2019 Nigerian Senate election explained

Election Name:	2019 Nigerian Senate election
Country:	Nigeria
Type:	legislative
Previous Mps:	Nigerian Senators of the 8th National Assembly
Elected Mps:	Nigerian Senators of the 9th National Assembly
Seats For Election:	All 109 seats in the Senate of Nigeria
Majority Seats:	55
Election Date:	February 23, 2019
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2015 Nigerian general election#Senate
Previous Year:	2015
Next Election:	2023 Nigerian Senate election
Next Year:	2023
Party1:	All Progressives Congress
Image1:	Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (cropped).jpg
Leader1:	Ahmad Lawan
Leaders Seat1:	Yobe North
Last Election1:	60
Seats Before1:	55
Seats After1:	63
Seat Change1:	8
Party2:	Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
Leader2:	Bukola Saraki
Leaders Seat2:	Kwara Central (lost seat)
Last Election2:	48
Seats Before2:	48
Seats After2:	44
Seat Change2:	4
Party3:	Young Progressives Party
Image3:	FC IFEANYI UBAH visit to WestHam United fc....... 7.jpg
Leader3:	Ifeanyi Ubah
Leaders Seat3:	Anambra South
Last Election3:	Did not exist
Seats Before3:	0
Seats After3:	1
Seat Change3:	1
Map Size:	300px
Senate President
Before Election:	Bukola Saraki
Before Party:	Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
After Election:	Ahmad Lawan
After Party:	All Progressives Congress

The 2019 Nigerian Senate election were held in all 109 senatorial districts where voters elected senators using first-past-the-post voting. Most elections were held on February 23, 2019, with some elections running into February 24 while others had supplementary or rerun elections that took place at a later date. The last regular senatorial elections for all districts were in 2015.

The All Progressives Congress solidified its majority after nearly losing it to defections in 2018. The APC gained a net total of 8 seats compared to the pre-elections situation. The Peoples Democratic Party lost a net total of 4 seats compared to the pre-elections situation, notably with Senate President Bukola Saraki losing in his district of Kwara Central. Minor parties dwindled from 6 seats pre-election to a single seat, with the Young Progressives Party's Ifeanyi Ubah winning Anambra South.

Upon the opening of the 9th Nigeria National Assembly, Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe North) was elected as President of the Senate while Ovie Omo-Agege (APC-Delta Central) and Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (APC-Kebbi North) became Deputy Senate President and Senate Majority Leader, respectively.^{[1] [2]} Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia South) became the Senate Minority Leader.^[3]

Results summary and analysis

As the APC strengthened its hold on the Red Chamber, 44 seats flipped from one party to another with two dozen lawmakers losing re-election. Notable flips included all three seats in Kwara State where Senate President and APC-turned-PDP Kwara Central Senator Bukola Saraki lost his first election amidst the Ó Tó Gẹ́ Movement against the Saraki dynasty and the state PDP. In more perceived rebukes of political godfatherism and party switching, PDP-turned-APC former Senate Minority Leader and Akwa Ibom North-West Senator Godswill Akpabio lost while all three Kano PDP candidates lost after outgoing Kano Central Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso defected from the APC to the PDP. Other major stories were the losses of other prominent senators: Binta Masi Garba (APC-Adamawa North), Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra Central), Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba (APC-Anambra South), Isah Misau (PDP-Bauchi Central), Barnabas Andyar Gemade (SDP-Benue North-East), George Akume (APC-Benue North-West), Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (PDP-Kaduna North), and Shehu Sani (PRP-Kaduna Central).^{[4] [5] [6]}

As is common after Nigerian elections, a swarm of ligation followed the senatorial races with court and tribunal decisions changing results in the districts of Ekiti South, Niger East, and Sokoto South along with one ruling changing all three Zamfara elections and a rerun election being called in Kogi West. The Akwa Ibom North-West election was also annulled, albeit only in certain polling units, and a 2020 supplementary election held which confirmed Akpabio's loss. Prior to the elections, all Rivers State APC nominees were disqualified barring two incumbent senators running for reelection from contesting.

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63	44	1	1
APC	PDP	YPP	Vacant

Parties									Total
APC	PDP	YPP	ADC	APGA	PRP	SDP	LP
Last election (2015)				60	48	—	0	0	0	0	1	109
Before these elections				55	48	0	3	1	1	1	0	109
	Results
Incumbent retired		13		13	—	1	0	0	0	—	27
			7	4	—	0	—	—	—	—	11
		1 ADC senator replaced by 1 APC senator 9 PDP senators replaced by 9 APC senators ---- 6 APC senators replaced by 6 PDP senators					16
			17	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	27
Incumbent lost renomination		8	3	—	0	0	0	0	—	11
			7	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	9
		1 PDP senator replaced by 1 APC senator ---- 1 APC senator replaced by 1 PDP senator							2
			8	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	11
Incumbent disqualified		3	0	—	0	0	0	0	—	3
		0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0
		3 APC senators replaced by 3 PDP senators							3
		0		3	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
Incumbent renominated	31		32	—	2	1	1	1	—	68
			24	20	—	0	0	0	0	—	44
		1 ADC senator replaced by 1 APC senator 12 PDP senators replaced by 12 APC senators 1 PRP senator replaced by 1 APC senator ---- 1 ADC senator replaced by 1 PDP senator 5 APC senators replaced by 5 PDP senators 1 APGA senator replaced by 1 PDP senator 1 SDP senator replaced by 1 PDP senator---- 1 APC senator replaced by 1 YPP senator	—	24
			38	29	1	0	0	0	0	0	68
Result		63	45	1	0	0	0	0	0	108

Abia State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Abia Central			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Abia North			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Abia South			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Adamawa State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Adamawa State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Adamawa Central			ADC		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Adamawa North			APC		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap
Adamawa South			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap

Akwa Ibom State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Akwa Ibom State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Akwa Ibom North-East			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Akwa Ibom North-West			APC		Results partially void and supplementary election called^[7] ^[8] APC loss	nowrap
Akwa Ibom South			APC		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap

Anambra State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Anambra State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Anambra Central			APGA		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap
Anambra North			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Anambra South			APC		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected YPP gain	nowrap

Bauchi State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Bauchi State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Bauchi Central			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Bauchi North			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Bauchi South			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Bayelsa State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Bayelsa State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Bayelsa Central			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected PDP hold	nowrap
Bayelsa East			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Bayelsa West			PDP		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected PDP hold	nowrap

Benue State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Benue State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Benue North-East			SDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap
Benue North-West			APC		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap
Benue South			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected PDP hold	nowrap

Borno State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Borno State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Borno Central			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Borno North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Borno South			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Cross River State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Cross River State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Cross River Central			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap
Cross River North			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Cross River South			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Delta State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Delta State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Delta Central			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Delta North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Delta South			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Ebonyi State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Ebonyi State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Ebonyi Central			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Ebonyi North			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Ebonyi South			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap

Edo State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Edo Central			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Edo North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Edo South			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Ekiti State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Ekiti State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Ekiti Central			APC		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Ekiti North			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Ekiti South			PDP	Incumbent re-elected after Court decision	nowrap

Enugu State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Enugu State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Enugu East			PDP		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected PDP hold	nowrap
Enugu North			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Enugu West			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Federal Capital Territory

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate election in the Federal Capital Territory.

Gombe State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Gombe State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Gombe Central			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Gombe North			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Gombe South			PDP		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected APC gain	nowrap

Imo State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Imo State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Imo East			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected PDP hold	nowrap
Imo North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Imo West			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC hold	nowrap

Jigawa State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Jigawa State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Jigawa North-East			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Jigawa North-West			APC		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Jigawa South-West			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Kaduna State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Kaduna State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Kaduna Central			PRP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Kaduna North			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Kaduna South			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Kano State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Kano State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Kano Central			PDP		Incumbent retired. New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Kano North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Kano South			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Katsina State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Katsina State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Katsina Central			APC		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Katsina North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Katsina South			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC hold	nowrap

Kebbi State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Kebbi State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Kebbi Central			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Kebbi North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Kebbi South			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Kogi State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Kogi State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Kogi Central			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Kogi East			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Kogi West			PDP		March 2019 election annulled Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected on November 30, 2019 APC gain	nowrap	Annulled election: ----Rerun election:

Kwara State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Kwara State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Kwara Central			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Kwara North			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Kwara South			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap

Lagos State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Lagos State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Lagos Central			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Lagos East			APC		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Lagos West			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Nasarawa State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Nasarawa State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Nasarawa North			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Nasarawa South			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Nasarawa West			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Niger State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Niger State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Niger East			APC		Incumbent lost renomination after court decision New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Niger North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Niger South			APC		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected APC hold	nowrap

Ogun State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Ogun State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Ogun Central			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Ogun East			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Ogun West			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC hold	nowrap

Ondo State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Ondo State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Ondo Central			APC		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap
Ondo North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Ondo South			APC		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap

Osun State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Osun State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Osun Central			APC		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Osun East			APC		Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap
Osun West			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC gain	nowrap

Oyo State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Oyo State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Oyo Central			ADC		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap
Oyo North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Oyo South			ADC		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap

Plateau State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Plateau State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Plateau Central			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Plateau North			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected PDP hold	nowrap
Plateau South			PDP		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC gain	nowrap

Rivers State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Rivers State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Rivers East			APC		Incumbent disqualified New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap
Rivers South-East			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap
Rivers West			APC		Incumbent disqualified New senator elected PDP gain	nowrap

Sokoto State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Sokoto State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Sokoto East			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Sokoto North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Sokoto South			PDP	Incumbent re-elected after court decision	nowrap

Taraba State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Taraba State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Taraba Central			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Taraba North			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Taraba South			PDP	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap

Yobe State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Yobe State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Yobe East			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected APC hold	nowrap
Yobe North			APC	Incumbent re-elected	nowrap
Yobe South			PDP		Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected APC gain	nowrap

Zamfara State

See main article: 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Zamfara State.

District	Incumbent		Results
	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Zamfara Central			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected after court decision PDP gain	nowrap
Zamfara North			APC		Incumbent disqualified New senator elected after court decision PDP gain	nowrap
Zamfara West			APC		Incumbent retired New senator elected after court decision PDP gain	nowrap

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ahmed Lawan Elected As Senate President . . 7 August 2021.
2. Web site: Jimoh . Azimazi Momoh . Senate announces Principal Officers . The Guardian . 2 July 2019 . 7 August 2021.
3. Web site: Ojoye . Taiwo . Aborisade . Sunday . Nwogu . Success . Abaribe emerges Senate Minority Leader . . 14 August 2021.
4. Web site: Atumeyi . Gabriel . Influential Senators Who Didn’t Return . . 18 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190408090324/https://leadership.ng/2019/03/03/influential-senators-who-didnt-return/ . 8 April 2019.
5. Web site: Mikailu . Naziru . Nigeria election 2019: Big winners and big losers . . 18 August 2021.
6. Web site: 2019 Elections: How The Mighty Fell . . 16 October 2021.
7. Web site: Ajibola . Akinola . Appeal Court Sacks Senator Ekpenyong, Orders Rerun In Akpabio’s LG . . 31 December 2021.
8. Web site: Akwa Ibom Re-run: Ekpenyong defeats Akpabio again . . 31 December 2021.