* Lawmakers endorse return of principal officers
* Dismiss politically motivated assaults on Senate President
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Senate on Thursday threw its weight behind Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s bid to retain his place within the 11th National Assembly, declaring that there could be “no vacancy” within the workplaces of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President and different principal officers who safe re-election within the 2027 normal election.
The endorsement, which adopted a spontaneous movement moved by the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, and seconded by Senator Cyril Fasuyi, signalled an early try by serving lawmakers to consolidate help for the present management forward of the inauguration of the subsequent National Assembly.
The lawmakers additionally backed the return of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Monguno and Deputy Senate Whip Peter Nwaebonyi, alongside Minority Leader Abba Moro, Deputy Minority Leader Olalere Oyewumi and Minority Whip Tony Nwoye, offered they win re-election on January 16, 2027.
Monguno, who represents Borno North, moved the movement throughout plenary after Akpabio complained that political opponents have been allegedly exploiting controversies surrounding latest Senate debates to undermine his popularity and weaken his probabilities of retaining the Senate presidency.
“Insha Allah, by the grace of God, the majority of us are going to make it back to the Senate, and this seat is hereby declared: there is no vacancy,” Monguno mentioned.
He prolonged the declaration to the workplace of the Deputy Senate President and different principal officers, insisting that those that returned to the Senate after the elections ought to retain their positions.
“There is no vacancy at all, including the seat of the Deputy Senate President and all other principal officers. I hereby declare, there is no vacancy,” he added.
Fasuyi, who represents Ekiti North, instantly endorsed the movement, declaring that Akpabio’s place shouldn’t be open to a contest within the subsequent Assembly.
“I hereby support the motion ably moved by Senator Monguno that 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,” he mentioned.
Akpabio subsequently put the declaration to a voice vote, with senators current responding affirmatively when he referred to as for these in help. No audible opposition was recorded through the alternate.
“I think that settles it,” the Senate President declared.
However, the endorsement doesn’t take away the constitutional requirement for newly elected senators to elect their presiding officers when the 11th National Assembly is inaugurated. The declaration as an alternative displays the place expressed by the lawmakers who supported the movement.
The improvement comes amid hypothesis that different political heavyweights, together with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, could also be within the Senate presidency.
Before the movement, Akpabio had defended himself in opposition to what he described as politically motivated makes an attempt to misrepresent his feedback throughout Tuesday’s debate on the Suicide Prevention Bill 2026.
The invoice, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, scaled second studying and triggered debate on whether or not survivors of suicide makes an attempt ought to face felony prosecution or obtain medical and psychological help.
Akpabio cautioned commentators in opposition to decoding particular person contributions throughout legislative debates because the Senate’s ultimate place.
“When we discuss here, we discuss for and against, and in the course of our discussions, whatever we say should not anger anybody outside this chamber, because at the end, what matters is our final decision,” he mentioned.
He argued that lawmakers have to be allowed to disagree throughout deliberations with out their remarks being distorted to wreck their reputations.
He mentioned: “We want to make the best laws, so we are bound to oppose each other, and we are also bound to support each other,” urging tv commentators to keep away from politically motivated interpretations of parliamentary proceedings.
“No matter the discussion, please take the final decision of the Senate into consideration. Don’t go and sit down in panels and try to do politically motivated discussions,” Akpabio added.
The Senate President additionally rejected makes an attempt to affiliate terrorism with any specific faith, insisting that acts of violence shouldn’t be used to stigmatise spiritual communities.
“Terrorists are not Muslims. Terrorists are not Christians. Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their lives and the lives of others,” he mentioned.
Akpabio maintained that Islam prohibits suicide and killing, including that public discussions ought to distinguish between individuals experiencing psychological well being challenges and those that intentionally take their lives or hurt others.
He additionally cited his longstanding relationships with Muslims and Christians, together with his help for spiritual pilgrimages, to reject allegations of non secular bias.
Akpabio’s defence and the following endorsement of his management highlighted the political sensitivities surrounding the Senate presidency as lawmakers put together for the 2027 elections.
While Thursday’s declaration demonstrated help for the present management among the many senators who backed the movement, the ultimate composition of the 11th Senate and its selection of presiding officers will likely be decided after the elections.
