For a change in Nigeria’s politics, it’s been weeks of intensive and extensive campaign, if you like, call it lobbying, by contenders to key positions in the newly elected national assembly—the Senate and House of Representatives. Senators Ahmad Lawan from Yobe State and Ali Ndume, Bornu State, both from Northeast Geopolitical Zone had engaged their peers in the incoming 9th Senate soliciting their support to be elected as President of the Senate, the third most influential position in the hierarchy of governance in the country. Left to the All Progressives Congress, APC leaders, Ahmad Lawan was their obvious choice. Ali Ndume defied the Party’s subtle pressure on him to withdraw from the contest. He hoped that he could be victorious with the backing of opposition Senators of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. However, it was Senator Lawan that prevailed. He won with 79 votes while Ndume got 28 votes. And so, Senator Ahmad Lawan is the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The position of Deputy Senate President was won by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta State, South-south Geopolitical Zone. With 68 votes he defeated the former holder of that post, Ike Ekweremadu, Enugu State, Southeast Geopolitical who got 37 votes. When the dusts settled down, the new Senate President told his colleagues: “Elections are over. It shows that we voted for united Senate and it is clear that the outcome is bipartisan. All parties including PDP and the Young People’s Party voted for me and with the outcome, the 9th Senate is ready to take off as united Senate.” Senator Lawan described the occasion of his election as the commencement of another decade of Nigeria’s democracy adding that the Senators would work to ensure best global parliamentary practices among other things.” His opponent, Ali Ndume said that the election of the Senate President was free, fair and demanded commendation fot ensuring that was the case.

The contest for the post of Speaker of House of Representatives was between Femi Gbajabiamila (APC) from Lagos State, Southwest Geopolitical Zone and Umar Bago, (APC) Niger State, Northcentral Geopolitical Zone. Gbajabiamila won with 281 votes while Bago scored 76 votes. Immediately the results were announced, Bago walked up to Gbajabiamila and embraced him. Ahmed Idris Wase (APC), Plateau State, Northcentral Geopolitical Zone was elected Deputy Speaker unopposed.