9th National Assembly Inauguration: Live Updates Of Principal Officers Election

John Andah

June 11, 2019

Image courtesy Premium Times

Warm welcome to the Concise News monitoring of the inauguration of Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly (NASS).

The stage is set for the inauguration of Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly (NASS) after President Muhammadu Buhari, based on constitutional requirement, pronounced the dissolution of the 8th NASS and announced the proclamation of the 9th federal parliament.

There would be elections to determine the principal officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with Ahmed Lawan and Ali Ndume running for the highest position in the upper chamber and Femi Gbajabiamila and Muhammad Umaru Bago going for the position of Speaker.

President Buhari had met with lawmakers-elect of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the inauguration.

The Nigerian leader and the leadership of the APC are backing Senator Lawan, from Yobe state, and Honourable Gbajabiamila, from Lagos state.

But despite the party’s position, Senator Ndume, from Borno state, and Honourable Bago, from Niger state, are gunning for the positions.

Stay with Concise News for updates on the elections and the inauguration.

Live updates

When the Clerk made an announcement for another nomination there was none and Idris was, therefore, declared the Deputy Speaker.

For the Deputy Speaker position, Sada Soni, from Katsina, nominated Ahmed Idris, from Plateau.

Gbajabiamila scored 281 votes out of 358 votes cast against Umar Bago who got 76.

Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has been elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the Ninth National Assembly.

But the Clerk, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, said it was very illegal to snap.

Concise News learned that there was drama at the House of Representatives as some members were seen taking snapshots of their ballot during the election of the Speaker.

Attention shifts to the House of Representatives where no fewer than 358 members-elect are expected to choose between Surulere constituency 1 lawmaker-elect of Lagos State, Femi Gbajabiamila and Umar Bago of Chanchagi, Niger state.

The lawmaker from Delta state got 68 votes to defeat former deputy senate president Ekweremadu of the PDP. The Enugu senator got 37 votes.

Ovie Omo-Agege has emerged as the Deputy Senate President.

Ekweremadu, a member of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asked his colleagues not to vote for mace snatchers.

Meanwhile, Ike Ekweremadu has accepted his nomination for the post of deputy senate present – a position he occupied in 2007-2011, 2011-2015 and 2015-2019.

Concise News learned that the Yobe North lawmaker got 79 votes to defeat the Borno-South senator who had 28 votes.

Ahmed Lawan emerges President of 9th Senate

The Clerk of the National Assembly has announced the end of voting at the Senate. Voting ended in the upper chamber at 11.54 a.m.

Concise News understands that About 107 lawmakers-elect voted.

Protest Over Use Of Secret Ballot

The inauguration of the 9th Senate started at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday with protest from supporters of Sen. Ahmad Lawan following announcement from the Clerk of the National Assembly that secret ballot would be used for the election.

Concise News reports that the Clerk, Mohammed Omolori after reading the proclamation from President Muhammadu Buhari at exactly 10:00 announced the use of the 2015 Senate Rule which specifies the use of the secret ballot in electing presiding officers.

He rarely finished when supporters of Lawan began protesting, saying they would not accept the use of 2015 rule.

Prominent among those who led the protest are Sen. Solomon Adeola(APC-Lagos) and Sen. Barau Jibrin(APC-Kano).

Speaking, the clerk explained that he did not receive any court order stopping him for from using anything other than the 2015 rule.

Inauguration Of 9th National Assembly Commences

The much-anticipated inauguration of Nigeria’s ninth National Assembly has commenced.

This news medium understands that a larger number of incoming lawmakers are already present in the two chambers – the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Olori, has read the proclamation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

After citing orders 2, 5, 7 of the Senate chamber, the event proceeded with roll call.

APC Governors Storm NASS For Election Of Principal Officers

Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have arrived the National Assembly complex to witness the election of presiding officers for the 9th Assembly.

The governors were led by the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi.

Others included the Governors of Kwara, Plateau, Kebbi, Osun, Kano, Katsina, and Nasarawa.

They arrived around 9:35 am and were ushered into the Senate chamber by the Sergeant at Arms.

Ndume Arrives National Assembly For 9th Senate Leadership Election

Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) has arrived at the premises of the National Assembly for the inauguration and election of the ninth Senate leadership.

Ndume, a strong contender for the position of the Senate President, arrived at about 7:20 am on Tuesday.

He exchanged pleasantries with some people on arrival and went straight to the mosque within the premises to pray.

9th NASS Inauguration: Tight Security As Lawmakers-elect Choose Leaders

All the three entrances into Nigeria’s National Assembly (NASS) have been blocked with vehicles by security operatives ahead of the inauguration of the nation’s 9th Assembly.

Concise News observed that operatives of the State Security Services (SSS), Police and Civil Defence corps have taken charge of the Presidential, SGF and Mopol Gates of the National Assembly.

It was also learned that staff and newsmen that did not have accreditation for the inaugurating were turned back as the NASS identity cards could not get workers into the complex.