The race for the Senate Presidency has been intense and highly anticipated, with several senators jostling for the coveted position. However, after weeks of lobbying and consultations, Senator Barau Jibrin emerged as the frontrunner, garnering the support of 62 out of the 109 elected senators.
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Senator Jibrin, a seasoned politician and lawmaker, is widely respected for his leadership qualities and legislative experience. He has served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and was instrumental in the passage of several critical bills, including the 2021 budget.
If elected as Senate President, Senator Jibrin is expected to bring his wealth of experience and expertise to bear in leading the upper chamber of the National Assembly. He has promised to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians and work towards ensuring that the legislative arm of government plays its role in advancing the country’s development agenda.
However, there are still concerns about the possibility of last-minute changes ahead of the 10th Senate leadership and inauguration, as some senators may switch their support to other candidates. Nevertheless, Senator Jibrin remains confident of his chances and has expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their endorsement.
This was disclosed by an a source close to Sen. Barau Jubrin from the Northwest after an emergency meeting in the early hours of Tuesday in Abuja
The source explained that 62 Senators Elect have so far endorsed Senator Jibrin confirming 46 of them were physically present at the all night meeting held at the Transcorp Hotel
The meeting was centred on strategizing to mobilise other Senators elect to join hands in delivering Senator Barau Jibrin as the 10th Senate President
He said:
“The Lawmakers-elect, were against the nomination of Akpabio as Senate president”.
“We Know that the Tinubu’s preference for Akpabio was only to carry the Christians in Nigeria along, and not necessarily because of his competence or contribution to the success of the party. Unfortunately Akpabio would not be able to pilot the affairs of the parliament”, the source said.
He further said, “We shall resist any attempt to anoint him or any aspirant on us, we are not children therefore capable of sorting ourselves to ensure that the Senate Presidency go to a competent and qualify Senator preferably from the Northwest and not the South, given the contributions of the zone to the victory of Tinubu during the February presidential Election”.
According to him, the North has contributed over 63 per cent of the votes that drove Tinubu to victory.
“We chose Jibrin because of his competent and unblemished records, he is also the highest-ranking, longest-serving legislator in the Senate, and the most qualified to be the 10th Senate President”.
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Furthermore, the source said in the 109-seat Senate, the APC has 59 senators, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 36; Labour Party (LP) eight, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) two, Social Democratic Party (SDP) two, Young Progressives Party (YPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) one seat each.
The process of electing the Senate President is an important part of the parliamentary proceedings and is critical to the functioning of the legislative body. The Senate President is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Senate and ensuring that the rules and regulations governing the legislative process are followed.
To win the Senate presidency, the members of the Senate must cast a simple majority of votes in favor of a candidate. This requires the candidate to receive more than half of the votes. The President transmits a letter of proclamation to the Clerk of the National Assembly before the election, which takes place in June. The candidate who receives the majority of votes is elected as the Senate President.
The process of electing the Senate President is a complex one that involves a number of different steps.
Colleagues in the Senate must nominate candidates for the position first. After that, the members of the Senate can cast their votes for the candidate they choose.
In order to ensure that the election is conducted fairly and transparently, strict rules and procedures are put in place to govern the voting process. These rules may include provisions for secret balloting and the use of impartial observers to oversee the proceedings.
Overall, the election of the Senate President is a critical moment in the life of the legislative body. It is a time when members come together to choose a leader who will guide them through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. With the right person in place, the Senate can work effectively to represent the interests of the people and ensure that the laws and regulations governing the country are fair and just.
