10th NASS: 72 Non Serving Senators Back Akpabio for Senate President

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, seventy two non- serving Senators have thrown their weight behind former Senate Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President.

Addressing Journalists in Abuja on Monday, the Convener of the group, Senator Basheer Lado who represented Kano Central in the 7th Senate, said that the 72 Non- serving Senators  of the Second to the Fourth Republic settled for the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State against the backdrop that the position of Senate President represents the third position in hierarchy of the nation's  current democratic dispensation. 

Lado said, "We, in the spirit of equity, fairness, political expedience and following  extensive consultations with stakeholders, hereby express our total support  for the zoning of the position of the President of the 10th Senate, to the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria.

"We also affirm our unfettered support for the position of the President of the 10th Senate who also doubles as the Chairman of the National Assembly to be conferred on His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON.

"The position of Senate President represents the third position in hierarchy of our current democratic dispensation. 

"This position carries considerable weight in discharging vital constitutional responsibilities and for charting the right course for our national development. 

"It is also important that the holder of such a position enjoys the confidence and support of the party leadership and that of his peers as Senator Godswill Akpabio undoubtedly does.

"With this same spirit of fairness, we also affirm our solid support that the position of Deputy President of the 10th Senate be conceded to Distinguished Senator Barau I. Jibril, CON, representing Kano North Senatorial Zone, Kano State.

Members in support of the group’s position on the 10th National Assembly Leadership are Sen. Ben Ayade; Sen. George Akume; Sen. Basheer Lado; Sen. Rilwan Akanbi; Sen. Barnabas Gemade​​​​; Sen. Grace Bent; Sen. Binta Masi Garba; Sen. Ayogu Eze; Sen. Andy Uba;  Sen. Ibrahim Ida; Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora​​; Sen. Anthony Adeniyi​​​; Sen. Ganiyu Solomon​​​; Sen. Gbenga Obadara​​​ and Sen. Gbenga Kaka​​​.

Others are Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro​​​; Sen. Arise Ayo​​​​; Sen. Felix Kolawole Bajomo​​; Sen. Hassain Mudashiru​​​; Sen. Domingo Obende​​​; Sen. Wilson Ake​​​​; Sen. Ita Enang​​​​;Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri​​; Sen. Clever Ikisikpo; Sen. Ita Giwa; Sen. Ibrahim Musa​​​; Sen. Alex Kadiri​​​​; Sen. Ocheja Emma Dangana; Sen. Jibriu Wowo; Sen. Isa Maina; Sen. Mohammed Ohiare​​; Sen. Abubakar Sodangi; Sen. Joseph Akaagerger​​; Sen. Jack Tilley Gyado​​​; Sen. Abubakar Tutare​​​ and Sen. Bello Tukur​​​​.

Other members are Sen. Ahmed Barata​​; Sen. Abba Aji​​​​​; Sen. Mohammed A. Mohammed​​; Sen. Umar Idris​​​​​; Sen. Adamu Talba​​​​; Sen. Sidi Ali​​​​​; Sen. Timothy Adudu​​​​; Sen. Ishaq Adebayo Salman​​​; Sen. Akin Odunsi​​​​​; Sen. Seye Ogunlewe​​​​​; Sen. Fatima Raji Rasaki​​​; Sen. Lanre Tejuoso​​​​; Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu​​​​; Sen. Margery Chuba Okadigbo; Sen. Mohammed Saleh​​​; Sen. Sani Kanba​​​​​; Sen. Abubakar Abdullahi Naamo​​; Sen. Danladi Sankara; Sen. Mohammed Ibrahim​; Sen. Sola Adeyeye; Sen. Anthony Agbo​​​; Sen. Ikechukwu Obior and Sen. Chris Adighije​​​.

Also on the list are Sen. Emma Anosike​​​; Sen. Jalo Zarami; Sen. Alkali Jajere; Sen. Oladipo Odujinrin; Sen. Mohammed Alkali; Sen. Sony Ogboeje; Sen. Abu Ibrahim; Sen. Bello Maitama; Sen. Saddiq Yar’adua; Sen. Jide Omoworare and Sen. Anthony Manzo.