Senator Godswill Akpabio has defeated Abdulaziz Yari, former Zamfara governor, to emerge as Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.
Senator God’swill Obot Akpabio, CON, was born December 9th 1962, he is a lawyer and politician who is the current Senate President of Nigeria’s 10th Assembly. The former Akwa-Ibom governor also served as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 – 2022, polled the highest votes cast to emerge Nigeria’s number three Man.
Earlier, Senator Ali Ndume (Borno) nominated the APC-endorsed Senator Akpabio for the Senate President position, while Senator Elisha Abbo (Adamawa) nominated Senator Yari for same position.
The Upper Legislative Chamber had adopted the open-secret voting procedure, with the Clerk of the National Assembly calling based on Alphabetical Orders of the states they represent.
A shouting match ensued after the nomination of Senator Yari with some senator-elects saying the ex-Zamfara governor is not qualified to contest being a first-time senator.
But, according to the Senate Standing Rules, Yari is qualified to vie for the position because he is a former House of Representatives Member and his years in The HoR counts too.
Meanwhile, the Clerk of the National Assembly will proceed to the House of Representatives after the Senate President and Deputy have been duly elected.
Yahaya Danzaria, clerk of the House of Representatives, is currently taking the roll call in the lower legislative chamber to establish the member-elect present ahead of the election for speaker and deputy.
In a related development Senator Jibrin Barau has emerged the Deputy Senate President unopposed. His emergence followed his nomination by the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Dave Umahi (Ebonyi).
Weekenders Magazine wishes them the very best tenure devoid of banana peels.