Members of the Senate have publicly endorsed the continuation of Godswill Akpabio as Senate President and Barau Jibrin as Deputy Senate President in the 11th National Assembly, provided they return as elected senators in 2027.
The declaration followed a motion by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno, seconded by Senator Cyril Fasuyi, during plenary. Supporters also extended the endorsement to other serving principal officers who win re-election.
Monguno said there would be ‘no vacancy’ in the chamber’s leading offices, while Fasuyi argued that the senate presidency should remain with Akpabio. The presiding officer put the proposal to a voice vote, which drew audible support from senators present.
The political declaration is not a binding election of the next Senate’s leadership. Under the constitutional process, senators elected to the 11th National Assembly must choose their presiding officers after the new chamber is inaugurated.
The motion arose after Akpabio complained that comments from parliamentary debates were being selectively presented to damage his reputation and prospects. He referred in particular to public controversy surrounding discussion of the Suicide Prevention Bill, which had passed second reading.
Akpabio argued that individual remarks made during legislative deliberations should not be mistaken for the Senate’s final position. He said lawmakers needed room to debate and disagree before reaching decisions.
The Senate President also rejected the association of terrorism with any particular religion and urged commentators not to stigmatize religious communities.
The endorsement signals early political alignment among some current senators, but the composition and leadership preferences of the next chamber remain subject to the 2027 elections and the subsequent leadership vote.
