2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Gombe State

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Gombe State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Gombe State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.

2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Gombe State
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →

All 3 Gombe State seats in the Senate of Nigeria
  Majority party
 
Party APC
Last election 3
Seats before 3

     APC incumbent lost renomination
     APC incumbent running for re-election

Background

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In the previous Senate elections, only one incumbent senator was returned: in the Central district, Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC) was re-elected but Usman Bayero Nafada (PDP-North) retired to unsuccessfully run for governor and Senator Joshua Lidani (PDP-South) lost renomination. In the Central district, Goje held his seat with 69% of the vote; both of the open seats were also won by APC as Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali won the North district with 62% and Amos Bulus Kilawangs gained the South seat with 53% of the vote. These results were a part of a large swing to the Gombe APC as every House of Representatives seat was won by the party, it won a majority in the House of Assembly, and Buhari won the state in the presidential election.

Overview

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Affiliation Party Total
APC PDP
Previous Election 3 0 3
Before Election 3 0 3
After Election 1 2 3

Summary

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District Incumbent Results
Incumbent Party Status Candidates
Gombe Central Mohammed Danjuma Goje APC Incumbent re-elected
Gombe North Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali APC Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected
PDP gain
Gombe South Amos Bulus Kilawangs APC Incumbent lost renomination
New member elected
PDP gain

Gombe Central

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2023 Gombe Central Senatorial District election
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Mohammed Danjuma Goje Abubakar Aliyu
Party APC PDP

Senator before election

Mohammed Danjuma Goje
APC

Elected Senator

TBD

The Gombe Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Akko and Yamaltu/Deba. The incumbent Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC) was re-elected with 68.8% of the vote in 2019 and is seeking re-election.

Primary elections

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All Progressives Congress

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On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[7] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[8] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.[9][10][11][12]

The year ahead of the APC primary was categorized by a party crisis as the state APC was split between supporters of Goje on one side and the other side supporting incumbent Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya.[13] The crisis forced party officials to take a side and even became violent when an attack on Goje's convoy killed 5 people in November 2021.[14] Although the feud could have impacted Goje's renomination effort, Goje and Yahaya reconciled in January 2022.[15] The primary, held at the Gombe State University of Science and Technology in Kumo, ended in Goje's renomination over two other candidates in a landslide.[16]

APC primary results[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Mohammed Danjuma Goje 100 95.24%
APC Abubakar Mu’azu 3 2.86%
APC Idris Abdullahi 2 1.90%
Total votes 105 100.00%

People's Democratic Party

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On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[17] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May;[18] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[19][20][21][22]

On the primary date, Abubakar Aliyu—a CPC gubernatorial candidate in 2011—was nominated in a landslide over Muhammadu Aliyu Baba.[23]

PDP primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Abubakar Aliyu 59 95.16%
PDP Muhammadu Aliyu Baba 3 4.84%
Total votes 62 100.00%

General election

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Results

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2023 Gombe Central Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
A Riri Danjuma
AA Abubakar Magaji
ADC Haruna Musa
APC Mohammed Danjuma Goje
BP Ibrahim Bappah
LP Musa Aliyu Aliyu
NRM Kimo Mohammed Sulaiman
New Nigeria Peoples Party Muhammad Bibiker
PDP Abubakar Aliyu
SDP Adamu Ibrahim Muhammad
ZLP Rukayya Muhammad Garba
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Gombe North

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2023 Gombe North Senatorial District election
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo
Party APC PDP

Senator before election

Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali
APC

Elected Senator

TBD

The Gombe North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Dukku, Funakaye, Gombe, Kwami, and Nafada. The incumbent Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali (APC), who was elected with 62.0% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.

Primary elections

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All Progressives Congress

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On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[7] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[8] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.[9][10][11][12]

On the primary date, three candidates contested an indirect primary that ended with Alkali winning renomination after results showed him defeating Bala Bello Tinka by a significant margin.[24] The primary was held in Malam Sidi, the headquarters of Kwami LGA.[25]

APC primary results[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali 216 84.05%
APC Bala Bello Tinka 31 12.06%
APC Aliyu Haidar Abubakar 10 3.89%
Total votes 257 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 N/A
Turnout 257 98.85%

People's Democratic Party

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On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[17] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May;[26] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[19][20][21][27]

Initially there were three screened candidates for the primary (former Governor and 2019 nominee Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, former Senator Usman Bayero Nafada, and Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh); however, Nafada and Saleh withdrew in favour of Dankwambo on the date of the primary. Due to these withdrawals, Dankwambo was nominated via affirmation.[23]

Campaign

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As a rematch of the 2019 election between Alkali and Dankwambo, pundits attempted to identify the changes in the four year interim period. In December 2022, The Nation reporting stated that Dankwambo was in the better position as memory of his unpopular governorship had faded and the PDP appeared to be rising in the district.[28] A few weeks later, Daily Trust analysis from later that month contended that the race was still too close to predict.[29] In the days before the election, the Wikki Times revealed that the Alkali campaign was bribing indigent voters with sewing, grinding, and noodle-making machines.[30]

General election

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Results

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2023 Gombe North Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
A Habiba Bala Abdullahi
AA Sani Adamu Mohammad
ADC Ahmed Adamu
APC Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali
APM Yusuf Ibrahim
BP Muhammad Abdulrahman
LP Ibrahim Usman Adamu
NRM Adamu Jibrin
New Nigeria Peoples Party Muhammad Sabiu
PDP Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo
SDP Mohammed Bashir Adamu
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Gombe South

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2023 Gombe South Senatorial District election
← 2019 25 February 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Joshua Lidani Anthony Siyako Yaro
Party APC PDP

Senator before election

Amos Bulus Kilawangs
APC

Elected Senator

TBD

The Gombe South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Balanga, Billiri, Kaltungo, and Shongom; it is largely coterminous with the Southern Gombe region, noted for its relative ethnic diversity and Christian majority in a state that is mainly ethnic Hausa-Fulani and majority Muslim. Incumbent Amos Bulus Kilawangs (APC) was elected with 52.9% of the vote in 2019 and sought re-election but lost the APC nomination.

Primary elections

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All Progressives Congress

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On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[7] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[8] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.[9][10][11][12]

The primary, held at the Government Lodge in Billiri, was initially rancour-free until partway through the final count when election officials changed rooms and security prevented the public from entering the new collation room. About 70 minutes after voting had finished, state government appointee Sani Sabo announced former Senator Joshua Lidani as the victor over Kilawangs and Bilyaminu Babadidi. Supporters of both Kilawangs and Babadidi rejected the results and tension in the venue rose to the point of requiring police intervention.[25][31] Within a few days of the primary, Kilawangs formally challenged the results in a case claiming that he had been winning before election officials changed rooms and the room change was clear manipulation while also noting that Sabo was not even an actual primary official.[32] For Babadidi's part, he filed a lawsuit against Lidani at the Federal High Court in Gombe.[33]

APC primary results[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Joshua Lidani 90 45.00%
APC Bilyaminu Babadidi 70 35.00%
APC Amos Bulus Kilawangs 40 20.00%
Total votes 200 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 N/A
Turnout 200 Unknown

People's Democratic Party

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On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[17] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May;[34] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[19][20][21][35]

The initial primary, held in Billiri, resulted in victory for Anthony Siyako Yaro—a businessman and banker—over former MHR Binta Bello by a narrow 2 vote margin.[23][36] However, Bello formally rejected the results due to 'dead and disqualified delegates appearing on the delegates' list' and improperly gender unbalanced delegates' list from some LGA parties.[37] Bello's challenge was successful with the state PDP cancelling the original primary and ordering a rerun for 8 June; the rerun was also won by Yaro, who received around 80% of the total vote.

Annulled primary results
PDP primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Anthony Siyako Yaro 59 47.58%
PDP Binta Bello 57 45.97%
PDP Other candidates 8 6.45%
Total votes 124 100.00%
PDP rerun primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Anthony Siyako Yaro 97 82.20%
PDP Binta Bello 20 16.95%
PDP Other candidates 1 0.85%
Total votes 118 100.00%

Campaign

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As the most electorally competitive Senate seat in the state, focus shifted to the southern district immediately after the primaries. A few months later, The Nation analysis gave the edge to Yaro due to the controversial APC primary and widespread Tangale anger at the APC in the wake of the 2021 Mai Tangale crisis.[38]

General election

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Results

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2023 Gombe South Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
A Simon Emly
AA Ngolma Poyilma Aliyu
APP Christiana James
ADC Dauda Adamu
APC Joshua M. Lidani
APM Sunday Lewis
LP David John Yako
NRM Serah Abdulsalam
New Nigeria Peoples Party Abigail David Albashi
PDP Anthony Siyako Yaro
SDP Jones Karawai
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout


See also

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References

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  1. ^ Nwabufo, Dominica. "APC Primary Elections: Senator Goje Wins Gombe State Central Senatorial Race". Voice of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Aramide, Mansur (24 May 2022). "Dankwambo is Gombe North PDP senatorial candidate". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Senator Alkali Wins Gombe North Senatorial Primary Of The APC". Voice of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  5. ^ Nseyen, Nsikak (23 May 2022). "2023: Dankwambo picks PDP Gombe North Senatorial ticket". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  6. ^ Attah, William (28 May 2022). "BREAKING: Tension In Gombe As Goje, Alkali Win APC Tickets For Central, North". Independent Nigeria. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Angbulu, Stephen; Ayeni, Victor; Dada, Peter; Naku, Dennis; Ede, Raphael (21 April 2022). "Presidential primary: APC silent on zoning, Nigerians condemn N100m nomination fee". The Punch. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  11. ^ a b c APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 11, 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ a b c APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 18, 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Ndujihe, Clifford (25 November 2021). "Goje, Inuwa's feud tears APC apart in Gombe". Vanguard. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  14. ^ Aborisade, Sunday (6 November 2021). "Five killed, many injured in Goje, Gombe gov's men rampage". The Punch. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  15. ^ Adenekan, Samson. "Gombe politics: After months of bickering, Gov Yahaya, Goje reconcile". Premium Times. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  16. ^ a b Idris, Abdullahi (28 May 2022). "APC Primary Elections: Senator Goje Wins Gombe State Central Senatorial Race". Voice of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  17. ^ a b c Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  18. ^ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  19. ^ a b c Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  20. ^ a b c Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  21. ^ a b c Official PDP Nigeria [@OfficialPDPNig] (May 5, 2022). "2023 General Elections: @OfficialPDPNig updated Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections. See below" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  23. ^ a b c d Yaya, Haruna Gimba. "Senate: Dankwambo Wins PDP Ticket For Gombe North". Daily Trust. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  24. ^ a b Mu’azu, Rebecca; Ibrahim-Animashaun, Lateefat (28 May 2022). "Senator Alkali Wins Gombe North Senatorial Primary Of The APC". Voice of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  25. ^ a b c Attah, William. "BREAKING: Tension In Gombe As Goje, Alkali Win APC Tickets For Central, North". Independent Nigeria. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  26. ^ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  27. ^ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  28. ^ Onogu, Sanni; Duku, Joel; Ihyongo, Fanen; Shittu, Sola; Rufa’i, Ahmed; Alabelewe, Abdulgafar; Saidu, Khadijat; Adenuga, David; Emmanuel, Uja; Asishana, Justina; Alao, Onimisi; Adeyemi, Kolade; Okezie, Augustine; Oota, Linus; Jimoh, Adekunle (11 December 2022). "Senate races to watch (2)". The Nation. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  29. ^ Yaya, Haruna Gimba. "Gombe North: Dankwambo, Alkali Back For Another Bout". Daily Trust. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  30. ^ Kamal, Idris; Muhammed, Hafsat. "How APC Senator Uses Women Groups For Subtle Vote Buying In Gombe". Wikki Times. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  31. ^ Azubuike, Chima. "Ex- Gombe deputy gov defeats serving senator, clinches APC ticket". The Punch. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  32. ^ Michael, Ishola. "Gombe APC Primary Fallout: Senator BK Amos Takes Case To Appeal Committee". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  33. ^ Olokor, Friday; Azubuike, Chima; Olatunji, Daud; Odey, Patrick; Abraham, James; Tyopuusu, Justin; Charles, John; Odogwu, Ted. "Aggrieved aspirants reject INEC lists, begin multiple court cases". The Punch. Retrieved 12 August 2022. In Gombe State, Bilyaminu Babadidi has instituted a case against the candidate of the APC for Gombe South Senatorial district, Joshua Lidani. A source close to Babadidi said the case was filed at the Federal High Court Gombe.
  34. ^ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  35. ^ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  36. ^ a b Adamu, Najibullahi. "Ex-Fidelity Bank director, Anthony Siyako, wins Gombe South PDP senatorial primaries". Neptune Prime. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  37. ^ "Aspirant petitions PDP over Gombe south senatorial primary". The Nation. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  38. ^ Onogu, Sanni; Duku, Joel; Ihyongo, Fanen; Shittu, Sola; Rufa’i, Ahmed; Alabelewe, Abdulgafar; Saidu, Khadijat; Adenuga, David; Emmanuel, Uja; Asishana, Justina; Alao, Onimisi; Adeyemi, Kolade; Okezie, Augustine; Oota, Linus; Jimoh, Adekunle (11 December 2022). "Senate races to watch (2)". The Nation. Retrieved 12 December 2022.