Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abass assume office as new leaders of National Assembly

LAWMAKERS in Nigeria's new 10th National Assembly have elected the leaders of both houses with Senator Godswill Akpabio becoming the senate president and Hon Tajudeen Abbas getting elected as the new speaker of the House of Representatives.

In the senate, Senator Akpabio, the lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District, emerged victorious from a spirited challenged from Senator Abdulaziz Yari, representing Zamfara West Senatorial District. In a surprisingly close contest, Senator Akpabio ended up with 63 votes to 46 for Senator Yari.

For deputy senate president, Senator Jibrin Barau representing Kano North Senatorial District, was elected unopposed after being nominated by Senator Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State. Both gentlemen were subsequently sworn-in by the clerk of the senate after being declared duly elected.

In the House of Representatives, Hon, the member representing Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, was elected after securing a landslide victory. He received 353 votes in total, while his two opponents, former deputy speaker Idris Wase and Aminu Jaji managed just three votes each.

Apparently, the votes that two men got were from themselves and the lawmakers that nominated them. Hon Abbas was nominated by former majority leader, Hon Ado Doguwa and was seconded by Hon Nnaji Nnolim, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

After the election of the speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu, the lawmaker representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, was elected as the deputy speaker unopposed. Confirming that there were no other nominations for the position, the clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Tambuwal, swore-in Hon Kalu as deputy speaker immediately.