Senate President Godswill Akpabio has issued a strong statement of assurance to the scores of senators who lost their return bids in the recently concluded party primaries.
In what many observers are describing as a “lifeline session,” the Senate President hinted at high-level political arrangements and “deals” currently being brokered by the Senate leadership to ensure that several lawmakers who were displaced during the primaries find their way back onto the ballot for the 2027 general elections.
Welcoming lawmakers back from a four-week recess on Tuesday, Akpabio expressed shock at the high number of “casualties” recorded across party lines. However, his message was not one of mourning, but of strategic hope.
Addressing a chamber filled with several dejected faces, Akpabio took the unusual step of congratulating the defeated lawmakers in advance, signaling that the current lists submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may not be final.
“I know that there will always be victories and disappointments,” Akpabio stated. “And in this Senate, we have promised that we will have very few disappointments. I do know that the Senate Leader and the leadership of the Senate are working very hard toward that. So, in advance, I will say congratulations to all of us across party lines.”
The Senate President’s confidence suggests a coordinated effort between the National Assembly leadership, the Presidency, and party hierarchies to utilize substitution windows, legal challenges, or “consensus” reappraisals to restore tickets to incumbent senators.
The 2027 primary season has been particularly brutal due to the Electoral Act 2026. In a twist of political irony, many of the lawmakers who championed strict anti-defection clauses—specifically Section 83, which bars last-minute party switching—found themselves trapped by the very law they authored.
The law effectively blocked lawmakers like Benson Agadaga (Bayelsa East), Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), and Banigo Ipalibo (Rivers West) from securing tickets on new platforms after defecting.
However, sources within the Senate suggest that the “deal” being worked out involves navigating the legal loopholes of the Act or leveraging executive influence to persuade “placeholder” candidates to withdraw in favor of the embattled incumbents.
The list of casualties seeking a political resurrection is a “Who’s Who” of the 10th Senate. It includes:
Deputy Senate Leader Oyelola Ashiru (Kwara South), who lost to Muheebah Dankaka.
Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), who was defeated by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
*Senator Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East), who lost his bid to Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West), displaced by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East),defeated by Erico Ameh.
For these heavyweights, Akpabio’s assurance serves as a beacon of hope. The Senate leadership is reportedly arguing that the loss of so many ranking members would lead to a “drain of legislative memory,” a sentiment they are using to lobby the Presidency for intervention.
Insiders suggest that the Senate leadership is exploring a “soft landing” or “political substitution” strategy. This involves high-level negotiations where primary winners are offered alternative executive appointments or future roles in exchange for stepping down for the incumbent senators.
The goal is to ensure that the 11th Senate retains a core group of loyalists to the current administration, shielding the President’s legislative agenda from the unpredictability of a chamber filled with too many newcomers.
While the road to reclaiming a ticket after a primary loss is often fraught with litigation and public outcry, the “Akpabio Assurance” suggests that the political machinery of the ruling class is in full gear.
As the deadline for the final submission of candidates approaches, all eyes will be on the “deals” being struck behind closed doors. For the 20+ senators currently without a ticket, the Senate President’s message is clear: the battle is not over, and the leadership is not prepared to let its own fall by the wayside.
For now, the “casualties” of the 2027 primaries are holding onto one thing—the promise that in the world of Nigerian politics, a “loss” is only final when the Senate leadership says it is.
