Some high-ranking Senators have begun lobbying for the Senate Presidency and other key positions ahead of the 10th National Assembly’s June inauguration.
WITHIN NIGERIA learned that aspirants for Senate and House of Representatives positions are expected to begin declaring their interest upon the resumption of the National Assembly on March 14.
Other positions that will be filled besides the Senate Presidency include the Deputy Senate President, Majority Leader, Chief Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Minority Whip, and Deputy Minority Whip.
According to the National Assembly’s tradition, lawmakers who have served two or more terms in the legislature’s leadership are eligible for these positions.
According to The Punch, lobbying for the key positions had begun in earnest, with parties and senators-elect working to avoid a repeat of the Bukola Saraki saga in 2015.
Notable Senators-elect Ali Ndume (Borno South), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Orji Uzoh Kalu (Abia), Jibrin Barau (Kano), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), and Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger) are among those who have expressed interest in becoming president of the 10th Senate.
According to reports from within Nigeria, the APC won 57 senatorial seats, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 29, the Labour Party (LP) six, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) two each.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP) each received one seat.