On June 13, It was Mohammed Ali Ndume, the All Progressive Congress senator representing Borno South, who nominated Godswill Akpabio during the vote for senate president. Akpabio won and was sworn in as senate president after securing 63 votes to defeat his closest rival, Abdulaziz Yari, who polled 46 votes.
After the swearing-in, Akpabio was flanked by Ndume and Senator Adeola Olamilekan who had seconded his nomination—all smiling.