Smart Adeyemi
Encyclopedia
Smart Adeyemi was elected Senator for the Kogi West constituency of Kogi State
, Nigeria
, taking office on 29 May 2007. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
He earned a Post Graduate Diploma In Public Relations, Diploma in Law, Advanced Diploma in Mass Communication and a Masters In Public Administration from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri
, and became a journalist.
He was National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists from 1999 to 2006.
On assuming his Senate seat he was appointed to committees on Privatization, Industry, Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs (Chairman), Federal Capital Territory and Appropriation.
Adeyemi was also appointed vice chairman of the Northern Senators Forum.
In a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ThisDay noted that he had worked on bills on the State of the Nation Address and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act amendment, and sponsored three motions.
In May 2010 the Daily Sun said Adeyemi had asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to start an investigation of members of the National Assembly whom he alleged were corrupt. Adeyimi said that he had been misquoted. He said "I never said this National Assembly is corrupt [...] but if there are a few that are corrupt the EFCC should go ahead to expose them."
Despite his denial, Senate President David Mark
announced a six man ad hoc committee to investigate the issue, describing it as serious allegation. The committee was to be chaired by Senate Chief Whip Kanti Bello and to include Senators Ayogu Eze
, Olorunnimbe Mamora, James Manager
, Adamu Talba and Zainab Kure.
Adeyemi's allegation was similar to one Senator Nuhu Aliyu
from Niger State had made in January 2008, which caused a similar strong reaction from the other legislators.
Adeyemi won the PDP primary to compete for reelection as Kogi West Senator in the April 2011 elections.
However, a court nullified the PDP primary election on 4 April 2011, saying it did not follow due process as defined in the electoral act.
A fresh primary was run on 7 April, in which Adeyame defeated his opponent Abiye Abinso by 1,124 votes to two.
In the elections of 9 April 2011, Adeyami retained his seat.
Kogi State
Kogi state is found in the central region of Nigeria. It is popularly called the Confluence State because the confluence of River Niger and River Benue is at its capital, Lokoja, which is the first administrative capital of modern-day Nigeria....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, taking office on 29 May 2007. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
Early years
Smart Adeyemi was born on 18 August 1960.He earned a Post Graduate Diploma In Public Relations, Diploma in Law, Advanced Diploma in Mass Communication and a Masters In Public Administration from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Owerri
Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of the Igboland. Owerri consists of three Local Govern Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 400,000 as of 2006...
, and became a journalist.
He was National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists from 1999 to 2006.
Political career
Adeyemi was elected to the Senate in April 2007.On assuming his Senate seat he was appointed to committees on Privatization, Industry, Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs (Chairman), Federal Capital Territory and Appropriation.
Adeyemi was also appointed vice chairman of the Northern Senators Forum.
In a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ThisDay noted that he had worked on bills on the State of the Nation Address and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act amendment, and sponsored three motions.
In May 2010 the Daily Sun said Adeyemi had asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
(EFCC) to start an investigation of members of the National Assembly whom he alleged were corrupt. Adeyimi said that he had been misquoted. He said "I never said this National Assembly is corrupt [...] but if there are a few that are corrupt the EFCC should go ahead to expose them."
Despite his denial, Senate President David Mark
David Mark
David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark is the President of the Senate of Nigeria and Senator for the Benue South constituency of Benue State. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party ....
announced a six man ad hoc committee to investigate the issue, describing it as serious allegation. The committee was to be chaired by Senate Chief Whip Kanti Bello and to include Senators Ayogu Eze
Ayogu Eze
Ayogu Eze was elected Senator for the Enugu North constituency of Enugu State, Nigeria, taking office on 29 May 2007. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party ....
, Olorunnimbe Mamora, James Manager
James Manager
James Manager is a Nigerian senator who represents the People's Democratic Party in the Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State. He became a senator in 2007.-Background:...
, Adamu Talba and Zainab Kure.
Adeyemi's allegation was similar to one Senator Nuhu Aliyu
Nuhu Aliyu
Nuhu Aliyu Labbo is a Nigerian politician elected to the Senate for the Niger North constituency of Niger State in 1999 and was reelected in 2003 and 2007.-Background:...
from Niger State had made in January 2008, which caused a similar strong reaction from the other legislators.
Adeyemi won the PDP primary to compete for reelection as Kogi West Senator in the April 2011 elections.
However, a court nullified the PDP primary election on 4 April 2011, saying it did not follow due process as defined in the electoral act.
A fresh primary was run on 7 April, in which Adeyame defeated his opponent Abiye Abinso by 1,124 votes to two.
In the elections of 9 April 2011, Adeyami retained his seat.