WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS OF THE VARIOUS POLITICAL PARTIES TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE HAVE BEEN CASUALTIES AMONGST SERVING MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WHILE SOME LOST TO FRESH CANDIDATES, OTHERS WITHDREW IN PROTEST AND HAVE DEFECTED TO OTHER PARTIES. PHILIP NYAM IN THIS PIECE EXAMINES THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THEY LOST AND WHAT THE POLITICAL FUTURE THEY MIGHT HAVE.





HON. USMAN BAYERO NAFADA (PDP, GOMBE)

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Usman Bayero Nafada, presently representing Dukku/ Nafada federal constituency of Gombe, lost out of the gubernatorial primaries in the state. Although, one of the leading aspirants, he opted out of the race alleging irregularities and fraud in the conduct of the primaries. Despite the fact that he lost out of the governorship race, Nafada may not leave the party because of his closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan. Nafada is likely to emerge as a minister or ambassador should President Jonathan wins in the April, 2011 Presidential election. The current minister of culture and tourism, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq is Nafada’s boy. Prior to his appointment as minister, he was Nafada’s chief of staff.

HON. (MRS.) PATRICIA OLUBUNMI ETTEH (PDP, OSUN)

Former speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. (Mrs.) Patricia Etteh will bid the lower chamber bye in June having not been given the Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan federal constituency ticket again. The first female speaker of the House stepped down for Alhaji Jelil Adesiyan. Etteh came to the House in 1999 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and served as minority chief whip between 1999 and 2003. She however defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was returned in 2003 and became deputy chief whip. Etteh was re-elected in 2007 and subsequently emerged as the first female speaker; but her tenure was marred with crisis. After just about five months in office, she was forced to resign alongside her deputy, Hon. Babangida Nguroje. Etteh is not likely to defect to another political party. She is a close confidant of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and may be given an appointment if President Jonathan continues beyond May 29, 2011.

HON. BABANGIDA NGUROJE (PDP, TARABA)

Like his principal, Nguroje who was Patricia Etteh’s deputy between June and October 2011, lost out in his bid to cross over to the Senate to represent Taraba North Senatorial District. Former secretary to the state government, Alhaji El-Sudi Ibrahim Tukur, has clinched the ticket to contest in the April general elections to represent Gashaka Kurmi/ Sardauna federal constituency currently occupied by Nguroje. The former deputy speaker comes from a popular political family and may be given an appointment if the PDP wins the presidential elections in April. Nguroje has been in the House since 2003.

HON. ESEME EYIBOH (PDP, AKWA IBOM)

One of the surprised losses in the PDP primaries was the chairman, House committee on media and public affairs, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh. Eseme is said to be a close confidant of Governor Godswill Akpabio; and for a man who is very popular with the people and is widely accepted, his defeat came as a shock to most political analysts. But feelers from the state indicate that the last may have not been heard about the outcome of the Eket federal constituency primaries. Eseme came to the House in 2007 and shot into limelight with the formation of his intellectually based organisation, the Faculty Board of the Initiatives, which he sits atop as the dean. His appointment as chairman of the media and public affairs committee was just the icing on the cake and he has since discharged his responsibilities with panache. He will certainly remain relevant beyond May 2011 notwithstanding whatever happens between now and the general elections in April.

HON. DINO MELAYE (PDP, KOGI)

Leader of the Progressives Minded Lawmakers (PLM) in the House, Hon. Melaye lost gallantry in his bid to secure a return ticket to the lower chamber. He scored 40 as against 43 votes by the eventual winner. He is representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency of Kogi State; and until he fell out with the leadership of the House, was chairman committee on information and national orientation. He was suspended alongside 10 others for allegedly flouting the standing rules of the House when they took on Speaker Dimeji Bankole on allegations of corruption. Although, they were recently reinstated by the court, they are yet to find their feet in the parliament. His constituency is predominantly PDP and may not defect to another party. It will however be hard to forecast what he may get beyond May 2011.

HON. MZENDA IHO (PDP, BENUE)

Iho is a former speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and is the representative of Governor Gabriel Suswam in the House. He defected to the ACN with former governor, Senator George Akume. He was elected into the House in 2007 to represent Katsina Ala/Logo/Ukum federal constituency after serving in the state Assembly for eight years. His relevance beyond May 29, 2011 depends on how far the revival of ACN in the state by the likes of Akume, Senator David Iornem and others would spring a surprise to return him to the National Assembly.


HON. IGO AGUMA (PDP, RIVERS)

Aguma chairs the committee on Gas resources and is one of the influential members in the House. His loss at the primaries may not be unconnected with his long standing relationship with the out of favour former governor of Rivers state, Dr. Peter Odili. He served as a commissioner for eight years under the administration of Odili and moved to the House in 2007 at the expiration of Odili’s two-term tenure. A very gregarious character, Aguma was a co-sponsor of the controversial amendment to the 2010 Electoral Act, which caused a stir in the political circles. He may be on his way to the ACN, where other Odili’s faithful such as former transport minister, Abiye Sekibo, who is challenging Governor Rotimi Amaechi in the April 2011 general election.

HON. AUSTIN NWACHUKWU (PDP, IMO)

Elected to the House in 2007, Nwachukwu represents Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal constituency of Imo state. He became popular for the wrong reason, in June 2010, when he was arraigned in court for allegedly using a dangerous substance on his colleague, Hon. Chinyere Igwe, during the free for all fight on the floor of the chambers. Although he has since been discharged and acquitted by the court, the suspension that accompanied the fracas may have cost him the return ticket. He may as well join the wind of change in the state by identifying with the likes of former Governor Achike Udenwa and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume who are making waves within the ACN.