The National Assembly at exactly 10: 00am commenced the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly with the reading of the proclamation letter from President Muhammadu Buhari by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasua for the inauguration.
The former governor of Kwara state was nominated by Sani Yarima, former governor of Zamfara state. Dino Melaye, from Kogi state, seconded his nomination.
As Abubakar Sani, the clerk of the national assembly, called for more nominations and there was none, he declared Bukola the duly elected president of the senate. Ahmad Lawan, the preferred candidate of the APC, was not nominated.
Out of 108 senators-elect, 57 were present while 51 were absent. Only 55 senators are needed to choose a senate president.
Some APC senators were reportedly absent owing to their meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.
The meeting was said to be going at the same time as the inauguration, hence their failure to nominate Lawan.
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier summoned a meeting of all Senators Elect of the platform of the APC at ICC. The Saraki’s group decided to boycott the President’s invitation and while the Pro-Lawan’s Senator were waiting for the arrival of President Buhari, the Saraki’s group joined the PDP Senators elect on the floor of the Senate and got the clerk to commence the Inauguration of 8th National Assembly (Senate) .
The Lawan’s group got the information of the Election of Bukola Saraki on phone, source told
.