Senator Orji Kalu has stated that, contrary to popular belief, there was no election fraud in which Senator Godswill Akpabio was elected President of the Senate.
Kalu’s remarks follow reports that several Senators affiliated with the ruling All Progressives Congress were attempting to cross-carpet following the outcome of the June 13 election, which saw Akpabio elected Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.
Akpabio defeated Senator Abdul’aziz Yari to become the next Senate President, with the former Akwa Ibom governor returning elected with 63 votes to Yari’s 46 votes.
This decision did not sit well with Yari.
The former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, alleged that he was betrayed by some of his colleagues.
Yari claimed his earlier permutations showed that he would get at least 61 out of the 109 votes available, which would have been enough to see him coast home to victory.
Reacting to Yari’s claims and to the assertions that this election might make some lawmakers move to another party in the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu said there was no funny-business conducted on the floor of the hallowed chamber, adding that Akpabio won fair and square.
“Let me be honest with you, the election in the Senate was transparent. Akpabio won the election. It was free, it was fair,” the lawmaker asserted.
He added, “I can’t lie to my conscience, Akpabio won the election hands down. There was no comparison on who won the election; if there is anything any other person has wants to say, that is their business but Akpabio to my conscience, to my seeing, to my honour, he won the election. ”
Buttressing his point, Kalu who was Chief Whip of the last Senate, said everyone has congratulated Akpabio because all the Senators agree that election was fair to all who contested for the seat of the Senate President.
While congratulating the CNA, the Clerk and all staff of the Senate, the former Abia State governor argued that the Senate is not divided.
“There is no two Senate, there is only one Senate. On the 13th of June was the day we had one Senate.
“There is no pro-Akpabio and against Akpabio. Even Yari himself understands that all the Senators need to work with Akpabio, he is the Senate President.”
Kalu used the occasion of the Sallah celebration to appeal to all lawmakers in the Senate to come together and work as one for the good of the Nigerian people.