BEVERLY HILLS, June 11, (THEWILL) – Ali Ndume, a major contender for the position of Senate president for the ninth National Assembly was the first senator-elect to appear at the premises of the National Assembly.
He got to the legislative chamber at exactly 7.20 am and exchanged pleasantries with excited staff.
Ndume had recently said it was too late for him to withdraw from the race. He also insisted that the executive and the APC should allow lawmakers to freely elect their principal officers.
The representative of Borno South senatorial district is battling for the position against Ahmed Lawan, endorsed by the APC.
On his part, Senator Ahmad Lawan, the other major contender for the seat of the president of the upper chamber and chairman of the National Assembly has also arrived for the inauguration.
Lawan arrived the Senate chamber accompanied by many of his colleagues on the platform of the APC.
THEWILL notes that the race for Senate President is simply between Lawan, endorsed by the ruling APC, and Ndume, a member of the ruling party but endorsed by the opposition PDP.