UPDATED: Bukola Saraki Emerges Senate President Unopposed

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, June 9th, 2015

Senator Bukola Saraki from Kwara state has emerged the President of the 8th Senate of Nigeria unopposed.

He was elected Monday morning at the inauguration of the new upper legislative House.

He has thereafter taken the oath of office.

Outgoing deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PDP from Enugu state defeated Senator Ali Ndume from Borno States to retain his position.

Saraki Dramatic Election

Election of Sen. Bukola Saraki unopposed was dramatic. The exercise actually held while the APC Senators and House Legislators-elect were still in last mediating meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre, Abuja

Consequently, the meeting held without the senators who supported the APC candidates, Ahmed Lawan and George Akume as Senate President and Deputy respectively, a situation that left the hallow chamber filled with pro-Saraki Senators-elect, who naturally voted their candidate (Saraki).

However, when the information reached the conference centre, some of Lawan supporters rushed down and nominated Ali Ndume for the position of Deputy Senate President but it was too late.

Ndume was defeated by the outgoing deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu who polled 54 votes while Ndume polled 20 votes.

Meanwhile, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state has congratulated Senator Bukola Saraki on his emergence as Senate President and Chairman of the 8th National Assembly.

“On behalf of the government and people of Kwara State, I congratulate my leader, Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki, the new Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly.

“His emergence not only reaffirms the supremacy of popular will, it also underlines our collective preference for a credible legislature and our confidence in Senator Bukola Saraki’s capacity and competence to lead it.” the governor stated.