Chairman,Senate Committee;FERMA,Vice Chairman, Senate Committee; Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Member, Senate Committee; Defence, Federal Character, National Planning, Local Content and Cooperation and Integration in Africa/NEPAD
Senator Chief Gershom Henry Bassey (born 18 March 1962 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian politician and multi-millionaire businessman.[1] He is the senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate. He is a senator of the 8th and 9th National Assembly in Nigeria respectively.[2][3][4]
He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) and has received an award of recognition from the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).[6]
Career
Bassey was the CEO of Lilleker Nigeria [7] Nigeria form 1999 - 2010 and Chairman Cross River State Water Board in 1999-2015. Bassey started his political career when ran for Senate of the Cross River Southern Senatorial District 2015.In 9 June 2015 he was sworn into the 8th Nigerian Senate.On 11 June 2019 he was sworn into the 9th Nigerian Senate. He is ranked the 5th best senator in the Nigerian Senate. He has an estimated net worth of about $30 million putting him as one of the richest men in Cross River State. [8][9] He also served as the Chairman of the Strategic Policy Committee in Cross River State.[10][11] In 2014, Bassey declared his interest for the seat of the senate for Cross River south senatorial district.[12] In 2015, he was elected Senator for Cross River South senatorial district.[13][14][15] He was also appointed the Vice Chairman of the Senate committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream). Bassey is now the Chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency ( FERMA ). This is the committee responsible for road maintenance in Nigeria. [16]
In the run up to the 2019 elections during the People's Democratic Party primaries, Bassey reportedly had a confrontation with his opponent Ntufam Ekpo Okon which eventually led to a fight and postponement of the primaries by the Cross River State Senatorial Primary Election Committee. It was also reported that supporters of Ntufam Ekpo Okon attacked the motorcade of Bassey.[17] Following the attack on Bassey, Ntufam Okon was disqualified by the Cross River State Senatorial Primary Election Committee and Bassey emerged the winner.[18][19][20]
In February 2019, the election was held and Bassey emerged the winner.[21][22]
Sponsored bills
During the 8th National Assembly, he sponsored several bills namely:
1. Correction, Reformation and Re-integration Centre (establishment, etc) Bill, 2016".
2. Federal College of Forestry Technology and Research, Akamkpa (establishment, etc) Bill
3. He sponsored a bill named "A Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody)(Special Provision) Act, CAP C40 LFN 2011 and for Other Related Matters", the bill progressed through to the second reading stage.
4. Other bills he sponsored that only went through the first reading are the "Fire (Hazard, Prevention and Safeguard) Bill", the "National Boundary Commission Act (Amendment) Bill", "Flags and Coat of Arms Act (Amendment) Bill", "Federal Polytechnic Akpabuyo (Est.etc.) Bill" and the "Nigerian Research Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic, Bakassi (Est.etc) Bill".,[23][24]
^Abaribe was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.
^Abbo was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in November 2020.
^Akpan was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the YPP in July 2022.
^The PDP's Ekpenyong was elected Senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal partially annulled the results and called a supplementary election in the affected areas. Ekpenyong won the ensuing rerun election and was sworn-in again in January 2020.
^Oduah was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in August 2021 before returning to the PDP in April 2022.
^Jika was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in June 2022.
^Bulkachuwa was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in November 2022.
^Gumau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022.
^The PDP's Douye Diri was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Governor. Cleopas won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^The PDP's Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Deputy Governor. Dickson won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^ abIn April 2022, Adamu and Kyari resigned from the Senate after taking APC party offices the month prior.
^The PDP's Rose Okoji Oko was elected Senator in 2019 but died in March 2020. Jarigbe and fellow PDP member Stephen Odey fought in court over the ensuing by-election's PDP nomination; Odey won both initial court decisions and the by-election before taking office late in December 2020. However, Jarigbe later won several court challenges which declared him the legitimate PDP nominee and thus Senator. Jarigbe took office in September 2021.
^Nwaoboshi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in June 2021.
^Alimikhena was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.
^The APC's Adedayo Clement Adeyeye was elected Senator in 2019 but the NASS Election Petition Tribunal awarded and Court of Appeal affirmed the win to Olujimi. She took office in November 2019.
^Onyewuchi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the LP in June 2022.
^Due to disputes over alleged irregularities, the APC's Benjamin Uwajumogu was not sworn in until July 2019. Uwajumogu died in December 2019 leading to a bye-election. After disputes, Ibezim was awarded the bye-election victory and took office in April 2021.
^Due to disputes over the alleged forced declaration of his election, Okorocha was not sworn in until June 14, 2019.
^Shekarau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022 then to the PDP in August 2022.
^Babba Kaita was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in April 2022.
^Aliero was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in May 2022.
^Abdullahi was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.
^The PDP's Dino Melaye was elected Senator in 2019 but Adeyemi petitioned against the results and the NASS Election Petition Tribunal annulled the results and called a new election. Adeyemi won the ensuing rerun election and took office in December 2019.
^The APC's Adebayo Osinowo was elected Senator in 2019 but died in June 2020. Abiru won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^Akwashiki was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the SDP in July 2022.
^The APC's David Umaru was elected Senator in 2019 but the Supreme Court awarded the APC primary win to Musa making him Senator. He took office in July 2019.
^Balogun was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.
^The APC's Ignatius Datong Longjan was elected Senator in 2019 but died in February 2020. Daduut won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^The APC's Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal was elected Senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal awarded the win to Abdullahi Danbaba. He took office in November 2019 as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in April 2022.
^Bwacha was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in February 2022.
^ abcPrior to inauguration, the APC's Zamfara votes were voided due to improper holding of party primaries. Thus the PDP runners-up took office. All three (Anka, Hassan Muhammed Gusau, Yaú) switched to the APC in June 2021. In February 2022, Muhammed Gusau resigned to become Zamfara Deputy Governor.