April Poll: Star senatorial contests to watch
PoliticsMar 30, 2011By Dayo Benson, Assistant Editor
IN another 48 hours, the much awaited April poll begin with National Assembly election. Senators and House of Representatives candidates across parties will vie for seats in the two legislative chambers. Some sitting senators and Representatives will be seeking to renew their mandates just are prospective federal legislators are out to unseat the incumbents.
Undoubtedly, the senatorial poll is likely to engage attention of analysts and political watchers more than House of Representatives because of some star contest it promises. These star contestants are the ones to watch in this Saturday senatorial race.
Mark Vs Onoja: Before venturing into partisan politics, the two had shot into limelight in the course of their career as military officers.
At different times, they were military governors. They are from the same Benue South Senatorial District of Benue State. Those are what they share in common. For Senate President, Senator David Bondventure Mark and Lawrence Onoja, the Benue South Senatorial District sit is a fight to finish.
Before now, the duo had traded accusations and counter-accusations. How Onoja, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN candidate hopes to unseat Mark, a three-time Senator remains to be seen as the two opponents perfect their strategies ahead Saturday. While Mark is banking on the combination of his experience and position in the Senate, Onoja hopes to ride to the hallow upper chamber of the National Assembly on the crest wave of ACN soaring popularity as a credible alternative to ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
However, the choice between the duo is for the people to make as they cast their ballot.
Akume Vs Tsegba: Like Mark against Onoja, another star contest in Benue is between former governor turned Senator George Akume and House of Representative member, Hon. Tsegbu Tsegba. The former was the Speaker protempore during the stand-off that led to the removal of Mrs. Patricia Ette as House of Representatives. Senator Akume who is ACN candidate will flex his political muscles against former fellow PDP member. Akume faces an up-hill task in the opponent who was once his political son.
Tsegba who will not leave anything to chances to upstage his ex-mentor in counting on the backing of Governor Gabriel Suswan. Will a House of Representatives member defeat an ex-governor and serving senator?
Anyanwu Vs Chikwe: Imo East Senatorial District race between Senator Chris Anyanwu and Dr.(Mrs) Kema Chikwe can well be described as a clash of political amazons. The two are eyeing Imo East Senatorial seat which Anyanwu currently occupies. Until her defecting to All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA.
Senator Anyanwu was a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP senator. The fall-out of PDP primary which saw Chikwe emerging as the party's senatorial candidate compelled Senator Anyanwu to pitch her tent with APGA in a bid to retain her seat.
She, like other serving senators who are facing stiff oppositions, will rely on her experience and popularity to hold on to her seat.
Her challenger who is not less experienced is relying on her goodwill as a former aviation minister.
Chukwumerije Vs Orji Kalu: This is another case of a battle between a political godfather and godson. Senator Uche Chukwumerije is the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District. His opponent is former governor Orji Uzor Kalu.
The former is PDP candidate while the latter is the candidate of Progressive People Alliance, PPA. Interestingly, Chukwumerije, until recently was a senator on the platform of PPA which he dumped for APGA where he had a stint before settling for PDP. On his part, Orji Kalu was the founder of PPA and its one time presidential aspirant. He, actually gave Chukwumerije the party's ticket to the senate in 2007.
Watchers of Abia politics see Chukwumerije's ambition as a political affront to Orji Kalu. Their supporters in the state have reportedly clashed several times. Chukwumerije enjoys the support of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, who incidentally was also a protege of Orji Kalu until they fell apart and the governor left PPA for PDP after a brief stop-over with APGA. For Orji Kalu, the senatorial race is a struggle for political re-assertion and relevance if not survival. Will he allow himself to be rubbished by a senator he made? The day after Saturday will tell.
Ngige Vs Akunyili: Anambra Central Senatorial District contest like others promises to be interesting. Even if the seat is being occupied by Senator Ani Okonkwo, of PDP, many observers see it more as a fight between former governor Chris Ngige and Prof. Dora Akunyili. Ngige is running on the ticket of ACN while Akunyili is holding the banner of APGA.
For the senatorial seat, Akunyili resigned her appointment as a minister and even dumped PDP for APGA. Some watchers were bewildered over her action considering the role she had played in Anambra PDP. Obviously, Akunyili has distinguished herself in public service both as NAFDAC director-general and as a minister. Many will not forget her lofty role in the latter days of late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
But will all these translate to good fortune for her at the poll? She has a formidable opponent in Ngige who came second in February 10, 2010 governorship election in the state. On a scale of popularity, Ngige is as popular as his opponent.
Over the years, he has earned a lot of goodwill especially as a former governor of the state. His achievements then still speak for him. This is the credential he is taking to the poll on Saturday. Will all these stand to his advantage? The people of Anambra Central will decide.
Oyinlola Vs Adeyeye:- For ouster governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Saturday senatorial election is a redemptive mission after losing his position to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of ACN. The Ibadan Court of Appeal judgement which sacked Oyinlola from office following ACN governorship petition was undoubtedly a big blow.
Prior to the November last year verdict, Oyinlola had indicated his intention to go to the Senate on completion of his second term tenure as Osun State governor. The court judgment coming at the twilight of his administration was a dent on his credential. Hence, clinching the Osun Central Senatorial slot is a task that must be accomplished for him to sustain his relevance in Osun politics. But he has strong opponents to contend with in Prof. Sola Adeyeye a House of Representatives member.
Adeyeye is bearing the banner of ACN in the state. The election will be a show of strength between ACN and PDP. Beyond that, Oyinlola is squared up against a candidate whose party is out to prove that it is in total control of the state. He also has another opponent in Senator Felix Ogunwale of the Accord Party.
Omisore Vs Omoworare:- Another senatorial race in Osun State is a return match between Senator Iyiola Omisore and Hon. Jide Omoworare for Osun East Senatorial District also known as Ife/Ijesha. Omisore is Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation while Omoworare is ACN senatorial candidate in 2007 and a member of Lagos State House of Assembly between 1999-2007. Indeed, Saturday poll is a third leg between the two. The second was in 2009 when Court of Appeal nullified Omisore's mandate and ordered a re-run.
Omisore won the election which the ACN disputed. Until former governor Oyinlola was sacked, Omisore was primed to succeed him as he was set to pick the PDP governorship ticket. The enthronement of Governor Aregbesola which automatically truncated Omisore's ambition made him fall-back on the contest for senatorial seat which he still occupies. Will Omoworare turn the table this time around or will Omisore retain his seat? The die is cast.
Agagu Vs Kunlere:- Former governor Olusegun Agagu is another ouster chief executive of a state seeking a seat in the Senate. His opponent is Boluwaji Kunlere, an aide to Governor Olusegun Mimiko. As a former deputy governor of Ondo State, an ex-minister and former governor, analysts believe that Kunlere who was a former council chairman before he was made Special Adviser to Mimiko, is no match to Agagu. So, the Ondo South Senatorial District seat is actually a contest between Mimiko and Agagu. Like Osun when ACN is out to prove a point, Ondo race is a first showdown between PDP and Labour Party which must convince all that it is in control of the state.
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NOT TO TALK OF:
* Arise (PDP, incumbent) vs. Adetunmbi (ACN) - in Ekiti North Senatorial District
* Ojudu (ACN) vs. Fayose (LP) - in Ekiti Central Senatorial District
* Akinyede (PDP, incumbent) vs. Adeniyi (ACN) - in Ekiti South Senatorial District
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