Godswill Akpabio, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State and former minister of Niger Delta affairs, has been elected as the 10th Senate President of Nigeria. The election took place during the inauguration of the 10th assembly on Tuesday. Akpabio emerged as the winner after defeating Abdulaziz Yari, the former governor of Zamfara State.
Prior to the voting, Senator Ali Ndume, a former Leader of the Senate, nominated Akpabio and presented his biography to the Senate Chamber. Senator Olamilekan Solomon Yayi from Ogun State seconded the nomination. On the other hand, Senator Elisha Abbo from Adamawa State nominated Yari for the position of Senate President.
Akpabio, who was the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), received 63 votes out of the total 109 votes, securing victory in the contest. Yari, on the other hand, received 46 votes.