2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Ebonyi State

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Ebonyi State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the three federal Senators from Ebonyi State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts.

The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later.

Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.

Background
In the previous Senate elections, two of three incumbent senators were returned with Joseph Ogba (PDP-Central) and Sam Egwu (PDP-North) winning re-election while Sonni Ogbuoji (APC-South) retired to unsuccessfully run for governor.

In the South district, Michael Ama Nnachi regained the seat for the PDP with 79% of the vote; the PDP held the other two seats as Ogba was re-elected with 56% of the vote in the Central district while Egwu was returned with 67% in the North district. These results were a part of a continuation of the PDP's control of the state as Governor Dave Umahi was re-elected with over 73% of the vote in the gubernatorial election and the party won a majority in the House of Assembly.

However, the PDP did lose one House of Representatives seat to the APC and although the state was easily won by PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar, it still swung towards Buhari compared to 2015 and had lower turnout.

Ebonyi Central
The Ebonyi Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ezza North, Ezza South, Ikwo, and Ishielu. The incumbent Joseph Ogba (PDP) was elected with 55.6% of the vote in 2019. In January 2022, Ogba announced that he would run for governor of Ebonyi State instead of seeking re-election.

All Progressives Congress
The primary in Onueke resulted in Kenneth Eze—the Ezza South Local Government Chairman—emerging as the nominee unopposed.

People's Democratic Party
Primary results showed Lazarus Ogbe—former MHR for Ezza South/Ikwo and former Commissioner for Intergovernmental Affairs—emerging as the nominee over former Minister of Culture and Tourism Frank Ogbuewu and other candidates in a landslide. However, the national PDP initially attempt to nullify the senatorial primaries; the national party later backtracked amid outcry from victorious candidates (including Ogbe) and INEC listed Ogbe as the legitimate nominee.

Ebonyi North
The Ebonyi North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Izzi, and Ohaukwu. The incumbent Sam Egwu (PDP), who was elected with 66.8% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.

All Progressives Congress
The primary at the local government headquarters of Abakaliki LGA resulted in Onyekachi Nwaebonyi—former Commissioner for Capital City Development and former state PDP Chairman—emerging as the nominee over former MHR Elizabeth Ogbaga in a landslide. After the primary, Nwaebonyi stated that he 'would focus on youth empowerment and capacity building' and thanked Governor Dave Umahi for his support.

People's Democratic Party
On the primary date, Egwu was renominated at the state PDP secretariat in Abakaliki; he won unanimously over Ojemba Chikodili Fidelis Mbam and Emeka Otozi, who both boycotted the primary and rejected the results. After the primary, Egwu praised the primary's conduct and thanked delegates. However, the national PDP initially attempt to nullify the senatorial primaries; the national party later backtracked amid outcry from victorious candidates and INEC listed Egwu as the legitimate nominee. Mbam approached the judiciary to challenge the results but his case and appeals were dismissed by rulings from a High Court, Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court by November.

Campaign
In review of the campaign in December 2022, reporting from The Nation categorized Nwaebonyi as the frontrunner due to clan and regional dynamics that work against Egwu's third term bid. Pundits also contend that the APC could be boosted in the district as its gubernatorial nominee—Francis Nwifuru—is a native of the area.

Ebonyi South
The Ebonyi South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Ivo, Ohaozara, and Onicha. The incumbent Michael Ama Nnachi (PDP), who was elected with 78.8% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.

All Progressives Congress
Prior to the primary, Governor Dave Umahi reportedly issued a directive for aspirants to step down in favour of a single candidate; however, Ann Agom-Eze refused to drop out for Austin Umahi—a former PDP official and brother of Governor Dave Umahi. On the original primary date, Austin Umahi defeated Agom-Eze by a wide margin and thanked delegates after the results were announced. Despite gratitude in victory, Austin Umahi was revealed to have been a placeholder for his brother as Austin Umahi withdrew from the nomination and an impromptu rerun primary was won by Dave Umahi unopposed on 10 June. However, the sudden primary ruled to be illegitimate by a High Court as Agom-Eze's name was not on the ballot and INEC did not list Dave Umahi on its provisional nominee list in June. In response, the state APC initially claimed that INEC had made an error before changing course and conducting a new rerun primary at the local government headquarters of Afikpo North LGA on 1 August; Dave Umahi easily won but Agom-Eze continued to claim that the rerun primaries should not have allowed new candidates and thus she was the rightful nominee. Due to her claims, the Ebonyi APC expelled Agom-Eze for 'rebellious and unruly behaviour' as she is allegedly "being bankrolled by the opposition party." In response, Agom-Eze claimed that she faced persistent harassment and death threats due to her opposition to Umahi. Her lawsuit eventually made its way to the Supreme Court in December, which ruled in favour of Umahi.

People's Democratic Party
On the primary date, Ama Nnachi was renominated in Afikpo North; he won in a landslide over Batholomew Olughu and Linus Chinedu Okorie. However, the national PDP initially attempt to nullify the senatorial primaries; the national party later backtracked amid outcry from victorious candidates and INEC listed Ama Nnachi as the legitimate nominee.

Campaign
Analysis at the start of the official campaign period in early October categorized the election as a four-way race between Ama Nnachi, APGA nominee Ifeanyi Eleje, LP nominee Linus Abaa Okorie, and Umahi. Pundits noted LGA-based regional dynamics along with potential paths of victory for the major contenders. Later that month, national attention turned to the race due to the reported kidnapping of Okorie by gunman on 16 October; however, a later police statement stated that he had been arrested and detained. The LP protested the arrest as political persecution by Umahi and critics labeled the arrest as another example of governors using security forces to abuse the opposition. At the end of that month, an analysis piece from The Guardian also focused on regional dynamics as Eleje and Ama Nnachi are from Afikpo while Okorie and Umahi are from the Ivo-Ohaozara-Onicha axis. The report also reviewed the Okorie-Umahi political relationship from 2011 before reviewing attempts to free Okorie from detention. The election was also categorized as one of several examples of incumbent governors in competitive Senate races.

By November, the campaign became a focal point for criticism of Umahi's alleged authoritarianism as Okorie remained detained until 29 November and Eleje accused security forces of "not allowing the citizens' freedom of expression." These events along with criticism from the PDP and anti-Umahi APC members led observers to label state security forces as effectively Umahi's private militia. In an electoral analysis piece in December 2022, reporters from The Nation stated that Okorie's detention had backfired on Umahi amid public outcry, especially in Onicha—which is both Okorie's native LGA and electorally crucial to win the district. Later that month, a Daily Trust article on the race repeated previous issues for Umahi due to regional dynamics, but also contended that Okorie's detention had hurt his campaigning and Ama Nnachi lacked significant political clout.