By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The 10th National Assembly comprises 109 senators and 360 House of Representatives members, representing each of the Senatorial Zones and Federal Constituencies of the country.
While the Senate in the 10th Assembly is made up of politicians of different backgrounds, there are 13 of them who were former state governors and are currently serving as senators.
It should be noted that while others, like former governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, and his Yobe State counterpart, Ibrahim Gaidam, were elected to the 10th Senate, they resigned shortly after inauguration to take up ministerial positions in the federal cabinet as Ministers of Works and Police Affairs, respectively.
The Impact Nigeria Newspaper highlights the senators on this list, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and chairmen of several key committees in the Senate of the 10th Assembly.
By geopolitical zone, four are from the North-West, two are each from the North-East and North Central, three from the South-South, while one each is from the South-East and South-West.
1. Godswill Akpabio
Akpabio is the current Senate President and represents Akwa Ibom North West, following his re-election as senator in 2023 under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He served as a two-term governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 under the People Democratic Party (PDP).
The ‘Uncommon Governor’ is a lawyer by profession and served as a Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources, and later for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, before becoming a governor.
He also served as the Senate Minority Leader between 2015 and 2018 before he was appointed as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs between 2019 and 2022 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
2. Adams Oshiomhole
Oshiomhole served as the governor of Edo State for two terms between 2008 and 2016 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Before he was elected governor, Oshiomhole served as the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) between 1999 and 2007.
After leaving office, the Comrade Governor was appointed as the National Chairman of the APC, a position he held till 2020 when he was suspended.
He is currently representing Edo North in the Senate on the platform of the APC and chairs the Senate Committee on Interior.
3. Orji Uzor Kalu
OUK, as he is popularly referred to, served as the governor of Abia State for two terms between 1999 and 2007 on the platform of the PDP.
He is a prominent businessman with chains of businesses under his belt, including SLOK Holding, Daily Sun, and New Telegraph newspapers.
Kalu was elected as senator in 2019 on the platform of the APC, representing Abia North Senatorial Zone, and re-elected in 2023.
He served as the Chief Whip of the Senate and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions in the 9th Assembly.
Kalu was a member of the House of Representatives during the aborted Third Republic (1992–1993).
4. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
Tambuwal served as governor of Sokoto State between 2015 and 2023 for two terms.
Before serving as governor, he represented Tambuwal/Kebbe Federal Constituency for 16 years between 2003 and 2015, and rose to become the 12th Speaker of the House of Representatives (2011—2015).
Tambuwal, a lawyer by profession, currently serves as senator representing Sokoto South following his election in 2023 and chairs the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development.
He is a key member of the PDP.
5. Simon Lalong
Lalong is the senator representing Plateau South in the 10th Assembly.
He was the governor of Plateau State between 2015 and 2023.
Lalong served briefly as the Minister of Labour and Employment in 2023 before resigning to take his seat in the Senate following a court victory.
He was also the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly between 2000 and 2006.
6. Seriake Dickson
Dickson was the governor of Bayelsa State for eight years between 2012 and 2008, and currently represents Bayelsa West in the 10th Assembly.
He was a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2012, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency.
Dickson has earlier served as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Bayelsa State between 2006 and 2007.
7. Danjuma Goje
Goje, who has been a member of the Senate since 2011, representing Gombe Central, was the governor of Gombe State between 2003 and 2011.
He served as the Minister of State for Power and Steel between 1999 and 2001 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
8. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo
Dankwambo took over the reins as governor of Gombe State in 2011, succeeding Danjuma Goje. He was re-elected as governor in 2015 for a second term in office.
He currently represents Gomber North in the 10th Assembly.
Before becoming a governor, Dankwambo served as the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) between 2005 and 2011 and was previously the Accountant-General of Gombe State between 1999 and 2005.
9. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko
Wamakko currently represents Sokoto North in the 10th Assembly and has been in the Senate since 2015.
He served as governor of Sokoto State between 2007 and 2015 and handed over to Tambuwal.
Before being elected as governor, Wamakko served as the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State between 1999 and 2006 under Attahiru Bafarawa.
10. Abdulaziz Yari
Yari is the lawmaker representing Zamfara West in the 10th Assembly and chairs the Senate Committee on Water Resources.
He served as governor of Zamfara State for two terms between 2011 and 2019, and served as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) during his second term as governor.
Before he was elected as governor, Yari was a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, representing Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency.
11. Adamu Aliero
Aliero was governor of Kebbi State from 1999 to 2007 and currently represents Kebbi Central in the 10th Senate. He has had multiple tenures in the Senate, starting in 2007.
He served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2008 to 2010.
12. Gbenga Daniel
OGD, as he is popularly addressed, was the governor of Ogun State from 2003 to 2011.
This is his first term in the Senate, and he is representing Ogun East. He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy.
After his governorship, he was the Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2019 before defecting to the APC.
13. Abubakar Sani Bello
Bello is the lawmaker representing Niger North in the 10th Assembly and served as governor of Niger State for two terms from 2015 to 2023.
Before becoming governor, Bello served as the Commissioner for Commerce and Investment in Niger State from 2009 to 2010.
