5 New Senators To Watch Out For

Even though the presidential election was the order of the day on the 28th of March 2015, Nigerians also elected their representatives at the federal level all over the nation.

We bring you the profiles of five new senators that will surely be a force to be reckoned with in the upper chamber.

1. Ben Murray-Bruce: With the election of Bruce into the Nigerian state, the Niger Delta region has finally found an eloquent voice to tell its story, its challenges and indeed its history. Armed with a degree in Marketing and Business at the University of Southern Carolina, Bruce, who is a former director general of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), now has a national platform to promote his ideas which are usually revolutionary. Bruce will represent the Bayelsa East Senatorial District in Bayelsa state. 

2. Uche Ekwenife: Honourable Uche Ekwenife is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing Anocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency in Anambra state. A two term member of the lower house, Ekwenife’s elevation to the upper chamber is a good omen for Anambra politics. She is an experienced lawmaker whose achievements are well documented. A vocal and highly intelligent politician, Ekwenife is the true definition of that saying, “What a man can do, a woman can do better”. She will represent the Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Senate.

Uche Ekwenife

3. Rabiu Kwankwaso: Kwankwaso is one man that has seen it all in the Nigerian political firmament. Bold, strong-willed and a dogged fighter, the Kano state governor’s experience will be useful to the upper chamber as he comes into the legislative house with valuable experience as former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, eight years’ experience as a two-term governor of the most populated state in the Northern region, Kano, and four years’ experience as Nigeria’s minister of defence. Fifty-eight-year old Kwankwaso will represent Kano Central Senatorial District in the Senate.

Rabiu Kwankwaso

4. Dino Melaye: A very popular politician especially among Nigerian youths, because of his active presence on social media, Melaye revived his battered image as a House of Representatives member, when he aligned with the progressives and started giving the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan presidency a tough time. Always at the forefront of organising protests against unfavourable government policies, he defeated the incumbent senator, Smart Adeyemi to emerge as the senator to represent the people of Kogi West Senatorial District in the Senate.

Dino Melaye

5. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko: It is not for nothing that the Sokoto state governor was honoured as the Man Of The Year 2014 by the The Sun newspaper. Wamakko’s presence in the Senate will be well received by political analysts as the 62-year-old former deputy governor of his home state, is heading to the red chamber armed with decades of experience in the civil service and government. His performance in office in the last eight years no doubt paved the way for his smooth entry to the Senate to represent Sokoto Central Senatorial District.

Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko