The Losers
IN the last election, it all came down to winners and losers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC). And like in any election, they are winners and losers.

For a few, though they are winners in the National Assembly, they will lose their positions in both Chambers.

In the end, the ruling party goes into opposition, for the first time; something most people see as good for the country. From the driver’s seat, PDP goes to the back seat.

It is a case of the proverbial “soldier go, soldier come, barracks remain.” While it is a setback for the losers, it is a new dawn for the winners.

Those on the losing side and whose political future dips include not just President Goodluck Jonathan, but also his wife, Dame Patience; PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Tony Anenih, former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi; president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, leaders of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasheun and Chief Gani Adams, all staunch supporters of the President.

Jonathan/Patience

FOR the President and First Lady, it is an obvious case of a big loss in the power game, position and fame. But they certainly did not lose face, Jonathan having conceded defeat, like a statesman, and congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory.

Clark
IN the case of Clark, who has been one of Jonathan’s most vocal supporters, it is a new era hardly given a thought so soon. Now, it is sunset for the elderstatesman, and a relegation to the politics of Ijaw and perhaps, Delta State.

Oritsejafor
CAN under Oritsejafor has been almost divided over his stance on political issues sometimes found controversial and partisan in favour of the President and PDP by many, including the clergy, especially as he was a regular visitor to Aso Rock/Presidential Villa.

Ngige
FORMER Anambra State governor, Senator Chris Ngige, is certainly one of the losers.

Apart from losing his bid to return to the senate, APC obviously had him in mind when it favoured the Southeast zone to pick the senate presidency and assuage the Igbo perception of marginalisation in the party, hoping that he would win the election and be rewarded with the position, having been its only senator from that zone in the outgoing dispensation.

But all that appears to have vanished with his defeat and he can only be compensated with a ministerial appointment from May 29.

Ngige was defeated for the Anambra Central seat by PDP’s Uche Ekwunife, who is a member of the House of Representatives.

Adeyemi
SENATOR Smart Adeyemi of Kogi State was one of the big wigs in the Red Chamber expected to return.

But political equations and perceived injustice in his emergence robbed him of that opportunity, as vocal former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, beat him for the Kogi West seat.

Ndigbo/Niger Delta
THE Niger Delta (South-South geo-political zone), from where Jonathan comes, is one of the losers, having failed to secure a second term.

The Ndigbo (Southeast zone) are also losers in all ramifications. Not only would the post of Deputy Senate President they hold elude them, even the more lucrative Senate President it was earlier favoured to pick under the APC is sure to also elude them, as they failed to (re)elect any senator from that zone.

Winners, Yet Losers
THE cases of Mark and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, who won their elections to return to the Senate, may not be too palatable.

Both would lose their current positions in the incoming government and will be there as ordinary (though senior) members.

Winners
Buhari/Osinbajo
OBVIOUSLY the biggest winners are APC presidential candidate and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

The duo will from May 29 be the occupants of Aso Rock for the next four years.

Tinubu

For leading the All Progressives Congress (APC) from being an opposition party whom many gave no chance of survival let alone take the reins from the PDP, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is certainly a big winner in the current equation.

Saraki/Akume/Gemade
SENATORS Bukola Saraki, Senate Minority Leader and APC candidate for Kwara Central, George Akume of Benue West and Barnabas Gemade of Benue East made their return to the senate.

And if the senate presidency swings in the favour of North central geopolitical zone, any of them could succeed Mark.

Saraki (second time) and Akume (third time) are former governors, while Gemade (second time) is a former national chairman of PDP.

Akpabio
AKWA Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio is one of the notable winners, moving from Government House in Uyo to the senate from May 29.
The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum is one of the unrepentant supporters of Jonathan.

But for one used to being on the majority side, his going to the senate will be without fanfare, as his party goes into opposition.

Orji
ABIA State Governor Theodore Orji also made it by a narrow margin in a hotly contested and contentious election for Abia Central senatorial seat.

To many, the close margin tells how popular the governor is in his zone.

Hausa Fulani/Yoruba
FOR having the Buhari and Osinbajo from its stock, the Hausa Fulani and Yoruba ethnic group are indeed beneficiaries of the election.