Senator Ali Ndume of Borno south, who lost the Senate presidency to Ahmad Lawan, has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should commend him for putting up a fight against Lawan.
Ndume lost the seat on Tuesday to Mr Lawan who was the party’s favourite.
Lawan polled 79 votes to defeat Ndume who got 28.Ndume told journalists after results were announced that the party’s reputation would have been at stake if he did not contest.
“Party or democracy without election is not democracy. That is why it is very important to stand for and defend the constitution.
“Section 50 (1), that the Senators shall elect the senate president and his deputy from among themselves and that was what happened,” he said.
“When they did that election, I got 28 or thereabout, that is democracy in action, no matter the imperfection. I insisted on secret balloting because in democracy, election must be seen to be free and fair and this election was conducted freely and fairly through the open secret balloting which gives credibility to the process.
“If I had agreed with the anointment of Ahmad Lawan as the Senate president, in line with the directive of the party, there won’t have been election and it would have dented the image of the party and the government. That is why I don’t see myself as a loser. I have won and I think the party should commend me.”
“Party or democracy without election is not democracy. That is why it is very important to stand for and defend the constitution.
“Section 50 (1), that the Senators shall elect the senate president and his deputy from among themselves and that was what happened,” he said.
“When they did that election, I got 28 or thereabout, that is democracy in action, no matter the imperfection. I insisted on secret balloting because in democracy, election must be seen to be free and fair and this election was conducted freely and fairly through the open secret balloting which gives credibility to the process.
“If I had agreed with the anointment of Ahmad Lawan as the Senate president, in line with the directive of the party, there won’t have been election and it would have dented the image of the party and the government. That is why I don’t see myself as a loser. I have won and I think the party should commend me.”
