Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has been named the Senate Minority Leader, bucking the trend whereby only ranking senators were elected to such position.

Mr. Akpabio was nominated by the south south caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The party lost the majority to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the last election. The nomination of Akpabio, often seen as one of the best governors in the country in his era, especially for his transformation of his state in the critical area of infrastructure, is a testament to his high rating among his colleagues.

Phillip Aduda, who represents the Federal Capital Territory, was named Minority Whip, while Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba State, emerged Deputy Minority Leader.

A former chairman of the PDP governors’ forum in the last administration, Mr. Akpabio was favoured to win the slot after receiving wide support from lawmakers and his party.

Last week, a federal court rejected an application seeking to stop him from being named minority leader.

Two PDP senators had gone to court to challenge the move.

At the senate’s resumed session Tuesday, lawmakers passed a vote of confidence on the president of the senate, Bukola Saraki, and the deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

They also adopted a motion urging security agencies to stop harassing senators and their families.

Mr. Saraki’s wife, Toyin, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on allegations of corruption.