Godswill Akpabio, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, has been elected as the 10th Assembly’s Senate President.
Akpabio, the All Progressives Congress’s chosen candidate, was partnered with Jibrin Barau, a senator from Kano South who won the position of Deputy Senate President.
After a brief break, the Clerk announced that Akpabio had won 63 votes, while his opponent received just 46.
Orji Kalu is competing as the ninth Senate’s Chief Whip while Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, is the incumbent.
The election began before 9 a.m. as opposed to the 10 a.m. advertised hour.
The session is being presided over by National Assembly Clerk Sani Tambuwal, who is present in the Senate Chamber. The clerk has made a nomination request.
Ali Ndume, the senator-elect for Borno South, proposed to Godswill Akpabio, the senator-elect for Akwa Ibom North-East, to be the Senate’s president. The nomination was accepted by Akpabio. While Abdulaziz Yari, senator-elect for Zamfara West, was proposed by Elisha Abbo, senator-elect for Adamawa North.
Yari, a first-time senator, the senators objected to his being denied the opportunity to run for office.
Two representatives from each team arrived to tally the votes after the lawmakers cast their ballots alphabetically.
Senator Yari, who was represented by Senator Abbo and the senator-elect for the Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim. While Senator Akpabio was represented by Senators Adeola Solomon and Ndume.
cc: Punch Ng
