Nigeria returned to the Democratic rule in 1999. Since then, many politicians have taken their own share in serving the populace. Five general elections have been conducted since 1999. The Zoning formula is a major determinant in Nigerian politics. It has given opportunities for many brilliant politicians to emerge into lime light. In the same vein, it has also denied many brilliant politicians the opportunities to contribute to the development of the Nation.
In the national assembly, some of the senators have weathered the storm of politics in Nigeria to retain their seats for more than a decade.
Some Nigerian senators have remained in the senate since 1999 till date, while some have spent more than 18 Years in the upper chamber of the National assembly. They are gladiators and forces to be reckoned with in the senate.
The following are some of the longest serving senators in Nigeria.
#1 Senator David Mark (Benue state; 1999 till date)
The retired Army brigadier general and former military Governor of Niger state has been in the Nigerian senate since 1999. He has served as a two-term president of the Nigerian Senate. David Mark is very experienced in the lawmaking process and he is highly respected by colleagues. He is the longest serving senator in Nigeria. In the current senate, he is not among any of the committees.
#2 Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan: (Yobe state; 1999 till date)
The Yobe state-born senator is veey experienced in the law making process having been in the National assembly since 1999. Senator Lawan was sworn-in in 1999 as a house of representative member. He has been in the National assembly for a combined 18 years. He served as house of representative member from 1999 to 2007 when he stepped up to become a senator making him one of the longest serving senators in Nigeria.
#3 Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu state; 2003 till date)
He represents Enugu west senatorial district in the Nigerian senate. He is well vested with the senate presiding matters having been acting as the presiding officer since 2007. He comes behind Senator David Mark as one of the longest serving senatora in Nigeria
He has served as the deputy-senate president.
#4 Senator James Manager (Delta state; 2003 till date)
James Manager is the Chairman Senate committee on solid mineral. He won elections as a senator representing Delta state south senatorial district in 2003. Since then, he has been winning elections and has stood firm to emerge as one of the longest serving senators in Nigeria. Manager is a lawyer by profession.
Listed above are the Nigerian senators who have been in the Upper chambers of the National assembly for at least fifteen years. They are indeed brilliant and result oriented. Nothing more would have made them to stay in the Nigerian senate for so long. Indeed, they are valuable assets to their people.