ABUJA, Nigeria — At least 52 serving senators in the 10th National Assembly are set to leave the Senate after the 2027 general elections, following their exclusion from the final list of National Assembly candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC’s final list showed that 57 members of the current Senate secured the tickets of their respective political parties to contest the January 16, 2027 National Assembly elections, while 52 others were left off the list.
The development effectively puts the 52 senators on course to leave the Senate at the expiration of the 10th Assembly in June 2027, although some could still return if vacancies arise through the withdrawal or substitution of candidates in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.
According to findings reported by the Nigerian Tribune, the senators facing exit are not all leaving for the same reasons.
While some lost their party primaries and subsequently failed to secure tickets on alternative platforms, others are seeking different political offices, particularly governorship seats.
Some also reportedly stepped aside after governors in their respective states expressed interest in taking over their senatorial seats and secured the tickets.
In Ogun State, for instance, Senator Ademola Solomon Olamilekan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, will leave the Senate after securing the APC governorship ticket.
Also in Ogun, former governor Gbenga Daniel will not return for Ogun East after Governor Dapo Abiodun secured the ticket to contest the senatorial election.
In Nasarawa State, Senator Aliyu Wadada, a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, is also on his way out of the Senate after securing the APC governorship ticket.
A similar situation occurred in Imo State, where Senator Osita Izunaso, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market, lost the Imo West senatorial ticket after it was ceded to Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Comparable developments have occurred in Yobe and Gombe states, among others, where serving governors have taken over senatorial tickets previously held by incumbent lawmakers.
In Sokoto State, former governor and former presidential aspirant Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is also among the outgoing senators. He reportedly stepped down from the senatorial contest under a power-sharing arrangement within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), paving the way for a younger candidate.
Some incumbents retain their seats
Despite the large number of departures, several states will retain all their incumbent senators if they win their respective elections.
In Lagos State, Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), Idiatu Adebule (Lagos West) and Sanni Eshilokun (Lagos Central) secured return tickets.
The same applies in Ekiti State, where Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs Chairman Yemi Adaramodu, and Fasuyi Cyril Oluwole all secured tickets for another term.
In Akwa Ibom, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Aniekan Bassey and Ekong Sampson also made the list of returning candidates.
All three serving senators from Borno State, including Mohammed Ali Ndume, are also among the 57 incumbents who secured tickets and were included in INEC’s final list.
Final window for changes
The exclusion of the 52 senators does not necessarily make their departure irreversible before the election.
Under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, a candidate may withdraw by submitting a written notice and sworn affidavit to the political party, which must then transmit the documents to INEC not later than 90 days before the election.
Section 33 provides for substitution where a candidate dies or withdraws, subject to the conditions stipulated by the law.
The Electoral Act also requires INEC to publish the full names and addresses of nominated candidates at least 60 days before an election under Section 32(1).
With the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, political parties therefore still have a window to make changes where legally permissible.
