Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party has been re-elected Deputy Senate President of the 8th Assembly.
Ekweremadu, who occupied thesame position in the 7th Assembly, defeated Ali Ndume of the ruling All Progressives Congress at the inauguration of the Senate in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Senator, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, was nominated by Abiye Sekibo from Rivers State.
He elected following a power sharing deal that had the minority but influential PDP back the new Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
The PDP had openly declared support for Saraki in return for the election of Ekeremadu as his deputy.
Saraki had earlier coasted home to victory as the new Senate President with 57 senators backing him, with 49 senators of the Peoples Democratic Party making up the bulk of the number.
Pundits see this development as a major blow to National Leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is believed to have favoured Senator Lawan for theSe ate Presidency and Femi Gbajabiamila for the speakership of House of Representatives.
