10th National Assembly Inauguration, Leadership Battle Begins: Live Updates

Bejamin Kalu nominated, accept and sworn in as deputy speaker unopposed

Honorable Benjamin Kalu has been nominated as the deputy speaker by Babajimi Benson from Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos.

Kadu, who is representing the Bende region of Abia state was sworn in as the deputy speaker of the 10th assembly unopposed.

See the video here:

APC Tajudeen Abbas finally wins with majority votes

Honourable Tajudeen Abbas from Zaria has emerged as the new speaker of the House of Representatives with a majority vote.

Tajudeen Abbas scored 353 votes to defeat Idris Wase, the former deputy speaker of the house, who scored 3 votes, and Aminu Jaji who also scored 3 votes.

Labour Party Rep from Lagos Votes APC Preferred Candidate

Thaddeus Attah of the Labour Party (LP) who won the Eti Osa federal constituency in Lagos has voted for Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker of the House of Representatives, the anointed candidate of the APC.

Attah's move seemed to contradict the expectations of many considering the wave of the Labour Party in Lagos during the 2023 general elections.

Tajudeen Abass Emerges 10th Speaker of the 10th House of Reps

Tajudeen Abbas, the lawmaker-elect from Zaria, Kaduna state, has emerged as the speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

This is the Kaduna-born Rep who crossed the majority of votes from the ongoing election in the Green Chamber.

The process is an open ballot and he has already got over 181 required votes in the process which is being monitored by Legit.ng.

"My heart is with Wase", Labour Party Rep Who Voted Abbas

While declaring his choice for speaker, Ogene Victor, LP rep from Anambra, said: "Though my heart is with Idris Wase, my vote goes to Tajudeen Abbas."

This happened at the ongoing election for the Speaker of the 10th House of Reps.

Barau Jibrin Emerges Deputy Senate

Barau Jibrin, the Senator from Kano state, has emerged as the deputy senate president of the 10th Assembly.

The Senator, who was the preferred candidate of the APC, emerged unopposed.

Ex-Deputy Speaker nominated to contest against APC candidate

Idris Wase, the immediate past deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, was nominated to contest for the Speaker of the 10th House of Reps.

The ex-deputy speaker was nominated by Tijjani Kayode Ismail, a member-elect from Kwara State, The Punch reported.

Former Majority Leader Nominates Tajudeen Abass from Zaria

Alhassan Doguwa, the former majority leader of the 9th National Assembly, has nominated Honourable Tajudeen Abass for the 10th Speaker of the House of Reps.

Abass was the anointed candidate of the APC and the choice of President Bola Tinubu.

Open Ballot voting begins in House of Representatives

Voting for the 10th Speaker of the House of Representatives has begun.

The Clert of the House announced that the voting would be an open ballot, where members-elect publicly named the candidate they are voting for.

Umahi nominates Barau as deputy senate president

The immediate past governor of Ebonyi state and first-term senator has nominated Jubril Barau as the deputy senate president.

Jubril Barau is a senator from Kano and also a preferred candidate of the APC for the position.

Akpabio Takes Oath of Office

Senator Godswill Akpabio, the elected senate president, has taken the oath of office as the next senate president.

The oath of office was coordinated by the Clark of the Senate.

Number of Votes Akpabio, Yari Garner

Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom North has been elected the 10th Senate President.

The former minister defeated his rival, Abdulaziz Yari.

Akpabio scored 63 votes while Yari scored 46 votes.

Akpabio Becomes Next Senate President

Senator Godswill Akpabio has been elected president of the Nigerian Senate.

Though an official announcement has not been made but with the counting and congratulatory messages, the former minister has been elected.

Counting begins

The clerk of the Senate started sorting the votes.

This is as some lawmakers started greeting Akpabio.

Akpabio's supporters jubilate while counting ongoing

Jubilation in the Senate already while the counting of votes was ongoing.

Pro-Akpabio Senators jubilating counting not concluded yet.

Voting Completed in Senate, Counting Begins

Voting has been completed in the senate and counting has begun.

The two contestants are Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom and Abdulaziz Yari from Zamfara.

Objection against Yari's nomination shun

The nomination of Senator Abdulaziz Yari was objected to by Senator Olamilekan Solomon and Senator Babagana Monguno because he was not a ranking senator.

However, the Clerk of the House did not recognize the objection because the House has not been inaugurated.

10th National Assembly Election Starts Behind Schedule

The election for the next Senate President started around 8:30am.

This was behind the schedule because the process was scheduled to begin by 10am.

"I stand with Akpabio" mufflers dominate Senate

The ongoing Senate President race has seen senators-elect adorning themselves with 'I stand with Akpabio mufflers' as they vote in the inauguration.

Akpabio is the anointed candidate of the APC endorsed by President Bola Tinubu.

Orji Kalu votes

Senator Orji Kalu has voted in the ongoing Senate presidency race.

He was part of the strong contenders for the race but dropped from the race in the poll.

Akpabio has voted

Senator Godswill has been allowed to vote.

The senators are being called by their state alphabetically.

Role Calls Begin in National Assembly As Senator Ndume Nominates Akpabio for Senate President

Events have begun in the National Assembly as the Clerk of the Assembly began to call the names of the senators to ensure two third of the lawmakers are on the ground to determine the leaders of the about-to-be-inaugurated assembly.

Senator Ali Ndume from Borno State has nominated Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President as monitored by legit.ng on Channels.

Akpabio is the preferred candidate for the position

The candidates endorsed by the APC

Ahead of the voting, the ruling APC and President Bola Tinubu have announced their anointed candidates and urged other members to withdraw their ambition for them.

However, some members-elect, like Yari and Wase, refused and are bent on contesting today.

The candidates endorsed for Senate presidency, deputy Senate presidency:

• Senator Godswill Akpabio (for Senate presidency)
• Senator Jibrin Barau, Kano North (for deputy Senate presidency

The candidates endorsed for House of Reps Speaker, deputy:

• Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna), Speaker
• Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker

The Battle for the House of Reps Speakership: Top contenders

In the House of Representatives, the top contenders are:

• Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna)
• Ahmed Wase (Plateau), the immediate former deputy speaker

Others still in the speakership race:

• Aminu Sani Jaji (APC, Zamfara)
• Sada Soli Jibia (Katsina)
• Miriam Onuoha (Anambra)

The Battle for the Senate presidency: Top contenders

In the Red Chamber, 109 senators will pick the president of the Senate and deputy president of the Senate president.

The top contenders for the Senate presidency are:

• Senator Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom state
• Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara state

10th National Assembly: Orji Kalu, Osita Izunaso may drop their ambition for Senate President

Orji Uzor Kalu, a 2-term governor of Abia State, and Osita Izunaso, the ex-national organizing secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have been reported to be considering dropping out of the Senate President's race a few hours before the poll.

According to The Cable, sources privy to the development disclosed that the 2 strong senators are considering aligning with APC position and accepting President Bola Tinubu's plea, following a Southeast Leaders meeting where Senators-elect also attended

Governors to Storm National Assembly, Seyi Makinde Hints

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has hinted that he and his colleagues will be at the National Assembly to observe the inauguration of the 10th Senate on Tuesday, June 13.

According to the Governor, he and his colleagues have resorted to supporting the candidate of President Bola Tinubu for the position of the Senate President, PM News reported.

Makinde said:

“We are not playing religious politics but what is fair is fair. We stood for Southern presidency; we stood for justice, fairness and we are going to stand for equity as well.”