The Fall Of Chimaroke Nnamani, The Unconventional Senate President

The huff and puff of the Enugu East senatorial seat would not have been postponed if not for the tragic death of the Labour Party’s candidate, Oyibo Chukwu.

But Senator Chimaroke Nnamani will still be nursing the cold sore of his defeat, considering that he could have potentially become the next president of the senate or a position close to the zenith in the house.

The former governor of Enugu State lost his bid to go back to the Senate and the controversial shout of becoming the next senate president. 

The idea of Nnamani becoming the next senate president could have been far-fetched.

He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ran his senatorial push under the party despite being a staunch supporter of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Another Saraki could have been mooted

Former Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki ran the most controversial senate presidency in the country in the fourth republic by far.

Political observers said he manipulated his way into the running of the red chamber.

Controversially, he is now a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after serving his term under the ruling APC.

Many public commentators had said Dr Chimaroke Nnamani would have slotted in perfectly into the Saraki bracket considering his swift ties with Bola Tinubu.

Additionally, according to some quarters, the power push would have been used to console the southeasterners.

But Nnamani needed to cross the first hurdle even if any unexpected ascendency is possible. He failed to do so.

How did it pan out?

Nnamani, who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, polled 48,701, to be defeated by the candidate of the Labour Party, Kelvin Chukwu, who secured 69,136 votes.

Without a doubt, the instance of political inhumanity which consumed the initial flag bearer of the Labour Party and caused the postponement of the election is one of the low points of the 2023 election cycle.

After the original candidate was assassinated less than 72 hours before the election, Kelvin Chibuzor Chukwu, the younger brother of the slain candidate, produced one of the memorable stories of the 2023 general election cycle.

The family substitution

Family compensation has become the new normal in Nigeria’s political candidacy. From Ademola Adeleke, who benefitted from the sympathy of the death of  Senator Isiaka Adeleke (his brother) to become the new political force in Osun to a 27-year old newly elected House of Representatives member in Kebbi. 

Aside from capacity, competence, and charisma that defines responsible choice, sympathy votes have come to stay in Nigeria’s democracy.

When a public office holder or aspirant dies, potential voters are beginning to tilt towards their family members used to substitute them without considering their level of competence.

Jayeola Adedigba, a public affairs analyst based in Ibadan, told our correspondent that such a brand of politics is rewarding but dangerous.

“It is good to empathise with the dead but placing our political judgment on rewarding the dead via voting the family members who replaced them on the ballot is illegitimate,” he said.

He added that though it might sound unpopular, the trend should not be allowed to go on in Nigeria’s political landscape.

"I am not saying the substitute is not competent, but I believe strongly that he is not prepared for this journey.

"He never had plans to serve before now, and planning is the first phase of responsible leadership", Adedigba enthused.

Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, who played blatant anti-party politics in the just concluded election cycle, could not eat his cake and have it at the same time.

Though his preferred candidate won the presidential election, he could not return to the senate and, by extension, would not become the senate president some political observers say he is qualified to become.