Senators on Thursday declared their help for the return of Godswill Akpabio because the president of the eleventh Senate, which shall be inaugurated in June 2027, months after the final elections.
The lawmakers additionally expressed satisfaction with the management of Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and other principal officers, pledging to help their return to their respective positions within the subsequent meeting.
They made the declaration throughout plenary after Mr Akpabio addressed the controversy surrounding the Senate’s passage of a invoice in search of to decriminalise tried suicide for second studying on Tuesday.
Mr Akpabio mentioned because the invoice’s passage, some critics had accused him of non secular bias, notably over his insistence that anybody discovered culpable of making an attempt suicide needs to be jailed.
He alleged that the criticism was politically motivated and meant to undermine his repute as the competition for the Senate presidency of the eleventh National Assembly approaches.
“I know the position of president is gone. The position of vice president is gone. The only one that is left now is the position of senate president. So everybody will want to contest that, and then we want to mobilise. That is what is left and everybody is interested,” he mentioned.
Mr Akpabio urged political analysts to think about the problems and the personalities concerned earlier than commenting on the controversy, warning towards statements that might harm individuals’s reputations.
“So people who go out there to talk should study the personalities involved. This is a politically charged period. People should go and face the truth and discuss issues, not to try to damage people’s reputations,” he added.
After Mr Akpabio’s remarks, the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, expressed confidence that the majority serving senators would safe re-election in 2027 and help Mr Akpabio’s return as senate president.
Mr Monguno, who represents Borno North Senatorial District, declared that the Senate presidency wouldn’t be open to contest within the eleventh National Assembly, insisting that Mr Akpabio would retain the place.
He additionally expressed help for the deputy senate president and the other principal officers, saying they need to retain their positions within the subsequent meeting.
“By the grace of God, majority of us are going to make it back to the Senate, and this seat is hereby declared: there is no vacancy. No vacancy at all, including the seat of DSP, and all other principal officers. I hereby declare there is no vacancy, including principal officers,” he mentioned.
Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North) seconded the movement, arguing that Mr Akpabio was already assured of returning as senate president for a second time.
“The seat of the Senate President in the 11th Assembly is not open to any contest. It is already occupied by Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio. I so support,” Mr Fasuyi mentioned.
Mr Akpabio subsequently put the declaration to a voice vote, and the vast majority of senators current supported it.
After the vote, Mr Akpabio urged critics to cease politically motivated interpretations of the Senate’s resolutions on nationwide points, insisting that he was not biased towards any faith.
He mentioned his relationship with Muslims and his help for prayers for the nation contradicted the allegations towards him.
“I think that settles it. So all those who want to do politically motivated interpretations should stop. I love the Muslim religion. I send people to Mecca to pray for me and to pray for this country. And I do that even up to yesterday. And I have been doing that for the last 25 years,” he added.
Mr Akpabio added that some commentators have been misrepresenting the Senate’s proceedings due to the approaching political season.
“So I don’t know why people go and sit down on television and they try to misinterpret what we say here, because politics is coming,” he mentioned.
Battle for Senate presidency
The eleventh National Assembly is predicted to be inaugurated in June 2027, about six months after the final elections holding in January and February.
The inauguration will comply with a proclamation by the president of the nation.
At the inauguration, newly elected senators will take their oaths of workplace and elect the senate president and deputy senate president as a part of their first official duties.
The senate president is Nigeria’s third-highest political officeholder, after the president and vice chairman, whereas the deputy senate president can also be one of many nation’s senior legislative leaders.
Mr Akpabio, who presently occupies the Senate presidency, was elected by his colleagues in June 2023. He is in search of to retain the place within the eleventh National Assembly after the 2027 elections.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the senate president has overtly requested President Tinubu to help his bid for re-election as chief of the eleventh Senate.
READ ALSO: Akpabio insists on jail term for attempted suicide as Senate passes decriminalisation bill for second reading
Mr Akpabio made the request on the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council on the State House, Abuja.
However, his ambition may face competitors from other political heavyweights.
There have been speculations that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, an ally of President Bola Tinubu, is contemplating a bid for the Senate presidency after finishing his tenure as governor.
Mr Uzodimma is the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District within the 16 January National Assembly election. He represented the district from 2011 to 2019 earlier than successful the governorship election in 2020.
Similarly, Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) can also be believed to have an interest within the place.
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