UPDATED: Akpabio emerges Senate President, defeats Yari

 

Senator Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday defeated Abdul’aziz Yari to emerge Senate President of the 10th Senate.

 Senator Barau Jibrin emerged unopposed as Deputy Senate President.

Akpabio scored 63 votes while Yari scored 45 votes. One Senator-Elect abstained from voting.

There was no other nomination after Jibrin was nominated to take the chair as Deputy Senate President.

Senator Ali Ndume had read the citation of Akpabio after which he nominated the former Akwa Ibom Governor of Akwa Io take the chair as Senate President.

Senator Solomon Adeola representing Ogun West seconded Akpabio’s nomination.

Shortly thereafter, Senator Elisha Abbo read the citation of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari and thereafter nominated him to take the chair as Senate President.

enator Jimoh Ibrahim seconded Yari’s nomination.

Following the two nominations, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Magaji Tambuwal called for additional nomination.

Following no further motion for nomination in t he chambers, Tambuwal declared nominations closed and called for division to enable Senators-Elect cast their votes for their preferred candidate.

After votes were sorted, Akpabio’s supporters began to jubilate as it was obvious that Akpabio had won.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Tambuwal, later declared the results saying Akpabio scored 63 votes, Yari got 45 votes while one Senator-elect abstained from voting.

Tambuwal thereafter declared Akpabio as winner and he was led to take the chair as Senate President.

After taking his oath of office and oath of allegiance administered by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Akpabio signed the oaths and used the gavel for the first time.

The Clerk thereafter called for nominations for the position of Deputy Senate President.

Senator Dave Umahi read the citation of Senator Barau Jibrin and moved that he should take the chair as deputy Senate President of the 10th Senate.

Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC – Kwara Central) seconded Umahi’s motion.

Following no other nominations for the position, Tambuwal declared nominations closed for the position and thereafter  declared Jibrin as duly elected deputy Senate President albeit unopposed.

There was mild drama when Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno opposed the nomination of Yari, citing Order three rule three which he said provides for who is qualified to  contest the position of the Senate President.

He describe the nomination as an academic exercise, saying the Senate cannot waste its time on it.

However, Clerk to the National Assembly who presided over the inaugural session overruled him and sustained the nomination of Yari.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal announced Akpabio had scored 63 votes to defeat his close rival, Sen Abdulazeez Yari who polled 45 votes. The Clerk announced that one Senator abstained from voting.

All the Senators from the States voted in an alphabetical order and after the counting, Akpabio was announced as the winner.

Akpabio is now the Senate President and the Chairman of the National Assembly.

Governors Hope Uzodinma, Dapo Abiodun, former Kano Governor and Abdullahi Ganduje were all in the Red Chamber to monitor the voting and celebrate with Akpabio after he emerged winner.

After the swearing-in of Jibrin as Deputy Senate President, Akpabio presided over the swearing-in of all other Senators conducted by the Clerk to the National Assembly.

Akpabio thereafter read his inaugural speech and adjourned plenary till Wednesday (tomorrow) by 10am.