No vacancy: Lawmakers back Akpabio for 11th Senate presidency

File: The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has received expressions of support for his re-election as presiding officer of the 11th National Assembly, with Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno and Cyril Fasuyi declaring that there is “no vacancy” in the office.

The lawmakers made their positions known during Thursday’s plenary, expressing confidence that Akpabio would retain his seat when the next National Assembly is inaugurated in 2027.

Monguno, who represents Borno North Senatorial District, said he was optimistic that most of the incumbent senators would return to the chamber and that Akpabio would continue as Senate President.

“Insha Allah, by the grace of God, the majority of us are going to make it back to the Senate, and this seat is hereby declared: there is no vacancy,” Monguno said.

He extended the declaration to the Deputy Senate President and other principal officers of the Senate.

Similarly, Fasuyi, who represents Ekiti North Senatorial District, threw his weight behind Akpabio’s second-term ambition, declaring that the Senate presidency in the next Assembly was already occupied.

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“I hereby support the motion ably moved by Senator Monguno that the seat of the Senate President in the 11th Assembly is not open to any contest. Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio already occupies it,” Fasuyi said.

After the declarations, Akpabio asked senators whether the position reflected the chamber’s general view.

When he called on those in support to say “aye,” the response was audible across the chamber. However, no audible response was recorded when he asked for opposing voices.

“I think that settles it,” Akpabio said.

The exchange offered a public show of support for Akpabio’s return, although the declarations do not constitute a formal election to determine the leadership of the 11th National Assembly.

The leadership of the next Senate will ultimately depend on the outcome of the election of presiding officers when the 11th National Assembly is inaugurated after the 2027 general elections.