Abaribe, Ekweremmadu, Omo-Agege, Gershom Bassey, Sandy Onor, and other senators who might become governors in 2023
Intrigues, permutations, alignments, and realignments are the order of the day in Nigeria’s unpredictable political environment – Already, some serving Nigerian senators are gearing up to be governors in their various home states in 2023.
Unlike in some other climes, a state governor is more accorded respect and wields more power than a senator in Nigeria. This is the reason why every election cycle, serving senators abandon their legislative duties to contest for their political party’s governorship ticket. As the 2023 general elections approach, a number of serving senators are already gearing up to contest for the governorship seats in their states. Senator Abaribe is one of the senators gearing up tp contest for governorship in 2023.
1. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe
An immensely experienced politician having served as deputy governor and now the minority leader of the Senate, 66-year old Abaribe is one senator to look out for in 2023. He is currently oiling his political machine to kick-start his campaign to take over from Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in Abia State.
Abaribe’s major hurdle is that he’s from Obingwa LGA, same as governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Majority of the actors from old Bende are agitating for power to shift to Ohafia L.G.A.
2. Senator Ike Ekweremadu
58-year old Ekweremadu is not a pushover when it comes to politics. He has been the deputy president of the Nigerian Senate for 12 years. An erudite lawyer and respected politician in his home state of Enugu, Ekweremadu is said to be gearing up to take over from incumbent Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
3. Senator Emmanuel Bwacha
He is the current Senate deputy minority leader in the National Assembly. He represents Taraba South Senatorial District and he is a ranking member of the Senate, having been in the upper chamber since 2011. Bwacha is said to be preparing to contest the 2023 governorship election in the north-east state of Taraba where he comes from.
4. Senator Ovie Omo- Agege
57-year old Omo-Agege is currently the deputy president of the Nigerian Senate. Before his foray into politics, Omo-Agege who represents Delta State Central Senatorial District at the red chambers was an accomplished lawyer. He was first elected into the Senate in 2015. He is now gunning to replace Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the Delta state governor in 2023.
5. Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo
Senator Abbo currently represents Adamawa North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. His defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2020 signalled his intention to contest for the seat of the Adamawa state governor in 2023. Abbo is expected to challenge the APC ticket in the next general elections.
6. Senator Abba Moro
Moro is a former minister of interior and the current senator representing Benue South Senatorial District. The politician has taken it upon himself in the last few months to canvass for the major tribes in his home state to consider an Idoma governor in 2023. Moro is expected to fly the Idoma flag, the dominant tribe in his senatorial district ahead of the next general elections.
7. Senator Sandy Onor
Senator Onor is the current Senator representing Cross River Central senatorial district. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and a strong ally of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. His closeness to Wike is said to have boosted his governorship ambition and a major contender to watch out for.
Senator Obong Bassey Albert
Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (born 28 October 1972) is a grassroot politician who has been a member of the Senate of Nigeria since June 2015.
Previously, he was Commissioner of Finance in Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2014. He was first elected to the Senate in March 2015, to represent Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District and he won re-election for a second time in the February 2019 senatorial elections. He is a member of the People’s Democratic Party.
Senator Gershom Bassey
Senator Gershom Henry Bassey (born March 18, 1962 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a politician and businessman. He is the senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate. He is a senator of the 8th and 9th National Assembly in Nigeria respectively.
