Oshiomhole, Umahi, Adebule, other senators-elect get certificate, Shekarau absent

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday in Abuja presented certificate of return to 101 senators elected across the country during a general election held on February 25.

Some of the senators-elect who collected their certificates of return on Tuesday are Adams Osiomhole (Edo);  Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi);  Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe);  Abdulaziz Yari (Zamara); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi);  Gbenga Daniel (Ogun); Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe);  Idiat Adebule (Lagos) and Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers, Deputy).

They also included three females who are Rivers Deputy Governor Ipilabo Banigo; former Lagos Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule and wife of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ireti Kingibe.

But Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, who was declared winner of the Kano Central on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), his former party, was absent at the event. He had resigned his membership of the party, saying he was no longer interested in the ticket.

Although the party went to court to compel INEC to replace Shekarau with another candidate since he was no longer a member of the NNNP, party officials said the commission failed to do so, insisting the former Kano governor could only be replaced in a situation of death or incapacitation.

Shekarau alleged the Leader of the NNPP and presidential candidate of the party, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, betrayed their agreements.

He said, “All the agreements we had with him were betrayed by Kwankwaso and his boys and they did not accommodate one single person from my camp.

“I will never be a party to injustice. My integrity is utmost and not any political position that will make me compromise it and that of my people. Nobody will use position or money against my integrity.

Others present to collect their certificates are Solomon Adeola Olamilekan; Osita Izunaso (former National Publicity of the APC) Ireti Kingibe, younger brother to late President Umaru Yar’adua, Abdulaziz Yar’adua, among others.

The senators elect also included some serving members of the House of Representatives who won election into the Senate.

They are Dalington Nwkocha (Abia);  Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno); Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti); Nasir Zango-Daura (Katsina) and Muntar Dandutse (Katsina).