* Aims to produce State govs on March 11
The Labour Party (LP) has made a significant leap in popularity clinching some seats in the National Assembly arising from the February 25 federal legislature election.
The LP gained popularity with what has been described by many as the Peter Obi phenomenon. The milestone of LP in the just-concluded elections for the red and green chambers is no doubt credited to the fame and acceptance of the party’s flag bearer by an overwhelming youth majority known as ‘Obidients’.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Saturday, said: “In last Saturday’s elections, winners have also been declared for 423 national legislative seats while supplementary elections will be held in 46 constituencies.
“In the Senate, 98 out of 109 seats have been declared. So far, seven political parties have won senatorial seats while in the House of Representatives, 325 out of 360 seats have been won by eight political parties.”
In terms of party representation for the 10th Assembly, the INEC chief said APC won 57 Senate seats; the PDP, 29; LP, 6; SDP, 2; NNPP, 2; YPP, 1; and APGA, 1. For the lower chamber, the electoral chair said the APC has 162 seats; PDP, 102; LP, 34; NNPP, 18; APGA, 4; ADC, 2; SDP, 2; YPP, 1.
Yakubu also said Certificates of Return would be presented to Senators-elect on Tuesday at the National Collation Centre (the International Conference Centre), Abuja, while Members of the House of Representatives-elect would receive theirs the following day, Wednesday at the same venue.
There are strong indications that, with the March 11, 2023 governorship and State assemblies’ elections just days away, ‘Obidients’, who seem to be causing a political hailstorm in Nigeria at the moment despite claims of having no structure, are bent on producing more LP governors and State assembly members. Nigerians will be electing 28 State governors come next Saturday in the seasonal poll.
The only governor produced by the LP in the last 20 years was Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who was in office from February 2009 to February 2017.
Analysts are almost certain that the days ahead will be for the books.