BEHOLD, THE SENATORS

W Nigerians would be seeing senators, from different backgrounds, who would collectively make law for the good governance of the country. The question, however, is: Do you know your senators?

In this report, our reporters profile the senators.

Nkechi Justina Nwaogu (Abia Central)
She represents Abia Central on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and will be a two-time senator when the Senate is inaugurated in June. Born in 1956, Nwaogu, who is the first female senator from her state, was first elected in 2007. She boasts of not only creating job opportunities for people of the constituency but also sponsored a number of bills, for the good governance of the country.

Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe (Abia South)
Born on March 3, 1955, he was elected to represent Abia South Senatorial District in 2007. He became Abia State's deputy governor in 1999 and leftoffice in controversial circumstances. He contested the state's governorship election in 2003 on the ticket of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but lost. In 2007, he contested for a seat in the Senate and won, PDP ticket.

Uche Chukwumerije (Abia North)
He was first elected to the Senate in 2003 to represent Abia North. Born in November 1939, he had served as minister of information in the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He was also as minister of information in the interim national government of Ernest Shonekan. He was member of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) He joined the Senate in 2003 and dumped the party this year, first for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and in then the PDP.

Bindow Jibrilla (Adawawa North)
A member of the PDP, he's an industrialist and has established three companies in Mubi, where he employed about 400 people.

Bello Mohammed Tukur (Adamawa Central)
He is 50 years old and hails from Fufore LGA of Adamawa State. He was former Chief of Staff to Governor Murtala Nyako and is coming to the Senate for the first time which party?

Ahmed Hassan Barata (Adamawa South)
He's 50 years old and member of the PDP.
Aloysius Akpan Etok (Akwa Ibom North West)
Born on February 15, 1958, he joined the Senate in 2007. He has a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Calabar. He was a member of the House of Representatives in 1999, where he served as minority whip. He's a member of the PDP.

Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East)
He was elected member into the House of Representatives in 1999, representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State. And graduated to the Senate in 2007. He's an alumnus of the University of Calabar, where he read Law, graduating in 1984. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. He's a member of the PDP

Helen Esuene (Akwa Ibom South)
A former civil servant, she has served as minister of state for health, and later minister of environment and housing during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2005 and 2007. She's a member of the PDP.

Chris Ngige (Anambra central)
Born on August 8,1952, he was declared winner of Anambra State governorship election in 2003 and was subsequently sworn in. His election was, however, annulled by the Court of Appeal and he left office in March 2006. He contested for the office of governor on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2010 and lost to the incumbent governor, Mr. Peter Obi, before vying for the Senate seat in the last elections.

A medical doctor, he retired in 1998 as a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Health.

John Okechukwu Emeka (Anambra North)
A former minister of water transportation, he's a prince in Anambra State. He's a member of the PDP.

Andy Uba (Anambra South)
Born December 14, 1958, he was special adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He contested Anambra State governorship election in 2007 and was declared winner. Seventeen days, after he was sworn in, the Supreme Court nullified his election, declaring that the tenure of Governor Peter Obi, who assumed office in 2005, after the election of Dr. Ngige was annulled, had not expired. He contested for the post again in 2010 as candidate of Labour Party (LP) and lost.

Abdul Ahmed Ningi (Bauchi)
He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999 on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Ningi/ Warji Federal Constituency of Bauchi State. He was reelected in 2003, but lost the seat in 2007 election. He went to the tribunal and won the case, to return to the federal house. He was House leader, among other membership of committees. He contested for Senate last April and won on the platform of the PDP.

Alhaji Babayo Garba Gamawa (Bauchi North)
He's deputy governor of Bauchi State. Before assuming the office, he was Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly. He won the post senatorial election to represent Bauchi North.

Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West)
Lokpobiri was first elected into the Senate in 2007 on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Before joining the Senate, he was Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly. He is a member of sports, public accounts, police affairs, Niger Delta and millennium development goals (MGDs) committees.

Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East)
He's a member of the House of Representatives representing President Goodluck Jonathan's constituency in Bayelsa. He is also the chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (downstream), and was instrumental to the fight against fuel scarcity in the country. He was elected into the state's House of Assembly in 1999, from where he was elected to the House of Reps. He will represent Bayelsa East senatorial district in the Senate.

Emmanuel Paulkar (Bayelsa Central)
Born in 1955, he is a member of the PDP senatorial candidate. He is going to the Senate for the first time. He has a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.

David Mark (Benue South)
Born in April 1948, he's the Senate president. A member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), he was first elected into the Senate in 1999, making him one of the longest serving senators. He retired from the Nigerian Army as Brigadier-General. While in the military, he was military governor of Niger State and later, minister of communications.

George Akume (Benue North West)
He was governor of Benue State from 1999 to 2007, from where he was elected senator on the platform of the PDP. Born in December 1953, he defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to contest for the senatorial seat which he won.

Chief Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East)
He is former national chairman of the People's Democratic party (PDP) and has a Master of Science degree. Born on September 4, 1948, he's going to the Senate for the first time.

Khalifa Ahmed Zanna (Borno Central)
Aged 55, he will represent Borno Central in the Senate. A member of the PDP, he's a successful businessman and a member of the boards of many federal establishments. He made history by defeating the incumbent governor of the state, Alhaji Bunu Sheriff Musa.

Hon. Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South)
He's a member of the PDP and was born on November 11, 1959. He hails from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State and currently the minority leader in House of Representatives, having won election on the ticket of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He holds a Master's degree in Accounting and Computer from the University of Toledo, USA.

Maina Maaji Lawan (Borno North)
Born on July 12, 1954, he was governor of Borno State. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He was a member of House of Representative from 1979-1983. In 1992, he was elected governor of Borno State and served till 1993 when the military took over government. In 1999, he was elected into the Senate on the platform of PDP. He lost re-election in 2003. In 2007, he contested yet again for a senatorial seat as a member of ANPP and was elected. He will retain his seat still on ANPP platform.

Benedict Ayade (Cross River North)
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and Delta State University, he was born in March 1969. He worked as university teacher, before venturing into consultancy as an environmental expert. He had served as chairman of the Ecological Fund, chairman of the International Institute of Environmental Research and a member of SPAC. He later joined politics, on the platform of the PDP and serving on Governor Liyel Imoke's strategy committee.

Akpor Pius Ewherido (Delta Central)
He was in the state's House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007, during which period he served as speaker, and deputy speaker. He is a member of the PDP. He holds a bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Law from the University of Benin.

James Manager (Delta South)
He's a serving senator, who represents Delta South on the ticket of the PDP. He holds a LLB degree in Law from Ahmadu Bello University and an LLB in Law from the University of Lagos.

Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta North)
Born in July 1959 at Owa-Alero, Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State. He was secretary to Delta State government (SSG). Before joining politics, he was a medical practitioner and had set up Victory Medical Centre, in Owa.

Patrick Igwe Nwagu (Ebonyi Central)
He's currently a member of the House of Representatives, where he's a member of various committees. He's going to the Senate for the first time.

Chris Nwankwo (Ebonyi North)
He's Governor Martins Elechi's brother-in-law. He's 69 years old.

Soni Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South)
He was commissioner on poverty alleviation in Ebonyi State, a post he left to contest? The senatorial election. He was also campaign director, Jonathan/Sambo presidential campaign organization. He once headed the state primary education board.

Ogbuoji was the chairman of the old Afikpo LGA in 1990 and pioneer chairman of Edda (Afikpo South LGA) in 1991.

Ehigie Edobor Uzamere (Edo South)
A member of the PDP, he joined the Senate in 2007 and is now returning for the second time

Odion Magnus Ugbesia (Edo Central)
He has held various positions in government. He was minister of solid minerals. Born on January 28, 1949, he holds a bachelor of arts in Political Science from the University of Illinois, United States. He also holds an MA degree in International Relations from Northeastern Illinois University, USA. He was elected into the Senate in 2007, representing Edo Central on the ticket of the PDP. With his victory at the polls, he is returning to the Senate for the second time.

Domingo Obende (Edo North)
He was a member of the PDP before defecting to the ACN, where he contested the senatorial election and won.

Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West)
A lawyer, he's the current deputy Senate president. He was elected into the Senate in 2003 after serving as Enugu State secretary to government (SSG). Born in 1962, he attended University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, where he bagged bachelor's and master's degree. His first elective position was local government chairman in Enugu State.

Ayogu Eze
Born on November 23, 1958, he was commissioner for information in Enugu State as well as special adviser to ex-Governor Chimaroke Nnamani on communication before contesting the senatorial election in 2007. He was also chief press secretary to ex-Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo of Enugu State. Before venturing into politics, he was news editor in The Guardian and also held other senior editorial positions. He's chairman, Senate Committee on Information. He holds a master's degree in Public Administration.

Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu North)
He's a member of the House of Representatives. He has been in the House of Reps since 2003 and won reelection in 2007, before contesting the senatorial election last April and defeating ex-Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. He was deputy leader of the House of Representatives (2003-2007).

Hon. Philip Tanimu Aduda (FCT)
He's member of the House of Representatives, from where he contested the senatorial election to represent the Federal Capital Territory. He's a member of the PDP.

Mohammed Danjuma Goje
He's the out-going governor of Gombe State, having served two terms. Born in October 1952, in Kashere, Akko, Gombe State, was elected governor in 2003 on the ticket of the PDP. He was a minister before winning the governorship election.

Joshua M. Lidani (Gombe South)
Born on January 1, 1968, is a member of the PDP.
Chris Anyanwu (Imo East)
Born in October 1951, she is a journalist, publisher and author. First elected into the Senate in 2007 on the platform of the PDP. She defected to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) this year in her quest to retain the senatorial seat. She was a commissioner in Imo State. She was one of those arrested and jailed by the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha for alleged coup-plotting.

Matthew Ifeanyi Nwagwu (Imo North)
A member of the PDP, he's going to the Senate for the first time. He was born on September 28, 1943

Abdullahi Danladi (Jigawa West)
He is 57 years old and a member of the PDP.
Abdulaziz Usman (Jigawa North)
Aged 49, he's a member of the PDP.
Abdulmumini M Hassan (Jigawa South West)
He's 50 years old and a member of the PDP.
Mohammed Saleh (Kaduna Central)
He is a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and is going to the Senate for the first time.

Esther Nenadi Usman (Kaduna South)
She was minister of finance in the Olusegun Obasanjo's regime. In politics, she was a member of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC). She was a member-elect of the House of Representatives, representing Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party in 1998.

Bello Hayatu Gwarzo (Kano North)
He was elected into the Senate in 1999 and won reelection in 2003. In 2007, he lost the senatorial election only to contest again last April and winning the election. He's a member of the Senate committees on Police Affairs, Millennium Development Goals and Appropriation.

Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (Kano South)
He was born in June 16, 1952 and attended Gaya Central Primary School, Kano between 1961 and 1968. He was elected governor in 1992 and lost the position when the military took over in 1993. He contested the governorship election in 2003 on the ticket of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and lost. In 2007, he won the senatorial election and was deputy minority whip. He's a member of the ANPP. He obtained a Master's of Science degree in Architecture from the Ahmadu Bello University. He was awarded honorary doctorate degree by the University of Science and Applied Management, Porto-Novo, Benin.

Basheer Lado Garba Mohammed (Kano Central)
He's a businessman and attended Bayero University, Kano and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He's a member of the PDP.

Abdul Umar Yandoma (Katsina North)
He was elected into the Senate in 1999. In 2003, he lost his reelection bid to Alhaji Kanti Bello. With his victory in last April polls, he's returning to the Senate, having also defeated Kanti Bello on the ticket of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Ahmed Sani Stores (Katsina South)
He is a member of the CPC and going to the Senate for the first time.

Abu Ibrahim (Katsina Central)
He was elected into the Senate in 2003 on the ticket of ANPP and served till 2007. He was chairman of the Katsina branch of the PDP, before being elected to the Senate. In 2007, he contested the governorship election in the state and lost to Governor Ibrahim Shema. He's staging a return to the Senate.

Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi Central)
Aged, 49, he's a member of the PDP. He's known for his philanthropy and generosity.

Isa Galaudu (Kebbi North)
A former banker and managing director of Galaphone Nigeria Ltd, an MTN Nigeria trade partner, he is a member of the PDP.

Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West)
Born in August 1960, he was first elected to the Senate in 2007 on the ticket of PDP. He was National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) from 1999 to 2006. He is a member of the Senate committees on privatization, industry, federal character & inter-government affairs, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and appropriation.

Nurudeen Abatemi Usman (Kogi Central)
Aged 39, he's the son of a former deputy governor of old Kwara State, the late Alhaji Usman Abatemi. He's a member of the PDP.

Simon Ajibola (Kwara South)
He joined the Senate in 2004 and was reelected in 2007 on the platform of PDP. His journey to the Senate started in 2003, when he contested but lost to Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi of the ANPP. He went to the tribunal and won in 2004. In the Senate, he serves on water resources, upstream petroleum resources, security & intelligence and agriculture committee.

Abubakar Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central)
Born in December 1962, he is the outgoing governor of Kwara State, where he served two terms on the ticket of the PDP. He studied at the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London, from 1982 to 1987, and obtained M.B.B.S (London). He worked as a medical officer at Rush Green Hospital, Essex from 1988-1989. He was a director of Societe Generale Bank (Nig) Ltd from 1990-2000.

Alhaji Sha'aba Lafiaji (Kwara North)
He was governor of Kwara State between 1992 and 1993 on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). A member of the PDP, he's going to the Senate for the first time.

Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon (Lagos West)
Born in December 1959, was elected into the Senate in 2007, after contesting for the position of governor in his party, the Action Congress (AC). Before that, he served as chairman, Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State on the ticket of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). In 2003, he was elected to the House of Reps, representing Mushin Federal Constituency 1.

Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central)
She's the wife of the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As First lady of Lagos State, she touched the lives of many women. One of the programmes she initiated as first lady was the Spell a Bee competition, which produces a one-day governor in the state, from among Lagos secondary schools students. She was one of those who worked in the defunct SDP for the victory of the late Chief MKO Abiola in June 12, 1993 presidential election. She was also a member of the national Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which opposed the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha

Olugbenga Ashafa (Lagos East)
Born on Lagos Island on July 22, 1955, he attended Morgan State University, Maryland, USA, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.). He joined the political team, which assisted the election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to become governor of Lagos State in 1999.

Suleiman Asonya Adokwe (Nasarawa South)
Born February 15, 1954, he was elected into the Senate in May 2007 on the ticket of the PDP. In the Senate he has served on various committees, including Senate committees on Security & Intelligence, Navy, National Planning, Downstream Petroleum and Capital Markets.

Yussuf Musa Nagogo (Nasarawa North)
He's a member of the CPC and aged 54 years old.
Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa Central)
Born in July 1946, he was elected governor of Nasarawa State in 1999 and served till 2007. He is a member of the PDP. He joined entered politics in 1977, and was elected to the Constituent Assembly, which drafted the constitution for Nigeria's short-lived Second Republic (1979-1983). He's founding member of PDP.

Ibrahim Musa (Niger North)
He's a member of the CPC in zone 'C' area of Niger State.

Alhaji Adegbenga Sefiu Kaka (Ogun East)
Alhaji Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka was born May 1952. He was the deputy governor of Ogun State. He's a member of the ACN.

Odunsi, Akin Babalola Kamar (Ogun West)
A member of the ACN, he's 60 years old. He's a veteran advertising practitioner and chairman of Rosabel.

Robert Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North)
He worked at the University of Ibadan as a lecturer in 1975 and became professor of zoology at the Lagos State University in 1986. He is the pioneer director general of the National Space Research and Development Agency. He's a member of the Labour Party (LP).

Akinyelure Patrick Ayo (Ondo Central)
A banker of note, he was group executive chairman, Allover Group, a microfinance lender, from 1994 to 2010. He's a member of the LP.

Mudashiru Oyetunde Husain (Osun West)
He's a two-term member of the House of Representatives (1999-2007). In the April 2011 elections, he defeated the sitting senator Isiaka Adeleke of the (PDP). He's a member of the ACN.

Babajide Christopher Omoworare (Osun East)
Aged 45, he was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Ifako-Ijaiye State Constituency from 1999-2003. He's a member of the ACN.

Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central)
He's a scientist, pro-democracy activist and renowned human right activities. He's a member of the ACN.

Hosea Ayoola Agboola (Oyo North)
A member of the PDP, he was commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters in the state. He's a member of the PDP.

Ayoade Ademola Adeseun (Oyo Central)
Born in January 1953, he's a member of the ACN. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2003. He defected to ACN in 2010, on whose platform he contested the senatorial election.

Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South)
Aged 58, he was commissioner in the administration of former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State.

Wilson Asinobi Ake (Rivers West)
Born in September 1955, he was elected to the House of Reps in 1999 and left in 2003. He's a member of the PDP.

George Sekibo (Rivers North)
He holds a bachelor's degree in Architecture from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. He was local government chairman in the state.

Magnus Abe (Rivers East)
Born in May 1965, he holds a bachelor's degree in Law. He was called to the Bar in 1987. He joined active politics in 1999 and was elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, where he served as a minority leader. He also served as commissioner of information between 2003 and 2007. He was secretary to the state government before contesting for Senate. He's a member of the PDP.

Umaru Dahiru Tambuwal (Sokoto South)
Born in June 1952, he's a member of the ANPP. He was elected into the Senate in 2003 and reelected in ,2007 as a member of the PDP. When the National Assembly is inaugurated, he will be a three-term senator.

Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir (Sokoto East)
He holds a bachelor's degree and master's) degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Detroit. He's a chartered engineer and a fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, UK and the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Favour Aisha Alhassan (Taraba North)
She was chief registrar of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court and a member of the PDP.

Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South)
He served as commissioner of agriculture for Taraba State between 1999 and 2003 in the Jolly Nyame administration. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the Donga/Ussa/Takum Constituency, serving from May 2003 to May 2007.

Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe East)
Born in October 1950, he was governor of Yobe State from 1999 to 2007. He also served as governor of the state from January 1992 to November 1993. He is a member of the ANPP.

Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (Yobe North)
He's a serving senator, having been elected in 2007. Earlier, he was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999, where he chaired the House committees on education and agriculture.

Alkali Abdulkadir Jajere (Yobe South)
Born in January 1964, he's a journalist turned politician and a member of the ANPP. He was variously commissioner of agriculture and commissioner of works in Yobe State.

Ahmad Sani Yerima (Zamfara West)
He was born on July 22, 1960 and was governor of Zamfara State from 1999 to 2007. In 2007, he was elected into the Senate. He holds master's degree in Economics. He's a member of the ANPP.

Sahabi Alhaji Yaú (Zamfara North)
He was first elected into the Senate in 2007 on the ticket of ANPP. A member of the ANPP, he would be in the Senate for the second time, with his victory in the last election.