The results of last Saturday's National Assembly polls released so far indicate several upsets. The total results have not been tabulated, but the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may just barely control the National Assembly to be inaugurated on May 29.
Results so far released show that the Action Congress (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and Labour Party (LP) made impressive showings at the polls.
The major dramatic upsets came from the South-West where major PDP legislators would be bidding bye to both the green and red chambers of the National Assembly.
In Ogun State, the daughter of former Presdent Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, got shoved aside as she lost to the ACN candidate, Gbenga Obadara.
Sharing same fate with Obasanjo-Bello is speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, who equally would have to seek another job after May 29, at least for the next four years; he lost to the fire power of the ACN candidate, Williams Olusegun, who polled 28,490 to Bankole's 23,103 votes.
While the PDP may be in the lead as it relates to number of seats won so far, its majority control has been reduced considerably.
For instance, while the party cleared the three senatorial seats in Kwara State, in Ondo State, the LP sent all the three PDP senators packing as it clinched the seats.
In Enugu State, the PDP cleared the three senatorial seats just as it did in Rivers State. Also in Lagos State, the ACN manifested its political prowess as it cleared all three senatorial seats.
The same thing occurred in Osun State where the ACN sent the PDP senators packing as the party netted the three senatorial seats.
In Delta State, the PDP netted two of the three senatorial seats while the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) pocketed one.
In Benue State, the PDP won two of the three senatorial seats where elections took place, while election for Benue Central will hold on April 26.
In Abia State, the PDP coasted home comfortably as it netted the three senatorial districts.
In Kaduna State, while the PDP zoomed home with the senatorial seat in Kaduna South, the CPC pocketed Kaduna Central. Kaduna North will hold its election later.
The ugly face of politics again reared its head in Anambra State. While the PDP has two of the senatorial districts, in Anambra Central, former governor of the state, Chris Ngige of the ACN is locked in a battle with Prof. Dora Akunyili of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Reports said that crisis broke following the cancellation of some results. Consequently the result of the senatorial district is yet to be released officially.
In Ebonyi State, the PDP has netted the three seats available, just as the PDP also netted the three seats in Gombe State.
The PDP also has the three senatorial seats in Akwa Ibom State.
For now, the PDP has won in Nasarawa North, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Imo North.
The PDP also swept all the federal constituencies in Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Sokoto states. But the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) took the shine off the PDP in Lagos State where the party won all the House seats, the way Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) carried the day in Kaduna and Nasarawa states.
Among the winners in the Lagos Federal House seats are Abike Dabiri-Erewa (Ikorodu Federal Constituency), Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas (Lagos Island 1) and Olufemi Gbajabiamila (Surulere 1), who are returning to the lower house of the National Assembly.
Habeeb Fasinro (Eti Osa), Adebayo Odulana (Ikeja) and Monsuru Alao Owolabi (Lagos Island 11) are however the big losers in the contest for the federal seats.
In Lere federal constituency of Kaduna State, however, House chairman, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Hon. Saudatu Sani, was re-elected on the platform of the PDP against the CPC.
In Ondo State, it was victory for Labour Party (LP) against the PDP that lost clearly in six federal constituencies. Those who came victorious in the poll are all former PDP members, who dumped the party to seek re-election under the LP.
Meanwhile, a human rights activist lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has advocated for the coming together of opposition parties to present only one candidate to challenge the ruling PDP presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday's presidential election.
He said the results of the National Assembly elections have confirmed the rejection of the visionless PDP by the people.
He said instead of waiting for a possible rerun presidential election, the opposition parties and other progressive forces should quickly enter into dialogue with a view to presenting a common platform to chase the PDP out of power without any further delay. The proposed alliance should be anchored on an
anti-colonial, anti-imperialist and people-centered programme that will take Nigeria out of the vicious circle of poverty and underdevelopment.
In spite of the shortcomings that have so far characterised the general elections, Falana added that Nigerians are apparently determined to ensure the success of the exercise.
The activist lawyer averred that the efforts of the electorates in terminating the inglorious domination of the national assembly by the PDP is highly commendable.
He however urges Nigerians to remain steadfast and vigilant until the end of the general elections.
Meanwhile, Bankole, has said that the outcome of Saturday's National Assembly election reflected the wishes of the people.
A statement by his special adviser on communications, Mr Kayode Odunaro, in Abuja yesterday said that Bankole commended the peaceful nature of the election, particularly in his constituency, and in Ogun.
"The exercise is a good omen in our national quest to entrench democracy in our nation," the statement quoted him as saying.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Bankole lost his return bid to the House by polling 23,103 votes against the 28,490 votes polled by the Action Congress Nigeria candidate in his Abeokuta South Federal Constituency.
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