margin but she withdrew from the nomination a few days later. ^[26] The Obaseki factional PDP leadership called a new primary for 4 June in Auchi which the newly defected Alimikhena won by a 94% margin. ^{[45] [46]} Afterwards, Ugbome protested to the media and repeated his claim to be the legitimate PDP nominee. ^[46] In INEC's final list of nominees in September, the Orbih faction's nominees were recognized due to the previous court order; ^[27] however, Federal High Court promptly ordered the recognition of the Obaseki faction's nominees before the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Orbih’s faction. ^{[28] [29]} However, it was not until 2 February 2023 that the apex court definitivelu ruled on the matter, again siding with the Obaseki faction. ^[30]

Orbih-aligned primary results

PDP Orbih-aligned primary results ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Pascal Ugbome	140	70.71%
	PDP	Tony Ezekiel	47	23.74%
	PDP	Wilson Osigwe	11	5.55%
Total votes			198	100.00%

Original Obaseki-aligned primary results

PDP Obaseki-aligned primary results ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Victoria Edelokun	183	97.86%
	PDP	Pascal Ugbome	3	1.60%
	PDP	Wilson Osigwe	1	0.54%
Total votes			187	100.00%

PDP Obaseki-aligned rerun primary results ^[46]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Francis Alimikhena	181	96.28%
	PDP	Pascal Ugbome	4	2.13%
	PDP	Tony Ezekiel	3	1.59%
Total votes			198	100.00%

Campaign

In a January 2023 campaign analysis piece, reporters from The Punch labeled Oshiomhole as the frontrunner due to his longtime electoral influence in the region. However, the report also noted Alimikhena's incumbency advantage along with how the rise of Peter Obi's presidential candidacy could boost Anselm Eragbe—the LP senatorial nominee. ^[47] In the week before the election, the Daily Post noted that despite Oshiomhole and APC strength in the district, both the LP and PDP were genuine electoral threats (especially amid the naira scarcity crisis). ^[48]

General election

Results

2023 Edo North Senatorial District election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	AA	Francis Ojo Onaivi
	ADP	Kingson Akhimie
	ADC	Paul Ehidiamhe
	APC	Adams Oshiomhole
	BP	Osiriame Edeipo
	LP	Anselm Eragbe
	NNPP	Andrew Ayemere Igwemoh
	PDP	Francis Alimikhena
	SDP	Frank Akharume
	ZLP	Paul Yakubu
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes				N/A
Turnout

Edo South

2023 Edo South Senatorial District election

←  2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

Nominee Valentine Asuen Matthew Iduoriyekemwen Party APC PDP

Senator before election Matthew Urhoghide PDP Elected Senator To be determined To be determined

The Edo South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Egor, Ikpoba Okha, Oredo, Orhionmwon, Ovia North-East, Ovia South-West, and Uhunmwonde. The incumbent Matthew Urhoghide (PDP), who was re-elected with 51.0% of the vote in 2019, sought re-election but was defeated in the PDP primary.

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]}

The primary, which was held in a sports hall at the University of Benin in Benin City, resulted in Valentine Asuen's nomination. Asuen—a businessman, former APC official, and Oredo local government councilor—defeated former Deputy Governor Lucky Imasuen.^{[ citation needed ]}

APC primary results^{[ citation needed ]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	APC	Valentine Asuen	215	57.33%
	APC	Lucky Imasuen	160	42.67%
Total votes			375	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			4	N/A
Turnout			379	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. ^[17] 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; ^[49] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May. ^{[19] [20] [21] [50]}

In the year before the primaries, the Edo State PDP split between two factions: one group led by incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki and his allies who joined the PDP with him in 2020 with a rival bloc led by the national PDP South-South Deputy National Vice-Chairman Dan Orbih and longtime party members. The dispute escalated in late 2021 when the Obaseki-aligned state PDP leadership attempted to suspend Orbih's membership and the two factions held separate party congresses. ^[42] Despite a court order that recognised the Orbih faction a few days before the primary date, both factions held separate primaries with longtime party members mainly winning the Orbih factional primaries and recent defectors mainly winning the Obaseki factional primaries. ^{[43] [44]}

In the Orbih-aligned factional primary, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama—member of the House of Representatives for Oredo—was nominated unanimously but the primary was marred by three events: the shooting of a Orbih-aligned PDP ward chairman, an attack on the primary venue by allegedly Obaseki-supporting thugs, and the arrest of four journalists by police for covering an "illegal" primary. ^{[26] [51]} In the Obaseki-aligned factional primary at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, incumbent Urhoghide was defeated by Matthew Iduoriyekemwen—former member of the Edo State House of Assembly—in a narrow race; ^[26] Urhoghide promptly walked out of the venue. ^[52] In INEC's final list of nominees in September, the Orbih faction's nominees were recognized due to the previous court order; ^[27] however, Federal High Court promptly ordered the recognition of the Obaseki faction's nominees before the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Orbih’s faction. ^{[28] [29]} However, it was not until 2 February 2023 that the apex court definitivelu ruled on the matter, again siding with the Obaseki faction. ^[30]

Orbih-aligned primary results

PDP Orbih-aligned primary results ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama	177	100.00%
	PDP	Other candidates	0	0.00%
Total votes			177	100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			1	N/A
Turnout			178	72.65%

PDP Obaseki-aligned primary results ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PDP	Matthew Iduoriyekemwen	113	52.31%
	PDP	Matthew Urhoghide	103	47.69%
Total votes			216	100.00%

General election

Results

2023 Edo South Senatorial District election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	AA	Osas Omoruyi
	ADP	Ebenezer Akpovire Akpobi
	ADC	Oluwakemi Christiana Igunbor
	APC	Valentine Asuen
	LP	Neda Imasuen
	NRM	Imaren Augustine Obanor
	NNPP	Frederice Musa Osar-ose Uyigue
	PDP	Matthew Iduoriyekemwen
	SDP	Friday Osaruemwin Oronsaye
	ZLP	Osagie Erhunmwunse
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes				N/A
Turnout

See also

• 2023 Nigerian Senate election
• 2023 Nigerian elections

Notes

1. This senator was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP during their term.
2. Senator defected to new party after withdrawing from or losing their former party's primary.

References

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