The All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday night announced Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator George Akume as sole candidates for the position of President and Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate respectively.
The announcement was made after a primary election organised by the National Working Committee of the APC at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
However, another contender for the office of Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and his supporters boycotted the election, signalling difficult days ahead in the Red chambers of the National Assembly.
According to the National Secretary of the Party, Malam Buni, who served as returning officer, 33 Senators were accredited to vote, with Lawan getting 32 votes, while one was declared invalid.
Buni said: “By the powers conferred on me by the NWC of the APC as the Chief Returning Officer of this election, after having certified that Dr. Ahmed Lawan has fulfilled all the requirements of the party, he is hereby nominated as the sole candidate of the party for the position of Senate President of the 8th Senate.” Akume was also adopted using the same procedure.
In his response after the election, Lawan said while he was grateful for the confidence reposed in him by the party and his colleagues, he was saddened that his colleagues “in the other camp” did not participate in the process, pleading with the NWC to assist him in winning over all other senators in the National Assembly because he would require their support not only to win on Tuesday but also to provide leadership at the legislative arm of the government.
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