Oloriegbe Raises Alarm Over Ex-Governors’ Move to Senate

Former Kwara Central Senator, Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, has raised concerns over the growing practice of former governors seeking Senate seats after leaving office.

Oloriegbe alleged that some former governors regard the National Assembly as a retirement destination and a way of shielding themselves from possible scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies.

The former lawmaker made the comments on Monday while contributing to discussions around the 2027 Kwara Central senatorial contest.

He also questioned whether experience in the executive arm automatically translates into effective legislative performance, stressing that the two positions require different skills and responsibilities.

According to him, lawmakers must personally attend plenary and committee meetings, participate actively in debates, engage other legislators and remain accessible to their constituents.

Oloriegbe said his experience in the Ninth Senate showed that some former governors found it difficult to adapt to the demands of legislative duties, with their limited participation potentially affecting the benefits available to their constituencies.

He cited committee work involving former governors as an example, saying some members were not regular at meetings, which he claimed affected their ability to attract projects and other opportunities to their constituencies.

He further argued that effective lawmaking requires legislators to study bills, government proposals and other documents, while active participation in oversight is necessary to ensure proper accountability.

His comments come amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly over the Kwara Central Senate seat, where Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is being linked with a possible bid after completing his second term.