According to the results of the parliamentary elections so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has retained its control of the Senate with 51 seats.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gained 28 of the 89 seats that have been officially declared, followed by the Labour Party with six and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) with two each.
Both the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP) have so far generated one senator each.
The majority party in the 10th Senate is expected to hold onto its dominance with 51 senators. The Red Chamber has 109 seats, with three for each state and one for the FCT. President of the Senate and Deputy Senate President are the presiding officials chosen by a party with a simple majority.
As more in-office officials lost in the election, last Saturday’s parliamentary vote has continued to produce surprises and upsets.
Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Ben Ayade (Cross River) lost their attempts to represent their senatorial districts in the parliament. Governors Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger were the only winners.
Because of irregularities, such as overvoting, the outcome of the Sokoto South senatorial race, which Governor Aminu Tambuwal challenged, was ruled inconclusive.