*As Akpabio, Abass emerge Senate President, Speaker
*Both promise purposeful leadership, not again rubber-stamp legislature
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu consolidated the political grip of the nation with the emergence of Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas, as President of the Senate and Speaker, House of Representatives, respectively.
The national leadership of the ruling party had decided there would be no repeat of the 2015 episode where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) produced Senate President in Sen. Ike Ekweremadu.
This time, the ruling party and President Tinubu vowed not to let anything to chance when it decided in who should emerged as top leaders of the legislative organ of government.
The voting in the election of a new Senate President had commenced with Akpabio and former Governor of Zamfara State, then Senator-elect Abdulazeez Yari, going neck-to-neck after his supporter decided to torpedo APC’s plot, although they lost.
After a quick recess, Sani Tambuwal, Clerk of the National Assembly, declared Akpabio as the Senate President having garnered 63 votes with Yari polling 46 votes.
Although 10 am was advertised as time for take off of the election, the Clerk called the Senate to order at about 9 am.
Consequently, Sen. Ali Ndume (Borno-South) nominated former Governor Akpabio, senator-elect (Akwa-Ibom North-East), as President of the Senate. Akpabio accepted the nomination; while Sen. Elisha Abbo, senator-elect for Adamawa-North, nominated Abdulaziz Yari, senator-elect for Zamfara-West for the same post.
The senators however protested that Sen. Yari was not allowed to stand for the position, being a first-time senator. But that protest failed and voting started in earnest, leading to Akpabio emerging victorious.
*Abbas emerges Rep Speaker
At the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas emerged Speaker promising to introduce reforms and innovations that will benefit Nigerians.
Abbas emerged the new Speaker with 353 votes to defeat Ahmed Idris Wase and Sani Jaji who polled three votes each.
A total of 359 members-elect participated in the voting, in the election which began as early as 8am
Two former contenders, Hon. Mukhtar Aliyu Betara and Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi stepped down, after being persuaded by President Tinubu.
The Deputy Clerk for the National Assembly, Barr. Kamoru Ogunlana, who read the President’s proclamation, pronounced open ballot as prescribed by the 10th edition of the Standing Order, Order Two Rule 3 (f)(iii).
The second nomination of Hon. Idris Wase was made by Hon. Tijani Kayode Ibrahim (APC-Kwara) and seconded by Hon. Mohammed Abdulmumin (APC-Nasarawa).
Also, the third nomination was made by Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim (APC-Katsina) and seconded by Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (APC-Katsina), who nominated by Hon Sani Jaji (APC-Zamfara), after which the voting commenced.
After his emergence, Abbas thanked his colleagues for the opportunity given to him to be the Speaker of the 10 Assembly, adding that under his watch, the 10th House shall sustain and even surpass the gains of the 9th House though joint decision taking.
He said “I do not take this mandate bestowed on me as the Nigerian Speaker for granted. I want to assure you today that I shall be just and fair to every one of you irrespective of our perceived differences.
” I shall operate a House that you all will be proud of. I shall be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the House Rules. Our doors will be open for members of APC, PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, APGA, SDP, ADC and YPP as we strongly believe nation building is a Joint Task.
