APC Wins 64 Seats In The Senate, Now Has Majority Status

APC Wins 64 Seats In The Senate, Now Has Majority Status

The All Progressives Congress (APC) camp is basking in the euphoria of yesterday’s victory as the result of the March 28 and 29 elections declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday, has not only revealed a new president elect but has also pushed the opposition party to the majority status in the 109 membership Senate.

Before the election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) enjoyed the majority status in the red chamber with 64 members while the APC had 41. Other parties, like the Labour Party, the Accord Party and the Social Democratic Party, shared the remaining five seats.

But following the declaration of last Saturday’s results, the APC will now have 64 senators; the PDP, 45; and the Labour Party, one.

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The Punch reports that the development will obviously alter the configuration of the Senate leadership in the 8th Senate which will be inaugurated in June this year, because the opposition APC which is currently in the minority will supply the principal officers.

For instance, the APC victory will mean that the current Senate president, David Mark, who is returning to the Senate for the fifth time, will lose his seat to an APC member while the change in gear will also affect other principal officers like the deputy Senate president, Senate leader, deputy Senate leader, chief whip, and deputy chief whip.

Apart from Senator Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu who won the election to return to the Senate, other principal officers like the Senate leader, Victor Ndoma -Egba; his deputy, Abdul Ningi; chief whip, Bello Gwarzo; and his deputy, Hosea Agboola, all lost their bid to return.

The current configuration is set to automatically transform the status of the APC members, especially the principal officers from minority to the majority.

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Reports indicate that the minority leader, Senator George Akume, may likely emerge the new senate president, although some of his colleagues believe that another ranking senator should be elected since Mark, his kinsman from Benue, would be relinquishing the seat after eight years.

Meanwhile, with the first round of elections (presidential and National Assembly) concluded and the winners announced, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shifted its attention to the upcoming April 11 gubernatorial and Senatorial elections across the country.

Source: Legit.ng

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