After a keenly contested campaign for the presidency of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State has been declared winner of the 10th Senate after a long road walk.
Voting commenced in the early hours of Tuesday 13th June 2023. The secret ballot system was adopted and was done alphabetically.
Also, Senator Jubril Barau from Kano State has also emerged as Deputy Senate President. He was returned unopposed when there was no other person to contest for the position with him. Senator Barau was nominated by the former Governor of Ebonyi State David Umahi for the position.
Akpabio who is a former Governor of Akwa Ibom polled 63 votes to emerge the winner of the election on the floor of the red chamber Tuesday morning to defeat Abdulazeez Yari who scored 46 out of the 109 votes cast.
Senator Ali Ndume from Borno South nominated Akpabio. His nomination was co-nominated by Senator Adeola Olamilekan from Ogun State.
There was a rowdy session when Senator Yari was nominated by Senator Abo as some of the elected lawmakers tried in vain to raise the point of order to the effect that Yari was not a ranking Senator.
The Clark of the Senate in line with the tradition of the process for election of presiding officers of the Senate, conducted the election and declared Akpabio as winner of the election.
As at the time of filing this report, the members of the House of Representatives were yet to elect their presiding officers.
Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio was born on 9 December 1962. He is a lawyer and politician and served as minister for Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 to 2022. He resigned on 11 May 2022 on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to contest in the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He previously served as governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015.
Godswill Akpabio is the son of Chief Obot Akpabio and Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio (née Inyangetor) of Ukana, Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Government Area.
He was born on 9 December 1962. He lost his father early in life and was raised by his mother.
Akpabio was educated at Methodist Primary School, Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State; the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and the University of Calabar, Cross River State, where he obtained a Degree in Law.
While at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, he was appointed the Senior Prefect.
At the University of Calabar, Akpabio was elected as the speaker of the parliamentary year.
