BREAKING: Akpabio emerges President of the 10th Senate

Senator Godswill Akpabio representing Akwa Ibom North-West District has won the leadership position of the 10th National Assembly.

Senator Akpabio defeated his opponent Abdulaziz Yari, with votes from the lawmakers, thereby making him the Senate President.

His victory was announced by the clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal Magaji who said Akpabio emerged the winner with 63 votes leaving his rival with 46 votes.

Akpabio is the first South-Southerner to be elected President of the Senate since Nigeria got its independence in 1960.

GistReel reports that in the last general election, the APC party secured the majority of seats in the green chamber with over 170, followed by the PDP with over 100, the Labour Party with over 35, and the New Nigeria People’s Party with about 20.

Many APC lawmakers expressed interest in becoming the next Speaker of the House or Senate President, including Benjamin Kalu, Ahmed Wase, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Yusuf Gagdi, Aliyu Betara, Tajudeen Abbas, Abdulraheem Olawuyi, Sani Jaji, Princess Onuoha, Abdulaziz Yari, Orji Kalu, and Godswill Akpabio.

However, the APC officially zoned the Senate President to the South-South (Akpabio), Deputy Senate President to the North-West (Barau Jibrin), Speaker position to the North-West (Abass), and Deputy Speaker to the South-East (Kalu).

Some APC hopefuls rejected the party’s position and called for a review of the formula to include the North Central geopolitical zone and not give two positions to the North-West.