Lawan’s Bid For Senate Presidency Gets A Boost

Senators-elect under the aegis of the Unity Forum, penultimate Wednesday, formally informed the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of their support for the Lawan-Akume Senate Presidency ticket, just as the party assured them that the extant Standing Order of the chamber will be adhered to in its final decision.

This was contained in a letter signed by Senators Barnabas Gemade, Abu Ibrahim, Olusola Adeyeye, Abdullahi Adamu and Bukar Abba Ibrahim with the signatures of their members attached and the group’s resolutions.


They resolved that “Senator Ahmed Lawan shall be the highest ranking APC Senator and George Akume the second highest ranking APC Senator in the 8th Assembly in the 8th Assembly.

This is so, as Ahmad Lawan has spent 16 years in the National Assembly; eight years in the House of Representatives and another eight years in the Senate. Thus, Senator Ahmad Lawan is the most qualified to be the Senate President, while Senator George Akume is the most qualified to be the Deputy Senate President of the 8th Assembly in accordance with Rule 3 Order (2) of the Extant Senate Standing Orders.

“Nomination of senators to serve as presiding officers and appointments of principal officers and other officers of the Senate or on any Parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking of senators.

In determining ranking, the following Order shall apply-Senators retiring based on number of times re-elected; Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives; and Senators elected as Senators for the first time.