Francis Asekhame Alimikhena (born 20 September 1947) is a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Edo State. He served in the Senate from 2015 to 2023, representing Edo North Senatorial District. He was first elected in 2015 and reelected to a second term in 2019. However, he lost his re-election bid in 2023.[1][2][3][4][5] Alimikhena was the vice-chairman, Senate Committee on Housing and also a member of the Senate committee on Constitutional Review.
Alimikhena was born in Igiode area of Etsako East local government area in Edo state on 20 September 1947. He was born into a strong catholic Christian home and grew up with a strong Christian principle.[6]
He joined the Nigerian Army as a commissioned officer in 1972. He was later commissioned as a lieutenant in 1982 and then held the position of Adjutant, Army Garrison between 1985 and 1989 and later promoted a Major in 1992. Alimikhena was awarded the Forces Service Star (FSS) in 1999. An honour meant for service Officers who have served the Army without blemish. Other positions held are Senior Officer (finance): Nigerian Army School of Engineering, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigerian Army Pension Board and Army Petroleum Trust Fund between 1999 and 2000. He retired from the Army a Major in 2000.[7]
Alimikhena started his education at Saint Thomas Secondary Modern School, and left in 1981. Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom to study Law. He earned a Bachelor of Law (L.L.B) in 2003 and was later called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.[8]
Private enterprise and philanthropic service
Alimikhena is an astute business man and philanthropist. He currently seat on the board of so many companies. He is currently the chairman of Falzal group of companies, Vice Chairman of Solidgate properties, Managing partner at FA Alimikhena & Co (Global Chambers) and also was the President of Anthony BBC between 1994 and 1997.[9]
In 2007, Alimikhena joined politics by contesting for the Edo North senatorial seat under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party but lost. He later contested in 2011 for the same senatorial post but lost again. Thereafter, he defected to the All Progressives Congress and contested for the same senatorial seat in 2015 and won, after polling a total of 86,021 to beat his closest rival Pascal Ugbome of the People's Democratic Party who polled 66,062 votes.[12]
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
On 19 December 2014, Alimikhena emerged as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a heated party primary election at Edo state.[13]
Alimikhena was elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the All Progressives Congress candidate from Edo North in March 2015.[14] He won the election with 86,021 votes.[12] He was sworn in as a senator on 6 June 2015. Alimikena was the only elected All Progressives Congress senator in the entire South South and South Eastern part of Nigeria in 2015 general election.[10][14]
He ran for the position of Deputy Senate President in 2019.[15]
Alimikhena has sponsored several bills[citation needed] in the Senate:
Chartered Institute of Capital Market Registrar (est., etc.) Bill 2015 (SB. 25)[16]
A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of Environmental Managers Registration Council of Nigeria to provide for Code of Conduct, Professional Ethics and Stipulation of Minimum Standards and for other related matters, 2016 (S.B. 88)[17]
Agricultural Processing Zones Establishing Bill 2016[18]
Establishment of national commission for persons with disabilities (SB22)[19]
In the 25 February 2023, Edo North senatorial district National Assembly election, he was defeated by Adams Oshiomhole.[5]
^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.
