Smart Adeyemi
{{short description|Nigerian politician}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Smart Adeyemi
| image =
| width = 150px
| office1 = Senator for Kogi West
| term_start1 = March 2019
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Dino Melaye
| successor1 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|8|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kogi State, Nigeria
| death_date =
| party = APC
| Educational background =
}}
Smart Adeyemi {{Audio|Yo-Smart Adeyemi.ogg|Listen|help=no}} (born 18 August 1960 at Iyara in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State {{cite web
|url = https://nigerianpilot.news/senator-smart-adeyemi-con-nigpilot-personality/
|title = Senator Smart Adeyemi, CON – Nigpilot Personality
|date = December 15, 2020
|work = The Nigerian Pilot
|access-date = 2021-01-10
}}) was elected Senator for the Kogi West constituency of Kogi State, Nigeria, taking office on 29 May 2007. He is a member of the APC.{{cite web
|url=http://www.nassnig.org/senate/member.php?senator=87&page=1&state=24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171511/http://www.nassnig.org/senate/member.php?senator=87&page=1&state=24
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2016-03-03
|publisher=National Assembly of Nigeria
|title=Sen. Smart Adeyemi
|access-date=2010-06-14}} Re-elected as senator for the third time on the 30th of November 2019.
Early years
Smart Adeyemi was born on 18 August 1960.
He earned a post-graduate diploma in Public Relations, diploma in Law, advanced diploma in Mass Communication, and master's in Public Administration from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, and became a journalist.
He was National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists from 1999 to 2006.
Political career
Adeyemi was elected to the Senate in April 2007. On assuming his Senate seat he was appointed to committees on Privatization, Industry, Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs (Chairman), Federal Capital Territory and Appropriation. He was also appointed vice chairman of the Northern Senators Forum.{{cite web
|url = http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/encounter/2009/mar/28/encounter-28-03-2009-002.htm
|title = Governors will scuttle democracy —Senator Adeyemi
|author = TAIWO AMODU
|date = March 28, 2009
|work = Daily Sun
|access-date = 2010-06-14
}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
In a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ThisDay noted that Adeyemi had worked on bills on the State of the Nation Address and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act amendment, and sponsored three motions.{{cite web
|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200905250350.html?viewall=1
|title=An Improved Senate, But Some Uninspiring Senators...
|work=ThisDay
|date=24 May 2009
|access-date=2010-06-14}}
In May 2010 the Daily Sun said Adeyemi had asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to start an investigation of members of the National Assembly who he alleged were corrupt. Adeyemi said that he had been misquoted. He said, "I never said this National Assembly is corrupt [...] but if there are a few that are corrupt the EFCC should go ahead to expose them."{{cite web
|url = http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/may/27/national-27-05-2010-010.htm
|title = Senate probes corruption allegation
|author = AMOS DUNIA
|date = May 27, 2010
|work = Daily Sun
|access-date = 2010-06-14
}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Despite his denial, Senate President David Mark announced a six-man ad hoc committee to investigate the issue, describing it as serious allegation. The committee was to be chaired by Senate Chief Whip Kanti Bello and to include Senators Ayogu Eze, Olorunnimbe Mamora, James Manager, Adamu Talba and Zainab Kure.{{cite web
|url = http://thewillnigeria.com/politics/4660-Senate-Sets-Hoc-Committee-Probe-Smart-Adeyemi.html
|title = Senate Sets Up Ad Hoc Committee To Probe Smart Adeyemi
|author = EBUBECHI EMMANUEL
|date = 2010-05-26
|work = The Will
|access-date = 2010-06-14
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717044256/http://thewillnigeria.com/politics/4660-Senate-Sets-Hoc-Committee-Probe-Smart-Adeyemi.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-17
}}
Adeyemi's allegation was similar to one made by Senator Nuhu Aliyu from Niger State in January 2008, which caused a similar strong reaction from the other legislators.{{cite web
|url = http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5574410-183/assembly_watch_smart_adeyemi_and_charges.csp
|title = ASSEMBLY WATCH: Smart Adeyemi and charges of legislative corruption
|author = Festus Owete
|date = May 31, 2010
|work = Next
|access-date = 2010-06-14
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100612201757/http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5574410-183/assembly_watch_smart_adeyemi_and_charges.csp
|archive-date = June 12, 2010
}}
Adeyemi won the PDP primary to compete for re-election as Kogi West Senator in the April 2011 elections.
However, a court nullified the PDP primary election on 4 April 2011, saying it did not follow due process as defined in the electoral act.{{cite web
|url = http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/19964-nass-election-court-nullifies-smart-adeyemis-candidature-orders-fresh-primary
|title = NASS election: Court nullifies Smart Adeyemi’s candidature, orders fresh primary
|work = Nigerian Tribune
|author = Johnson Babajide
|date = 5 April 2011
|access-date = 2011-04-22
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110407022706/http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/19964-nass-election-court-nullifies-smart-adeyemis-candidature-orders-fresh-primary
|archive-date = 7 April 2011
}}
A fresh primary was run on 7 April, in which Adeyemi defeated his opponent Abiye Abinso by 1,124 votes to two.{{cite web
|url = http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/20186-smart-adeyemi-wins-pdps-court-ordered-primary-election
|work = Nigerian Tribune
|title = Smart Adeyemi wins PDP’s court-ordered primary election
|author = Johnson Babajide
|date = 8 April 2011
|access-date = 2011-04-22
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110411201438/http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/20186-smart-adeyemi-wins-pdps-court-ordered-primary-election
|archive-date = 11 April 2011
}}
In the elections of 9 April 2011, Adeyemi retained his seat.{{cite web
|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/04/why-i-was-re-elected-sen-adeyemi/
|work=Vanguard
|title=Why I was re-elected – Sen Adeyemi
|date=April 13, 2011
|access-date=2011-04-22}}
Adeyemi recently won for the third time, a senatorial seat to represent Kogi West Senatorial District; defeating Senator Dino Melaye in a supplementary election ordered by the country's apex court, for a fresh election to be conducted after Senator Dino Melaye's victory was nullified. Adeyemi won with a margin of over 20,000 votes.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 6th National Assembly}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 7th National Assembly}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adeyemi, Smart}}
Category:Peoples Democratic Party members of the Senate (Nigeria)
Category:Senators of the 9th National Assembly (Nigeria)
Category:Senators of the 6th National Assembly (Nigeria)
Category:Kogi State politicians