By Editor
Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege both of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been elected the president and deputy president of the 9th Nigerian Senate. The APC moved swiftly to avoid what happened to them at the 8th Senate when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), swept them off their feet and took over the leadership of the party.
Lawan defeated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) adopted candidate Ali Ndume, also of the APC with 79 votes. Ndume polled only 28 votes. Similarly, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the APC preferred candidate, was also elected as the deputy president of the Nigerian Senate.
Omo Agege defeated the former deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu of the People’s Democratic party with 68 votes. Ekweremadu polled 39 votes. Ekweremadu was nominated by Chukwuka Utazi, a member of the PDP, representing Enugu North federal constituency. Rose Oko, a senator representing Cross River North seconded the motion.
Ahmed Baba Kaita, a member of the APC, representing Katsina North also nominated Senator Ovie Omo-Agege representing Delta Central constituency for Deputy Senate President. Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi seconded the motion.
With the senate leadership settled, the fight moves to the Federal House of Representatives where the APC is also hoping to carry the day. Should that happen, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration the second time around would have nobody to blame for non-performance, which characterized his first term.