Akpabio appoints Bamidele, Umahi, Ndume into key offices of senate leadership
Story from Musa Sakinat Abubakar
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, announced the new Senate Majority leader and Senate Chief Whip.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele from APC Ekiti Central was appointed as the Senate Majority leader, and former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume from APC Borno South as the Senate Chief Whip.
READ ALSO: Godswill Akpabio beats Yari to become Nigerian Senate President
Senator Dave Umahi from APC Ebonyi South was named as the Deputy Leader, and Senator Lola Ashiru from APC Kwara South as the Deputy Whip.
Akpabio arrived in the chamber at 11:18 am, prayed at 11:20 am, and asked Senator Orji Uzor Kalu from APC Abia North to move the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of 14th June.
All four candidates nominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, for Senate and House of Representatives leadership won their elections in June.
Recall that the four anointed candidates are Senate President Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. While Barau and Kalu emerged unopposed, Akpabio prevailed after a tough battle, and Abbas recorded a landslide victory over his two opponents.
In the Senate, Akpabio polled 63 votes to defeat the former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdulaziz Yari from APC Zamfara West, who polled 46 votes.
In the House of Representatives, it was smooth sailing for Abbas as 353 out of the 359 lawmakers inaugurated gave him their votes. His challengers, Idris Wase and Aminu Jaji, polled three votes each.