This term: 13 Jun 2023–present
THE PERSON
Party recorded for this termAll Progressives CongressAPCEach line shows where it comes from. A listed contact is not proof it is answered or current.
Emmanuel Memga Udende (INEC: UDENDE EMMANUEL MEMGA) is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Benue North East (Zone A) Senatorial District in the Senate election of 16 January 2027 (INEC final list, 12 September 2026), and the district's serving senator since June 2023. A lawyer from Ukum Local Government Area in the Sankera axis, he declared a First School Leaving Certificate, WAEC and a BL to INEC (age 65). He…
Emmanuel Memga Udende (INEC: UDENDE EMMANUEL MEMGA) is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Benue North East (Zone A) Senatorial District in the Senate election of 16 January 2027 (INEC final list, 12 September 2026), and the district's serving senator since June 2023. A lawyer from Ukum Local Government Area in the Sankera axis, he declared a First School Leaving Certificate, WAEC and a BL to INEC (age 65). He was Benue State's Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under Governor George Akume, when both were in the PDP (years not found). He represented Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, elected on the PDP in 2011 and 2015. On Wednesday 1 June 2016 he defected to the APC on the House floor, and on Tuesday 24 July 2018 he was among 37 members who left the APC, joining the PDP. He failed to win the PDP's ticket for 2019, ran instead as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and was reported a distant third in February 2019. Back in the APC by 2022 (date not found), he won the Benue North East seat on 25 February 2023 with 141,405 votes to 107,303 for the incumbent, former governor Gabriel Suswam of the PDP (figures as reported on 27 February 2023; other reports give 135,573 to 112,231). The election petition tribunal in Makurdi nullified his return by a 2-1 majority on 8 September 2023 and declared Suswam the winner; on 1 November 2023 the Court of Appeal, Abuja, unanimously set that judgment aside and affirmed his election. In the 10th Senate he has chaired the Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes since August 2023, and the Senate passed his bill to establish a Federal Medical Centre at Adikpo in May 2025. At the APC direct primary of 18 May 2026 he lost on the declared results to Suswam, who had joined the APC in February 2026 (131,083 votes to 1,364); Udende alleged the votes were manipulated. On the recommendation of the party's appeal committee, the APC National Working Committee replaced Suswam with Udende on the list sent to INEC (reported 29 June to 1 July 2026). Suswam's suit against the substitution (FHC/ABJ/CS/1470/2026, Federal High Court, Abuja) is pending: INEC told the court on 26 August 2026 that Suswam won the primary, and judgment is fixed for 12 October 2026. His opponents on INEC's list include Thomas Tyolumun Unongo (PDP), Robert Aondona Tyough (ADC) and Iyorwuese Ligom (LP).
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17 linked entries · 37 distinct source links
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Peoples Democratic Party · Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo · Benue
Elected member for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency on the PDP in 2011 (Punch: represented the constituency 2011-2019; a sitting 'Rep Udende' in July 2012). Poll day, votes and opponents not found.
Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo · Benue
Took office
Service ended
Recorded periods in this office: 6 Jun 2011 – 9 Jun 2015 (PDP); 9 Jun 2015 – 11 Jun 2019 (PDP).
Peoples Democratic Party · Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo · Benue
Re-elected for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo on the PDP (he left the PDP for the APC on 1 June 2016). Poll day, votes and opponents not found.
Joined from the PDP on 1 June 2016; attended the former nPDP bloc's meeting within the APC in May 2018; among the 37 House members who left the APC on Tuesday 24 July 2018.
Joined the PDP from the APC on 24 July 2018 but failed to secure its 2019 ticket. Exit day not found: end_date 25 Feb 2019 is an UPPER BOUND (the day he was reported as APGA's candidate).
All Progressives Grand Alliance · Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo · Benue
Ran as the APGA candidate for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo; in returns reported on 25 February 2019 he was a distant third (743 votes in Katsina-Ala LGA, 1,502 in Logo LGA) behind Richard Gbande (PDP) and Solomon Wombo (APC). Final declared result not found.
Peoples Democratic Party · Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo · Benue
Having joined the PDP from the APC on 24 July 2018, he failed to secure the PDP ticket for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo (Daily Trust, Apr 2019); Punch (13 Oct 2018) listed him among sitting members who lost primaries, labelling him APC. Primary day, votes and winner not found.
All Progressives Congress · Benue North East · Benue
Won the APC direct primary for Benue North East (2022); the APC submitted his name to INEC (Punch, 18 June 2022). Primary day, votes and opponents not found (Wikipedia's 211,887 v Terlumun Akputu 84,304 could not be sourced). A PDP suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/889/2022) challenged the APC Benue primaries.
Benue North East · Benue
Chair · Senate
The end of this committee role is not recorded.
All Progressives Congress · Benue North East · Benue
constituency: Benue North East Senatorial District · also listed as: Udende Emmanuel Memga · INEC final list of candidates (Senate), published 2026-09-12 — SN 4, p.24; INEC name: UDENDE EMMANUEL MEMGA; age 65; male; qualification (as declared to INEC): FIRST SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE WAEC BL · Primary: APC direct primary held Monday 18 May 2026 across the 84 wards; results…
constituency: Benue North East Senatorial District · also listed as: Udende Emmanuel Memga · INEC final list of candidates (Senate), published 2026-09-12 — SN 4, p.24; INEC name: UDENDE EMMANUEL MEMGA; age 65; male; qualification (as declared to INEC): FIRST SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE WAEC BL · Primary: APC direct primary held Monday 18 May 2026 across the 84 wards; results announced Tuesday 19 May 2026 in Makurdi by committee chairman Sabiu (Saidu) Mahuta: Gabriel Suswam 131,083, Udende 1,364. Udende alleged the votes were manipulated at LGA secretariats and private residences. On the recommendation of the APC Primary Election Appeal Committee, the NWC replaced Suswam with Udende (first reported 29 June 2026; letter to INEC signed by Nentawe Yilwatda and Ajibola Basiru, reported 1 July 2026); INEC's final list (12 Sep 2026) names Udende. Suswam's suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1470/2026 (Justice Inyang Ekwo) is pending: INEC told the court on 26 Aug 2026 that Suswam won the primary; judgment fixed for 12 October 2026. result=won reflects the ticket, not the declared primary result.
Back in the APC by June 2022 (date not found): its Benue North East senatorial candidate in 2023, senator since June 2023, and APC candidate for Benue North East on INEC's final list (12 September 2026).
An end date is not recorded for this membership.
APGA candidate for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo in the February 2019 House election. Joining and leaving days not found: end_date 18 Jun 2022 is an UPPER BOUND (the APC had by then submitted him as its senatorial candidate).
Legal practice
Styled 'Barrister'/'Barr.' Emmanuel Udende in March 2023 reports; declared a BL to INEC. Call-to-bar year and practice details not found.
Benue State Government
Commissioner under Governor George Akume (governor 1999-2007), when both were in the PDP; Punch says he used the post to build grassroots support in the Sankera axis. Years of appointment not found.
Declared to INEC: First School Leaving Certificate, WAEC and BL (Barrister at Law); described as a barrister. Schools, university, law school and years not found.
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In the PDP while commissioner under Governor George Akume and when elected to the House in 2011 and 2015; defected to the APC on the House floor on Wednesday 1 June 2016 (citing the PDP's crisis). Joining date not found.
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