By Shola Abayomi.
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan has announced the eight principal officers for both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Yahaya from Kebbi State emerged the new Senate Leader, while Ajayi Borofice from Ondo State, the Deputy Senate Leader.
Lawan announced the former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu as the new Senate Chief Whip and Senator Abdullahi Aliyu Sabi from Niger State as the Deputy Chief Whip.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe from Abia State was also announced as the new Senate Minority Leader, while Senator Emmanuel Bwacha from Taraba emerged the Deputy Minority Leader.
Others include, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda (FCT) as the Minority Whip, with Senator Sahabi Ya’u as the Deputy Minority Whip.
According to the senate president, the national chairmen of both parties had conveyed a letter to him hinting on the unanimous nomination of the new principal officers by their respective parties.
However, Abia State seemed to be the most favored in the scheme of things, as two of its senators from both political parties emerged as principal officers in the Ninth Senate.
Interestingly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was a former deputy governor to Orji Uzo Kalu during his first tenure as executive governor of Abia State.