On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila-led ninth National Assembly, NASS, came to an end with the inauguration of the tenth NASS.
As part of the activities for the inauguration, elections for the positions of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Assembly and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly were held.
At the end of the elections, President Bola Tinubu’s anointed candidates for the positions emerged as the winners.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, beat his only contender, Abdulaziz Yari to win the election for the Senate presidency.
He polled a total of 63 votes while Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, polled 46 votes.
Senator Jibrin Barau was declared as the Deputy Senate President after his nomination by Senator Dave Umahi met no opposition. He takes over from Ovie Omo-Agege.
For the green chamber, Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker representing Zaria federal constituency in Kaduna State, was elected the Speaker.
Out of the total 359 votes, Abbas polled 352 votes to defeat Idris Wase, the former deputy speaker of the ninth assembly.
Benjamin Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, emerged as the deputy speaker unopposed, succeeding Wase.
Akpabio, Barau, Abbas and Kalu were subsequently sworn in yesterday.
