north to south

Nigeria 2023: Six key battleground districts to watch during the Senatorial election

By Ben Ezeamalu

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Posted on January 17, 2023 17:13

© Ubima Town, on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on March 9, 2019, during voting to elect governors and lawmakers in 29 of the nation’s 36 states(Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP) — Ubima Town, on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on March 9, 2019, during voting to elect governors and lawmakers in 29 of the nation’s 36 states(Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

On 25 February, 1,100 candidates will vie for election into Nigeria’s Senate in 109 senatorial districts across the country. Of that, 92 are women, about 8% of the candidates. The election will take place on the same day as that of the House of Representatives and the President. The Africa Report presents the six key battleground clashes across Nigeria’s geo-political regions.

South-east: Brothers-turned-foes

When several political leaders in Nigeria’s southeast region balked at standing surety for the detained radical leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in 2021, Enyinnaya Abaribe stepped in. And he stepped out as a hero in the region.

On 25 February, Abaribe will put his new-found status to the test when he goes head-to-head with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for the seat of Abia South Senatorial District.

Both men hail from Obi Ngwa local government area in Abia State.

Abia South senatorial district covers Aba North, Aba South, Obi Ngwa, Osisioma Ngwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East, and Ukwa West local government areas.

Abaribe has been in the senate since 2007 when he was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Following PDP’s ouster as the ruling party in 2015, Abaribe served as the Senate minority leader in the Red Chamber

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