2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State
{{short description|2023 Senate elections in Edo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State
| country =
| type = legislative
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State
| previous_year = 2019
| next_election = 2027 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State
| next_year = 2027
| seats_for_election = All 3 Edo State seats in the Senate of Nigeria
| election_date = 25 February 2023
| party1 = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| last_election1 = 2
| seats_before1 = 3
| seats1 =
| seat_change1 =
| popular_vote1 =
| percentage1 =
| swing1 =
| party2 = All Progressives Congress
| last_election2 = 1
| seats_before2 = 0
| seats2 =
| seat_change2 =
| popular_vote2 =
| percentage2 =
| swing2 =
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
}}
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Edo State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
{{toclimit|3}}
Background
In terms of the previous Senate elections, all three incumbent senators were re-elected: Clifford Ordia (PDP) held his seat with 53% of the vote in the Central district, Francis Alimikhena (APC) won with 59% in the North district, and Matthew Urhoghide was returned with 51% in the South district. These results were a showcase of Edo State's electoral competitiveness as the APC won slightly more House of Representatives seats than the PDP and a sizeable APC majority was elected to the House of Assembly but PDP nominee Atiku Abubakar narrowly carried the state in the presidential election. Over a year after the senatorial elections was the state's gubernatorial election where incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki (APC-turned-PDP) was re-elected under the banner of his new party.
Later in the term, Ordia and Urhoghide sided with Obaseki in the battle over control of the Edo PDP and took part in his faction's primaries for 2023.{{cite web |last1=Egbejule |first1=Michael |title=Senator urges support for Obaseki |url=https://guardian.ng/news/senator-urges-support-for-obaseki/ |website=The Guardian |access-date=10 August 2022}} Alimikhena left the APC in May 2022 and joined the PDP, also siding with the Obaseki-aligned faction.{{cite web |title=Edo Senator Quits APC Over 'Injustice' In Primary Election |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2022/05/27/edo-senator-quits-apc-over-injustice-in-primary-election/ |website=Channels TV |access-date=10 August 2022}}
Overview
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |
| style="vertical-align:bottom;"
!rowspan=3|Affiliation !colspan=3|Party !rowspan=3|Total |
| style="background-color:{{party color|Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)}}" |
| style="background-color:{{party color|All Progressives Congress}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (Nigeria)}}" | |
| PDP
!APC !LP |
|---|
| Previous Election
| 2 | 1 | 0 ! 3 |
| Before Election
| 3 | 0 | 0 ! 3 |
| After Election
| 0 | 2 | 1 ! 3 |
Summary
{{Excerpt|2023 Nigerian Senate election|section=Edo State|only=table}}
Edo Central
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2023 Edo Central Senatorial District election
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State#Edo Central
| previous_year = 2019
| next_election = 2027 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State#Edo Central
| next_year = 2027
| election_date = 25 February 2023
| image_size = x150px
| turnout =
| nominee1 = {{nowrap|Monday Okpebholo}}
| party1 = All Progressives Congress
| popular_vote1 =
| percentage1 =
| nominee2 = {{nowrap|Clifford Ordia}}
| party2 = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| popular_vote2 =
| percentage2 =
| title = Senator
| before_election = Clifford Ordia
| before_party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| after_election = Monday Okpebholo
| after_party = All Progressives Congress
}}
The Edo Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Esan Central, Esan North-East, Esan South-East, Esan West, and Igueben; it largely corresponds with the Esan cultural area of Esanland. The incumbent Clifford Ordia (PDP), who was re-elected with 52.9% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.
= Primary elections =
== All Progressives Congress ==
{{Excerpt|2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State|All Progressives Congress|only=paragraph|hat=no}}
On the primary date, Monday Okpebholo was the sole candidate and was nominated unopposed.{{cite web |last1=Onoiribholo |first1=Francis |title=2023: Edo APC Senatorial Primary Election Results |url=https://independent.ng/2023-edo-apc-senatorial-primary-election-results/ |website=Independent Nigeria |access-date=29 May 2022}}
== People's Democratic Party ==
{{Excerpt|2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State|People's Democratic Party|only=paragraph|hat=no}}
In the year before the primaries, the Edo State PDP split between two factions: one group led by incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki and his allies who joined the PDP with him in 2020 with a rival bloc led by the national PDP South-South Deputy National Vice-Chairman Dan Orbih and longtime party members. The dispute escalated in late 2021 when the Obaseki-aligned state PDP leadership attempted to suspend Orbih's membership and the two factions held separate party congresses.{{cite web |last1=Adedipe |first1=Adeyinka |title=After hard-won victory, old members, defectors in bitter battle for the soul of Edo PDP |url=https://punchng.com/after-hard-won-victory-old-members-defectors-in-bitter-battle-for-the-soul-of-edo-pdp/ |website=The Punch |access-date=9 August 2022}} Despite a court order that recognised the Orbih faction a few days before the primary date, both factions held separate primaries with longtime party members mainly winning the Orbih factional primaries and recent defectors mainly winning the Obaseki factional primaries.{{cite web |last1=Okocha |first1=Chuks |title=Edo PDP: Setback for Obaseki's Camp as Court Recognises Orbih's Allies |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/05/19/edo-pdp-setback-for-obasekis-camp-as-court-recognises-orbihs-allies/ |website=ThisDay |access-date=9 August 2022}}{{cite web |title=Obaseki, Orbih factions hold parallel primaries in Edo |url=https://gazettengr.com/obaseki-orbih-factions-hold-parallel-primaries-in-edo/ |website=Peoples Gazette |publisher=News Agency of Nigeria |access-date=9 August 2022}}
In the Orbih-aligned factional primary, former Minister of Works Mike Onolememen emerged victorious over former MHR Friday Obomezele Itulah by a large margin.{{cite web |last1=Osauzo |first1=Tony |last2=Lucky |first2=Ighomuaye |title=Edo: 4 reporters arrested as PDP holds parallel Senate primaries |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/edo-4-reporters-arrested-as-pdp-holds-parallel-senate-primaries/ |website=The Sun |access-date=9 August 2022}} In the Obaseki-aligned factional primary, Ordia also defeated Itulah in a landslide. In INEC's final list of nominees in September, the Orbih faction's nominees were recognized due to the previous court order;{{cite web |last1=Adedipe |first1=Adeyinka |title=Obaseki loses, INEC recognises Orbih's Edo PDP faction |url=https://punchng.com/obaseki-loses-inec-recognises-orbihs-edo-pdp-faction/ |website=The Punch |access-date=17 October 2022}} however, Federal High Court promptly ordered the recognition of the Obaseki faction's nominees before the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Orbih's faction.{{cite web |last1=Aliu |first1=Ozioruva |title=Edo PDP: Court orders INEC to publish names in Obaseki's faction |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/09/edo-pdp-court-orders-inec-to-publish-names-in-obasekis-faction/ |website=Vanguard |access-date=17 October 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Nnochiri |first1=Ikechukwu |title=Edo: Obaseki wins as Supreme Court dismisses appeal by Orbih's faction |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/10/edo-obaseki-wins-as-supreme-court-dismisses-appeal-by-orbihs-faction/ |website=Vanguard |access-date=17 October 2022}} However, it was not until 2 February 2023 that the apex court definitively ruled on the matter, again siding with the Obaseki faction.{{cite web |last1=Odunsi |first1=Wale |title=Edo primaries: Obaseki-led PDP faction wins at Supreme Court |url=https://dailypost.ng/2023/02/02/edo-primaries-obaseki-led-pdp-faction-wins-at-supreme-court/ |website=Daily Post |access-date=2 February 2023}}
{{hidden begin
|title= Orbih-aligned primary results
|titlestyle= background:#9ecf76;
}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = PDP Orbih-aligned primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Mike Onolememen}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 123
| percentage = 87.86%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Friday Obomezele Itulah}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 17
| percentage = 12.14%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Other candidates}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 0
| percentage = 0.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 140
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{hidden end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = PDP Obaseki-aligned primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Clifford Ordia}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 148
| percentage = 99.33%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Friday Obomezele Itulah}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 1
| percentage = 0.67%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Other candidates}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 0
| percentage = 0.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 149
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Campaign=
By the start of the official campaign period in October, Okpebholo supporters began to use the PDP crisis to campaign with claims that the ongoing litigation could deprive the district of representation if the PDP won the seat but litigation continued.{{cite web |title=Edo PDP Crisis: Esan Voters Urged To Support APC Senatorial Candidate Candidate |url=https://leadership.ng/edo-pdp-crisis-esan-voters-urged-to-support-apc-senatorial-candidate-candidate/ |website=Leadership |access-date=31 October 2022}}
=General election=
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change| title = 2023 Edo Central Senatorial District election
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alex Ehi Aidaghese
| party = Accord (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Saint Lovinson Anenih
| party = Action Alliance
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Iboi Lucky Emmanuel
| party = Action Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Odion Kennedy Osas
| party = African Democratic Congress
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Monday Okpebholo
| party = All Progressives Congress
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Oseremen Christ Omofoma
| party = Labour Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Okoduwa Akhigbe
| party = New Nigeria Peoples Party
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Clifford Ordia
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sebastian Iyere
| party = Social Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mercy Ogeide
| party = Zenith Labour Party
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes =
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box invalid no change
|votes =
|percentage = N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes =
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Edo North
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2023 Edo North Senatorial District election
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State#Edo North
| previous_year = 2019
| next_election = 2027 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State#Edo North
| next_year = 2027
| election_date = 25 February 2023
| image_size = x150px
| turnout =
| nominee1 = {{nowrap|Adams Oshiomhole}}
| party1 = All Progressives Congress
| popular_vote1 =
| percentage1 =
| nominee2 = {{nowrap|Francis Alimikhena}}
| party2 = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| popular_vote2 =
| percentage2 =
| title = Senator
| before_election = Francis Alimikhena
| before_party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| after_election = Adams Oshiomhole
| after_party = All Progressives Congress
}}
The Edo North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Akoko Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Etsako West, Owan East, and Owan West. The incumbent Francis Alimikhena (PDP) was re-elected with 59.0% of the vote in 2019 as a member of the APC; he initially sought renomination in the APC before withdrawing from the primary and defecting to win the PDP nomination in June 2022.
= Primary elections =
== All Progressives Congress ==
{{Excerpt|2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State|All Progressives Congress|only=paragraph|hat=no}}
About two months before the primary date, Alimikhena declared for re-election but former Edo State Governor and former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole also announced that he would run for the seat;{{cite web |last1=Adedipe |first1=Adeyinka |title=2023: Alimikhena declares third term senatorial bid |url=https://punchng.com/2023-alimikhena-declares-third-term-senatorial-bid/ |website=The Punch |access-date=8 August 2022}}{{cite web |title=2023: Oshiomhole declares for Senate |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/521876-2023-oshiomhole-declares-for-senate.html |website=Premium Times |publisher=News Agency of Nigeria |access-date=8 August 2022}} however, Oshiomhole also declared his campaign for president around the same time.{{cite web |last1=Majeed |first1=Bakare |title=2023: Oshiomhole joins presidential race |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/527641-2023-oshiomhole-joins-presidential-race.html |website=Premium Times |access-date=8 August 2022}} Despite calls from pro-Alimikhena groups for Oshiomhole to continue his presidential campaign, he dropped the presidential campaign in mid-May causing Alimikhena to withdraw from the senatorial primary and leave the APC.{{cite web |last1=Adedipe |first1=Adeyinka |title=2023: Seek presidency not senatorial seat, group tells Oshiomhole |url=https://punchng.com/2023-seek-presidency-not-senatorial-seat-group-tells-oshiomhole/ |website=The Punch |access-date=8 August 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Gabriel |first1=Emameh |title=Oshiomhole Drops Presidential Ambition, Shifts Focus to Senate |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/05/16/oshiomhole-drops-presidential-ambition-shifts-focus-to-senate/ |website=ThisDay |access-date=8 August 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Aliu |first1=Ozioruva |title=Alimikhena quits senatorial race for Oshiomhole, dumps APC |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/alimikhena-quits-senatorial-race-for-oshiomhole-dumps-apc |website=Vanguard |access-date=8 August 2022}} At the primary in Auchi, Oshiomhole won easily and said afterwards that he "will ensure that the voice of Edo North will be loud and clear" in the Senate and called on Alimikhena to accept the primary.{{cite web |title=2023: Oshiomhole wins Edo North APC senatorial ticket |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/533216-2023-oshiomhole-wins-edo-north-apc-senatorial-ticket.html |website=Premium Times |publisher=News Agency of Nigeria |access-date=8 August 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Bello |first1=Usman A. |title=APC Primaries: Oshiomole Wins Edo North Senatorial Ticket |url=https://dailytrust.com/apc-primaries-oshiomole-wins-edo-north-senatorial-ticket |website=Daily Trust |access-date=8 August 2022}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Adams Oshiomhole}}
| party = All Progressives Congress
| votes = 309
| percentage = 98.41%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Francis Alimikhena (withdrawn)}}
| party = All Progressives Congress
| votes = 5
| percentage = 1.59%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 314
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box invalid no change
| votes = 3
| percentage = N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 317
|percentage = 99.06%
}}
{{Election box end}}
== People's Democratic Party ==
{{Excerpt|2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State|People's Democratic Party|only=paragraph|hat=no}}
{{Excerpt|2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State|People's Democratic Party|only=paragraphs|paragraphs=1|hat=no}}
In the Orbih-aligned factional primary, Pascal Ugbome—a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly—defeated runner-up Tony Ezekiel by a 47% margin. In the original Obaseki-aligned factional primary, Victoria Edelokun defeated Ugbome by an even greater margin but she withdrew from the nomination a few days later. The Obaseki factional PDP leadership called a new primary for 4 June in Auchi which the newly defected Alimikhena won by a 94% margin.{{cite web |title=PDP conducts emergency primary election for Edo North Senatorial zone |url=https://nigerianobservernews.com/2022/06/pdp-conducts-emergency-primary-election-for-edo-north-senatorial-zone/ |website=Nigerian Observer |access-date=9 August 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Adedipe |first1=Adeyinka |title=Candidate kicks as Edo PDP holds fresh senatorial primary |url=https://punchng.com/candidate-kicks-as-edo-pdp-holds-fresh-senatorial-primary/ |website=The Punch |access-date=9 August 2022}} Afterwards, Ugbome protested to the media and repeated his claim to be the legitimate PDP nominee. In INEC's final list of nominees in September, the Orbih faction's nominees were recognized due to the previous court order; however, Federal High Court promptly ordered the recognition of the Obaseki faction's nominees before the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Orbih's faction. However, it was not until 2 February 2023 that the apex court definitivelu ruled on the matter, again siding with the Obaseki faction.
{{hidden begin
|title= Orbih-aligned primary results
|titlestyle= background:#9ecf76;
}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = PDP Orbih-aligned primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Pascal Ugbome}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 140
| percentage = 70.71%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Tony Ezekiel}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 47
| percentage = 23.74%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Wilson Osigwe}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 11
| percentage = 5.55%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 198
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{hidden end}}
{{hidden begin
|title= Original Obaseki-aligned primary results
|titlestyle= background:#109f6b;
}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = PDP Obaseki-aligned primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Victoria Edelokun}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 183
| percentage = 97.86%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Pascal Ugbome}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 3
| percentage = 1.60%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Wilson Osigwe}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 1
| percentage = 0.54%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 187
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{hidden end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = PDP Obaseki-aligned rerun primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Francis Alimikhena}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 181
| percentage = 96.28%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Pascal Ugbome}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 4
| percentage = 2.13%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Tony Ezekiel}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 3
| percentage = 1.59%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 198
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Campaign=
In a January 2023 campaign analysis piece, reporters from The Punch labeled Oshiomhole as the frontrunner due to his longtime electoral influence in the region. However, the report also noted Alimikhena's incumbency advantage along with how the rise of Peter Obi's presidential candidacy could boost Anselm Eragbe—the LP senatorial nominee.{{cite web |last1=Adedipe |first1=Adeyinka |url=https://punchng.com/oshiomhole-alimikhena-others-slug-it-out-in-edo-senatorial-battle/ |title=Oshiomhole, Alimikhena, others slug it out in Edo senatorial battle |website=The Punch |access-date=2 January 2023}} In the week before the election, the Daily Post noted that despite Oshiomhole and APC strength in the district, both the LP and PDP were genuine electoral threats (especially amid the naira scarcity crisis).{{cite web |last1=Seye |first1=Abdul |title=Senate Race: 28 serving, ex-governors in race to 10th Senate |url=https://dailypost.ng/2023/02/18/senate-race-28-serving-ex-governors-in-race-to-10th-senate/ |website=Daily Post |access-date=21 February 2023}}
=General election=
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change| title = 2023 Edo North Senatorial District election
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Francis Ojo Onaivi
| party = Action Alliance
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kingson Akhimie
| party = Action Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Paul Ehidiamhe
| party = African Democratic Congress
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Adams Oshiomhole
| party = All Progressives Congress
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Osiriame Edeipo
| party = Boot Party
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Anselm Eragbe
| party = Labour Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Andrew Ayemere Igwemoh
| party = New Nigeria Peoples Party
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Francis Alimikhena
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Frank Akharume
| party = Social Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Paul Yakubu
| party = Zenith Labour Party
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes =
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box invalid no change
|votes =
|percentage = N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes =
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Edo South
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2023 Edo South Senatorial District election
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State#Edo South
| previous_year = 2019
| next_election = 2027 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State#Edo South
| next_year = 2027
| election_date = 25 February 2023
| image_size = x150px
| turnout =
| nominee1 = {{nowrap|Valentine Asuen}}
| party1 = All Progressives Congress
| popular_vote1 =
| percentage1 =
| nominee2 = {{nowrap|Matthew Iduoriyekemwen}}
| party2 = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| popular_vote2 =
| percentage2 =
| title = Senator
| before_election = Matthew Urhoghide
| before_party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| after_election = Ned Imasuen
| after_party = Labour Party (Nigeria)
| nominee3 = {{nowrap|Ned Imasuen}}
| party3 = Labour Party (Nigeria)
}}
The Edo South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Egor, Ikpoba Okha, Oredo, Orhionmwon, Ovia North-East, Ovia South-West, and Uhunmwonde. The incumbent Matthew Urhoghide (PDP), who was re-elected with 51.0% of the vote in 2019, sought re-election but was defeated in the PDP primary.
= Primary elections =
== All Progressives Congress ==
{{Excerpt|2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State|All Progressives Congress|only=paragraph|hat=no}}
The primary, which was held in a sports hall at the University of Benin in Benin City, resulted in Valentine Asuen's nomination. Asuen—a businessman, former APC official, and Oredo local government councilor—defeated former Deputy Governor Lucky Imasuen.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = APC primary results{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Valentine Asuen}}
| party = All Progressives Congress
| votes = 215
| percentage = 57.33%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Lucky Imasuen}}
| party = All Progressives Congress
| votes = 160
| percentage = 42.67%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 375
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box invalid no change
| votes = 4
| percentage = N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 379
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
== People's Democratic Party ==
{{Excerpt|2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State|People's Democratic Party|only=paragraph|hat=no}}
{{Excerpt|2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Edo State|People's Democratic Party|only=paragraphs|paragraphs=1|hat=no}}
In the Orbih-aligned factional primary, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama—member of the House of Representatives for Oredo—was nominated unanimously but the primary was marred by three events: the shooting of an Orbih-aligned PDP ward chairman, an attack on the primary venue by allegedly Obaseki-supporting thugs, and the arrest of four journalists by police for covering an "illegal" primary.{{cite web |last1=Olaniyi |first1=Bisi |last2=Aiwerie |first2=Okungbowa |title=Party chairman shot, journalists arrested in Edo |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/party-chairman-shot-journalists-arrested-in-edo/ |website=The Nation |access-date=9 August 2022}} In the Obaseki-aligned factional primary at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, incumbent Urhoghide was defeated by Matthew Iduoriyekemwen—former member of the Edo State House of Assembly—in a narrow race; Urhoghide promptly walked out of the venue.{{cite web |last1=Bello |first1=Usman |title=Drama As Senator Who Lost Reelection Ticket Storms Out Of Primaries Venue |url=https://dailytrust.com/drama-as-senator-who-lost-reelection-ticket-storms-out-of-primaries-venue-in-anger |website=Daily Trust |access-date=9 August 2022}} In INEC's final list of nominees in September, the Orbih faction's nominees were recognized due to the previous court order; however, Federal High Court promptly ordered the recognition of the Obaseki faction's nominees before the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Orbih's faction. However, it was not until 2 February 2023 that the apex court definitivelu ruled on the matter, again siding with the Obaseki faction.
{{hidden begin
|title= Orbih-aligned primary results
|titlestyle= background:#9ecf76;
}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = PDP Orbih-aligned primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 177
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Other candidates}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 0
| percentage = 0.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 177
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box invalid no change
| votes = 1
| percentage = N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 178
|percentage = 72.65%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{hidden end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = PDP Obaseki-aligned primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Matthew Iduoriyekemwen}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 113
| percentage = 52.31%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{nowrap|Matthew Urhoghide}}
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes = 103
| percentage = 47.69%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 216
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=General election=
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change| title = 2023 Edo South Senatorial District election
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Osas Omoruyi
| party = Action Alliance
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ebenezer Akpovire Akpobi
| party = Action Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Oluwakemi Christiana Igunbor
| party = African Democratic Congress
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Valentine Asuen
| party = All Progressives Congress
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Neda Imasuen
| party = Labour Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Imaren Augustine Obanor
| party = National Rescue Movement
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Frederice Musa Osar-ose Uyigue
| party = New Nigeria Peoples Party
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Matthew Iduoriyekemwen
| party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Friday Osaruemwin Oronsaye
| party = Social Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Osagie Erhunmwunse
| party = Zenith Labour Party
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes =
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box invalid no change
|votes =
|percentage = N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes =
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{2023 Nigeria elections}}
{{Elections in Edo State}}
Edo State senatorial elections