With the conduct of primaries in most of the senatorial districts ahead of the April 2011 general elections, the face of the new National Assembly which will kick off in June is beginning to form.  Though results from some senatorial districts are still being awaited as a result of controversies, the results released so far have confirmed a major shift in terms of personnel in the upper chamber.

In the previous elections, many political stakeholders had complained of persistent inexperience in the running of the National Assembly. In 2003 and 2007, less than 25 per cent of legislators returned to the National Assembly. It means top committee positions and even Principal Officer positions could be assigned to a lawmaker who is entering the Senate for the first time. That is with the attendant issues. Little wonder that the committees achieved little or nothing in terms of oversight functions.

There is no doubting the fact that legislative functions demand a high level of experience. The learning process for some is fast, while some never even rise to the occasion in the first four years. The realisation that the nation’s democracy will always be the worse for it if experienced legislators are not allowed to return to the chamber informed the declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan during a consultative meeting with the caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Senate in November that no fewer than 65 per cent of the lawmakers should be allowed to return every election year.

The results coming from the fields so far, however, indicate a mixed feeling. While some experienced senators have lost the tickets of the PDP, some former senators are poised to return to the chamber.

The Senate will definitely rue the loss of the Chairman, Senate Services Committee, Senator Effiong Bob, who was defeated in the PDP primaries for Akwa-Ibom North East Senatorial District. The calm and efficient senator, whose committee is the livewire of the Senate, ensured fairness to his colleagues in the handling of the critical assignments of the Senate in the outgoing Senate. His handling of the affairs ensured that there was less rancour among the senators and that also contributed to the retention of the Senate leadership since 2007.

It would be the first time a Senate President would be completing a full session on the seat if Senator David Mark finishes his tenure as the Chairman of the National Assembly at the end of May.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Ita Enang, who serves as the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, reportedly beat the chairman, Senate Service Committee, Senator Effiong Bob, to the party’s ticket following some horse-trading at the primaries.

Another big loss is the defeat of Senator Abubakar Danso Sodangi, who would be finishing his third term in the Senate in May.  Sodangi was defeated at the primaries for Nasarawa West District in his bid to return to the chamber after his successful victories in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He currently serves as Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Reports from the states also indicated that one of the top supporters of the Doctrine of Necessity in the Senate (the Doctrine that saw to the elevation of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President on February 9, 2010),  Senator Abubakar Gada, lost his bid to return to the upper chamber in June when he was defeated in his Sokoto East Senatorial District.

Another big voice on the Senate floor, influential Senator Lee Maeba, who heads the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), also lost the bid to return to the Senate for the third time from Rivers South East Senatorial District when he was defeated by the Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr. Magnus Abbe.

Chairman, Senate committee on Water Resources, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, also lost his bid to return to the Senate the third time, having lost the PDP primaries conducted in Cross Rivers South.

Also, Senator Nimi Barigha Amange, who represents Bayelsa East in the upper chamber, lost the primaries just as Senator Eme Ekaete, wife of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Chief Ufot Ekaette, who represents Akwa-Ibom South. Ekaette lost to Mrs. Hellen Esuene, a former Minister for Environment.

Chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity Cards and National Population, Senator Hosea Ehinlanwo, who represents the Ondo South Senatorial District, also lost his return bid to former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu. Vice- Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Simeon Oduoye, also lost to former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola in the Osun Central Senatorial District.

Kaduna State may end up returning only one former senator as only Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, Senate Committee on  Finance, won the return bid, while the duo of senators Caleb Zagi  and Mohammed K. Jibril, lost their return bids. A former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Namadi Sambo, beat Zagi, while  Jubril lost to a former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Trust Fund (PTDF), Alhaji Hamisu Abubakar.