Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, has been elected president of the 10th Senate.
Mr Akpabio polled 63 votes to defeat his lone challenger, Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, who secured 46 votes.
The voting, which started around 8:45 a.m. on the floor of the Senate, was coordinated by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal.
Mr Akpabio was nominated by Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) and seconded by Adeola Olamilekan, the senator for Ogun West.
Mr Yari was nominated by the senator representing Adamawa North, Elisha Abbo, and seconded by Jimoh Ibrahim, the senator for Ondo South.
Mr Yari’s nomination was, however, opposed by the Borno North senator, Tahir Monguno, who moved a motion for the cancellation of the nomination on the ground that he was not qualified to be nominated for the position according to the Senate Standing Rule.
But the CNA ruled the motion out of order and accepted the nomination.
After that, the session went rowdy as supporters of the two aspirants queried the nominations of Messrs Akpabio and Yari. Mr Tambawal ordered the senators to remain silent and continue with the process.
The election was conducted by secret ballot.
Mr Akpabio was immediately sworn in after he was announced the winner of the election. He was flanked by Messrs Ndume and Olamilekan.
After taking the oath of allegiance, oath of membership of the Senate and oath of the office of the Senate president, the Clerk handed over the instruments of the office of the Senate president to him, including the standing Rule and the gavel.
Jibrin as deputy senate president
Also, the senator representing Kano North, Barau Jibrin, emerged as the deputy senate president.
Mr Jibrin was elected unopposed.
He was nominated for the position by a former governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, who represents Ebonyi South and seconded by Sani Mustapha, the APC senator for Kwara State Central.
Like the senate president, Mr Jibrin was given the instruments of his office after taking the oaths of allegiance, membership of the senate and the office of the deputy senate president.
Messrs Akabio and Jibrin are the anointed candidates of the APC and President Bola Tinubu.
