2027 · SenatorialAPC
Konbowei Benson Friday
- Konbowei Benson Friday’s role
- Candidate
- Race
- Bayelsa Central · Bayelsa
- Campaign status
- Active campaign record
No reviewed manifesto or campaign document with a source link is available here yet.
Current office
Konbowei Benson Friday
Senator for Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Bayelsa State
This term: 13 Jun 2023–present
THE PERSON- Senatorial district
- Bayelsa Central
- State
- Bayelsa
- Country
- Nigeria
Current party · membership recordAll Progressives CongressAPCHow to reach
Each line shows where it comes from. A listed contact is not proof it is answered or current.
- Office address
- Not yet on record
- All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat: No. 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja, Nigeria. This is the party’s office, not this person’s.Suggest one
Public life, in context
The record
over time.
Konbowei Friday Benson (born 3 February 1962), from Korokorosei in the Olodiama clan of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Bayelsa Central Senatorial District in the Senate election of 16 January 2027 (INEC final list, 12 September 2026, where he is listed as Benson Friday Konbowei), and has held the seat since 13 June 2023. After secondary school at…
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Konbowei Friday Benson (born 3 February 1962), from Korokorosei in the Olodiama clan of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Bayelsa Central Senatorial District in the Senate election of 16 January 2027 (INEC final list, 12 September 2026, where he is listed as Benson Friday Konbowei), and has held the seat since 13 June 2023. After secondary school at Government Secondary School, Ukubie, he worked as a petty trader. He became a pioneer councillor of the new Southern Ijaw Local Government Council on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (1992 in Senate and press accounts) and was chairman of the council from 1997 on the platform of the defunct Grassroots Democratic Movement, until the councils were dissolved in 1998; he then started a petroleum retail business in Yenagoa. By his own account he later studied by distance learning at Akwa Ibom Polytechnic (INEC lists an HND), took a master's degree in public administration at Delta State University, Abraka, and an MA and a PhD (2018) at Imo State University. A PDP member from 1998, he represented Southern Ijaw Constituency IV in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly from 2007 to 2019 and was Speaker of its fourth and fifth Assemblies, the longest-serving Speaker in the state. In December 2012 Premium Times reported that the police planned to charge him, his deputy and the Clerk over N78 million meant for a conference; no charge or outcome was found. On 9 December 2015 the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt voided his April 2015 election on an appeal by the APC candidate, Ebifaghe Orunimighe. He disputed the judgment, stepped down as Speaker on 10 February 2016, won the rerun of 5 March 2016 with 10,033 votes and was re-elected Speaker on 14 March 2016. In 2019 the Code of Conduct Bureau charged him and four Assembly officials with abuse of office over allowances owed to a member, Israel Sunny-Goli; they pleaded not guilty, and the Code of Conduct Tribunal struck out the charges on 11 February 2020 after the prosecution failed to produce witnesses. He came fifth, with 24 votes, in the PDP governorship primary of 3 September 2019, won by Douye Diri, who appointed him Secretary to the State Government in February 2020. He was made an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in the 2022 national honours. He resigned as SSG to contest, and on 24 May 2022 won the PDP Bayelsa Central primary with 110 of 132 votes against the sitting senator, Moses Cleopas. Cleopas's suit alleging that he submitted false documents to INEC was dismissed by the Federal High Court in Yenagoa (29 November 2022), the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court (16 March 2023); police also arrested him in Yenagoa over the allegation on 14 September 2022. He won the seat on 25 February 2023 with 51,202 votes against Tiwei Orunimighe of the APC, and the election tribunal dismissed forgery allegations against his return (reported September 2023). In 2024 the Inspector-General of Police charged him at the FCT High Court with forging an NYSC exemption certificate. He pleaded not guilty on 26 March 2024 and was granted N50 million bail, and on 24 June 2024 the court struck out the charge and discharged him after the Attorney-General withdrew the prosecutor's fiat; the judge declined to dismiss it, the prosecutor said it was not an acquittal, and the senator called the case politically motivated. On 28 May 2025 Senate President Godswill Akpabio named him chairman of the Senate Committee on the South-South Development Commission. He left the PDP for the APC, citing the PDP's crises, in a letter read at plenary on 16 October 2025, a day after Governor Diri resigned from the PDP. He won the APC primary for Bayelsa Central on 18 May 2026, defeating Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe.
01 → 02 → 03
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What the evidence establishes.
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Read the role, the response and the outcome together.
Seeking public office
The campaign on record.
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A life in the public record.
31 linked entries · 45 distinct source links
Review dates are separate from event dates.
31 entries · Whole record
1962
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDEarly lifeProfile record
Born
Konbowei Benson Friday was born on 3 Feb 1962.
1989
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDWorking lifeReviewed record
Petty trader
Self-employed trader (Southern Ijaw, Oporoma, Warri and Onitsha routes)
- Industry
- Trade
- Employment
- Owner
By his own account, traded in farm produce and foodstuffs by boat between his village and Warri (1989-1991), then kept a shop in Oporoma and bought goods in Onitsha; he also sold books. Dates beyond 1989-1991 not stated.
1992
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDWorking lifeReviewed record
Councillor (Ward 3)
Southern Ijaw Local Government Council
- Industry
- Government
Pioneer councillor for Ward 3 of the then newly created Southern Ijaw council (old Rivers State), elected on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). Senate and press accounts date this to 1992; end year not found.
1997
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDWorking lifeReviewed record
Executive Chairman
Southern Ijaw Local Government Council
- Industry
- Government
Elected chairman on the platform of the defunct Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM); a brief tenure that ended when the military-era councils were dissolved after General Sani Abacha's death. OrderPaper dates the election to 1997; he has said 1998.
1998
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDWorking lifeReviewed record
Founder and owner
Petroleum products retail business (Yenagoa)
- Industry
- Oil and gas (retail)
- Employment
- Founder
By his own account, started selling petroleum products from an open tank in Yenagoa in 1998 and later owned one or two filling stations. Business name not stated.
2007
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDElection participationReviewed record
2007 State Assembly election
Peoples Democratic Party · Southern Ijaw IV · Bayelsa
- Result
- Won
- Recorded winner
- Konbowei Friday Benson
First election to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for Southern Ijaw Constituency IV (his own account: "in 2007 I ... contested and won"). Poll day, votes and opponents not found; party PDP inferred from his statement that he has been a PDP member since 1998.
Working lifeReviewed record
Member for Southern Ijaw Constituency IV
Bayelsa State House of Assembly
- Industry
- Legislature
Three-time member (elected 2007, 2011 and 2015; the 2015 election was voided on appeal on 9 December 2015 and he won the rerun of 5 March 2016). Dated terms from 2015 are stored as positions.
2011
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDElection participationReviewed record
2011 State Assembly election
Peoples Democratic Party · Southern Ijaw IV · Bayelsa
- Result
- Won
- Recorded winner
- Konbowei Friday Benson
Re-elected for Southern Ijaw Constituency IV (three-time member; Speaker of the 4th Assembly from 2011). Poll day, votes and opponents not found.
Working lifeReviewed record
Speaker
Bayelsa State House of Assembly
- Industry
- Legislature
Speaker of the 4th (2011-2015) and 5th (2015-2019) Assemblies - described as the longest-serving Speaker in the state; re-elected unopposed on 3 June 2015, stepped down on 10 February 2016 after the Court of Appeal voided his seat, re-elected on 14 March 2016 after winning the rerun, succeeded by Tonye Isenah on 6 June 2019.
2015
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDElection participationReviewed record
2015 State Assembly election
Peoples Democratic Party · Southern Ijaw IV · Bayelsa
- Result
- Annulled
- Recorded winner
- Konbowei Friday Benson (PDP), election voided by the Court of Appeal on 9 Dec 2015
Declared winner of the 11 April 2015 poll (Premium Times, 13 Apr 2015). The APC candidate Ebifaghe P. Orunimighe petitioned; the tribunal did not grant the petition, but the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, voided the election on 9 December 2015 and ordered a fresh poll. Votes not found.
ElectedReviewed record
State House of Assembly Member
Southern Ijaw IV · Bayelsa
Took office
Interruption in recorded service: 9 Dec 2015 – 14 Mar 2016
Returned to office
Service ended
- Status
- Ended
- Party on this record
- PDP
- Leadership role
- Speaker
Recorded periods in this office: 3 Jun 2015 – 9 Dec 2015 (PDP); 14 Mar 2016 – 6 Jun 2019 (PDP).
Electoral caseClosed
The record
Orunimighe & APC v. Benson, PDP & INEC: 2015 Southern Ijaw Constituency IV election petition
- Role in this matter
- Respondent
- Record type
- Adjudicated
- Court / authority
- Bayelsa State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal; Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt
Being named in a court record does not by itself establish wrongdoing. A claimant, respondent and legal representative have different roles.
Response on record
No separate response is linked. Read the court outcome and the original sources for the full account.
Last documented outcome
Closed
The APC candidate, Ebifaghe P. Orunimighe, challenged his 11 April 2015 election; the tribunal ruled for Benson but the Court of Appeal (Port Harcourt) voided the election on 9 December 2015 and ordered a fresh poll. Benson publicly disputed what the judgment ordered, stepped down as Speaker on 10 February 2016 and won the 5 March 2016 rerun.
Dated entries in this matter 1 entry
- Outcome recorded · Closed
The APC candidate, Ebifaghe P. Orunimighe, challenged his 11 April 2015 election; the tribunal ruled for Benson but the Court of Appeal (Port Harcourt) voided the election on 9 December 2015 and ordered a fresh poll. Benson publicly disputed what the judgment ordered, stepped down as Speaker on 10 February 2016 and won the 5 March 2016 rerun.
2016
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDElection participationReviewed record
2016 State Assembly election
Peoples Democratic Party · Southern Ijaw IV · Bayelsa
- Result
- Won
- Votes
- 10,033
- Recorded winner
- Konbowei Friday Benson (PDP)
Court-ordered rerun, Saturday 5 March 2016: Benson 10,033; APC 2,595; Alliance for Democracy 2,467 (the APC and AD candidates announced a boycott mid-way). Returning officer Dr Bertola Perekeme.
2018
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDEducation & qualificationsReviewed record
Imo State University, Owerri
PhD
- Location
- Owerri, Imo State
- Institution
- Phd
Graduation stated in the linked record. This does not by itself authenticate an original certificate.
2019
IN THE PUBLIC RECORD Tribunal caseClosed
The record
Court proceedings
Read the full case title
FRN (Code of Conduct Bureau) v. Benson and four others: abuse-of-office charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (2019-2020)
- Role in this matter
- Defendant
- Record type
- Adjudicated
- Court / authority
- Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja (chairman Danladi Umar)
- Filed
- 30 Apr 2019
Being named in a court record does not by itself establish wrongdoing. A claimant, respondent and legal representative have different roles.
Response on record
No separate response is linked. Read the court outcome and the original sources for the full account.
Last documented outcome
Closed
Four counts of abuse of office filed on 30 April 2019 against him (then Speaker) and four past and serving Assembly officials over the alleged non-payment of allowances to a member, Israel Sunny-Goli (APC). Arraigned on 27 November 2019, they pleaded not guilty; the defence said the petitioner had been paid and had withdrawn his petition. On 11 February 2020 the tribunal struck out the charges after the prosecution said it could not produce witnesses. Struck out, not decided on the merits.
Dated entries in this matter 1 entry
- Outcome recorded · Closed
Four counts of abuse of office filed on 30 April 2019 against him (then Speaker) and four past and serving Assembly officials over the alleged non-payment of allowances to a member, Israel Sunny-Goli (APC). Arraigned on 27 November 2019, they pleaded not guilty; the defence said the petitioner had been paid and had withdrawn his petition. On 11 February 2020 the tribunal struck out the charges after the prosecution said it could not produce witnesses. Struck out, not decided…
Read the full account
Four counts of abuse of office filed on 30 April 2019 against him (then Speaker) and four past and serving Assembly officials over the alleged non-payment of allowances to a member, Israel Sunny-Goli (APC). Arraigned on 27 November 2019, they pleaded not guilty; the defence said the petitioner had been paid and had withdrawn his petition. On 11 February 2020 the tribunal struck out the charges after the prosecution said it could not produce witnesses. Struck out, not decided on the merits.
Party primaryReviewed record
2019 Governorship primary
Peoples Democratic Party · Bayelsa
- Primary result
- Lost
- What this establishes
- A party-stage result, not election to public office
- Votes
- 24
- Recorded winner
- Douye Diri (PDP), 561 votes
PDP Bayelsa governorship primary, Tuesday 3 September 2019, Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa: Diri 561, Timi Alaibe 365, Keniebi Okoko 142; Benson fifth with 24.
2020
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDWorking lifeReviewed record
Secretary to the State Government
Bayelsa State Government
- Industry
- Government
Appointed by Governor Douye Diri (announced 20 February 2020); resigned in 2022 to contest the PDP Bayelsa Central senatorial ticket.
2022
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDHonours & recognitionReviewed record
Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)
2022 national honours list (announced 2 October 2022), as "Rt. Hon. Benson Friday Konbowei, Public Servant, Bayelsa".
- Awarded by
- Federal Government of Nigeria (President Muhammadu Buhari)
- Category
- National honour
An award records recognition; it is not an independent measure of performance.
Party primaryReviewed record
2023 Senate primary
Peoples Democratic Party · Bayelsa Central · Bayelsa
- Primary result
- Won
- What this establishes
- A party-stage result, not election to public office
- Votes
- 110
- Vote share
- 83.33%
- Recorded winner
- Konbowei Friday Benson (PDP)
PDP Bayelsa Central senatorial primary, Tuesday 24 May 2022: Benson 110, incumbent Senator Moses Cleopas 22 (132 delegates). Voting was suspended for about five hours after Cleopas's name was found missing from the ballot; he walked out and did not return. Returning officer Dede Ofulu-John. Cleopas's suit over his eligibility failed at the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal…
Read the full account
PDP Bayelsa Central senatorial primary, Tuesday 24 May 2022: Benson 110, incumbent Senator Moses Cleopas 22 (132 delegates). Voting was suspended for about five hours after Cleopas's name was found missing from the ballot; he walked out and did not return. Returning officer Dede Ofulu-John. Cleopas's suit over his eligibility failed at the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (16 Mar 2023).
2023
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDElection participationReviewed record
2023 Senate election
Peoples Democratic Party · Bayelsa Central · Bayelsa
- Result
- Won
- Votes
- 51,202
- Recorded winner
- Konbowei Friday Benson (PDP)
Declared by returning officer Prof. Chris Onyema: 51,202 votes; closest rival Tiwei Orunimighe (APC), whose total was not reported. The election petition tribunal (Yenagoa) dismissed certificate-forgery allegations against his return (reported 8 Sep 2023).
Electoral caseDismissed
The record
Cleopas v. Benson & PDP: pre-election suit over the 2022 PDP Bayelsa Central senatorial primary
- Role in this matter
- Respondent
- Record type
- Adjudicated
- Court / authority
- Federal High Court, Yenagoa (Justice Isa Dachi); Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt; Supreme Court of Nigeria
Being named in a court record does not by itself establish wrongdoing. A claimant, respondent and legal representative have different roles.
Response on record
No separate response is linked. Read the court outcome and the original sources for the full account.
Last documented outcome
Dismissed
Senator Moses Cleopas, whom he beat in the primary, alleged that he had submitted false documents (including a forged WAEC certificate) to INEC and sought his disqualification. The Federal High Court dismissed the suit on 29 November 2022 (unproven, statute-barred, abuse of process); the Court of Appeal and, on 16 March 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeals.
Dated entries in this matter 1 entry
- Outcome recorded · Dismissed
Senator Moses Cleopas, whom he beat in the primary, alleged that he had submitted false documents (including a forged WAEC certificate) to INEC and sought his disqualification. The Federal High Court dismissed the suit on 29 November 2022 (unproven, statute-barred, abuse of process); the Court of Appeal and, on 16 March 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeals.
ElectedProfile record
Senator
Bayelsa Central · Bayelsa
- Status
- Current term
- Party on this record
- APC
- Term
- 10th National Assembly
2024
IN THE PUBLIC RECORD Criminal caseClosed
The record
IGP v. Benson Friday Konbowei (CR/028/2023): alleged forgery of an NYSC exemption certificate
- Role in this matter
- Defendant
- Record type
- Adjudicated
- Court / authority
- High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo (Justice Christopher Oba)
- Court file
- CR/028/2023
Being named in a court record does not by itself establish wrongdoing. A claimant, respondent and legal representative have different roles.
Response on record
No separate response is linked. Read the court outcome and the original sources for the full account.
Last documented outcome
Closed
Police arrested him in Yenagoa on 14 September 2022 over a petition by Senator Moses Cleopas; his camp said there was nothing new in the allegations. The Inspector-General of Police charged him with three counts, chiefly forging NYSC exemption certificate no. 000256454 dated 4 July 2008 and using it for the 2015 and 2023 elections and for postgraduate admission at Imo State University. He pleaded not guilty on 26 March 2024 and was granted N50 million bail on 28 March 2024 (ordered held in Kuje until he met the conditions). On 24 June…
Read the full account
Police arrested him in Yenagoa on 14 September 2022 over a petition by Senator Moses Cleopas; his camp said there was nothing new in the allegations. The Inspector-General of Police charged him with three counts, chiefly forging NYSC exemption certificate no. 000256454 dated 4 July 2008 and using it for the 2015 and 2023 elections and for postgraduate admission at Imo State University. He pleaded not guilty on 26 March 2024 and was granted N50 million bail on 28 March 2024 (ordered held in Kuje until he met the conditions). On 24 June 2024 the court struck out the charge and discharged him after the Attorney-General withdrew the prosecutor's fiat; the judge refused the defence request to dismiss it, and the prosecutor said it was not an acquittal. He called the case politically motivated.
Dated entries in this matter 1 entry
- Outcome recorded · Closed
Police arrested him in Yenagoa on 14 September 2022 over a petition by Senator Moses Cleopas; his camp said there was nothing new in the allegations. The Inspector-General of Police charged him with three counts, chiefly forging NYSC exemption certificate no. 000256454 dated 4 July 2008 and using it for the 2015 and 2023 elections and for postgraduate admission at Imo State University. He pleaded not guilty on 26 March 2024 and was granted N50 million bail on 28 March 2024…
Read the full account
Police arrested him in Yenagoa on 14 September 2022 over a petition by Senator Moses Cleopas; his camp said there was nothing new in the allegations. The Inspector-General of Police charged him with three counts, chiefly forging NYSC exemption certificate no. 000256454 dated 4 July 2008 and using it for the 2015 and 2023 elections and for postgraduate admission at Imo State University. He pleaded not guilty on 26 March 2024 and was granted N50 million bail on 28 March 2024 (ordered held in Kuje until he met the conditions). On 24 June 2024 the court struck out the charge and discharged him after the Attorney-General withdrew the prosecutor's fiat; the judge refused the defence request to dismiss it, and the prosecutor said it was not an acquittal. He called the case politically motivated.
2025
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDCommittee & oversightReviewed record
Senate Committee on the South-South Development Commission
Chair · Senate
The end of this committee role is not recorded.
Party membershipReviewed record
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress a day after Governor Douye Diri resigned from the PDP; his letter was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at plenary on Thursday 16 October 2025. APC candidate for Bayelsa Central (primary 18 May 2026; INEC final list, 12 September 2026).
Current affiliation in the reviewed membership record.
2026
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDParty primaryReviewed record
2027 Senate primary
All Progressives Congress · Bayelsa Central · Bayelsa
- Primary result
- Won
- What this establishes
- A party-stage result, not election to public office
- Recorded winner
- Konbowei Benson Friday
constituency: Bayelsa Central Senatorial District · INEC final list of candidates (Senate), published 2026-09-12 — SN 19, p.21; INEC name: BENSON FRIDAY KONBOWEI; age 64; male; qualification (as declared to INEC): FSLC WASC HND · Primary: APC Bayelsa Central senatorial primary of Monday 18 May 2026 - won, defeating former Southern Ijaw LGA chairman Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe…
Read the full account
constituency: Bayelsa Central Senatorial District · INEC final list of candidates (Senate), published 2026-09-12 — SN 19, p.21; INEC name: BENSON FRIDAY KONBOWEI; age 64; male; qualification (as declared to INEC): FSLC WASC HND · Primary: APC Bayelsa Central senatorial primary of Monday 18 May 2026 - won, defeating former Southern Ijaw LGA chairman Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe (Leadership, 19 May 2026); Governor Douye Diri voted at Sampou/Kalama Ward 6 and backed his re-election. Vote totals not published in the sources found. He had joined the APC on 16 October 2025. INEC final list (12 Sep 2026) opponents include Aistine Inei Asamaowei (ADC), Okoyareuben Boutuaowei (NDC) and Akinaka Erepamo Richard (PDP).
Dates not recorded
KEPT OUTSIDE THE DATED CHRONOLOGYEducation & qualificationsReviewed record
Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic
Higher National Diploma (HND, as declared to INEC)
- Location
- Akwa Ibom State (distance learning; examinations in Yenagoa and Uyo)
- Institution
- Polytechnic
Graduation stated in the linked record. This does not by itself authenticate an original certificate.
Education & qualificationsReviewed record
Delta State University, Abraka
Master's degree in Public Administration · Public Administration
- Location
- Abraka, Delta State
- Institution
- Masters
Graduation stated in the linked record. This does not by itself authenticate an original certificate.
Education & qualificationsReviewed record
Government Secondary School, Ukubie
West African School Certificate (WASC, as declared to INEC)
- Location
- Ukubie, Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State
- Institution
- Secondary
Graduation stated in the linked record. This does not by itself authenticate an original certificate.
Education & qualificationsReviewed record
Imo State University, Owerri
MA, History and International Studies · History and International Studies
- Location
- Owerri, Imo State
- Institution
- Masters
Graduation stated in the linked record. This does not by itself authenticate an original certificate.
Party membershipReviewed record
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
PDP member since 1998 by his own account (defection letter); Bayelsa Assembly member and Speaker, SSG and senator (elected 2023) on the PDP. Resigned his membership citing the party's crises; letter read at Senate plenary on Thursday 16 October 2025. Exact joining day not found.
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Asset disclosures
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