At least, six senators from the Nigeria’s South-South failed to support the election of Godswill Akpabio as the 9th Senate President.
Recall that the upper chamber of the assembly had upon its inauguration on Tuesday, elected its leaders.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, from the South-South and Abdul’Aziz Yari of the North-West, were nominated for the position shortly after the House was inaugurated.
Also read: Akpabio Becomes Nigeria’s 9th Senate President
Akpabio, a former Akwa Ibom State Governor won the election after scoring 63 votes, defeating Senator Yari who scored 46 votes.
A public document showing how the Senators voted, indicated that some Senators from Akpabio’s geopolitical zone voted against him by casting their ballots for Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State.
A close look at the social media photo showed that two senators from Bayelsa State, three from Delta State and one from Edo State voted against Akpabio.
Bayelsa State
While Senator Agasaga Benson cast his vote for Akpabio, Senators Benson Friday and Dickson Seriake voted for Yari
Delta State
The entire senators from Delta State including Senators, Nwoko Ned, Dafinone Omueya, Joel Onowakpo all voted against Akpabio.
Edo
Our correspondent also observed that the lawmaker representing the Edo Central Senatorial district, Okpebolo Monday also voted against Akpabio by casting his ballot for Yari.
‘There was a betrayal’—Yari reacts
Former Zamfara State Governor, Yari, has alleged betrayal by some of his colleagues, days after losing the senate presidency to Senator Akpabio
Akpabio, former Akwa-Ibom State Governor and lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North-West was the anointed candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He emerged as President of the 10th Senate on Tuesday after polling a total of 63 votes. Yari, also of the ruling party got 46 votes.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday in Abuja, Channels reports that, Yari claimed his permutations as of 3am on Tuesday showed that he would get at least 61 out of the 109 votes available, which would have been enough to see him coast home to victory. Despite feeling betrayed by the turnout of events, the former Zamfara governor believed only God knew what transpired.
“Yes, I can say there was a betrayal. That’s the truth because as we are taking stock as of 3 am, Monday-Tuesday election, we took stock of over 76. But as usual, human beings, we thought we are going to get a pullout of about 15 which we will have a comfortable 61 to win the election,” he stated.
“But it’s become the reverse which only God knows what happened. So, I feel betrayed but life continues and it’s a cycle.”
