NASS: Lawan joins Gbajabiamila as APC candidates, Saraki absents

The APC on Saturday settled for Senator Ahmed Lawan as Senate president, and Senator George Akume as Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate.

This was the outcome of the primary election conducted by the National Working Committee of the party at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The party had also earlier at the same venue, picked Femi Gbajabiamila as its candidate for the speakership of the House of Representatives.

The primary was boycotted by a strong contender for the position, Senator Bukola Saraki and ‘Senators of Like Minds’ supporting him for the Senate.

National Secretary of the Party, Mala Buni, who served as returning officer announced that 32 of the 33 Senators who were accredited voted for Lawan while one vote was declared invalid.

A similar procedure was adopted in the election of Akume. Akume got 32 out of the 33 votes.

In his acceptance speech, Lawan said while he was grateful for the confidence reposed in him by the party and his colleagues, he was saddened that his colleagues “in the other camp” did not participate in the process.

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