The bill, which was sponsored by the Senate Minority Leader, seeks among others the appointment of service chiefs in line with a federal character based on the recommendations of members of the commission.

Nine senators spoke in favour of the bill while six were against it during a debate that followed Abaribe’s presentation.

Those who supported the proposed law are the Leader of the Senate, Abdullahi Yahaya; the Deputy Minority leader, Emmanuel Bwacha Opeyemi Bamidele; Istifanus Gyang, Chukwuka Utazi; and James Manager.

The senators who wanted the bill killed immediately were Francis Alimikhena, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Adamu Aliero, Adamu Abdullahi, Mohammed Bulkachuwa and Danjuma Goje.

The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, was evasive in his submissions.

The Senate president called for a voice vote and he ruled in favour of those who opposed the bill in what appeared to be a controversial decision.

Abaribe raised a point of order to challenge Lawan’s ruling and he called for a division whereby each senator would vote individually.

Lawan opposed Abaribe and his action led to an uproar which made him call for an emergency closed session.

The forum’s conveners, Mustapha Saidu and Bello Ambo, in a letter written to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, praised the party for zoning the position to the North-East.

In the letter dated April 17, 2019 and titled, “North-East stakeholders endorse Goje,” the group said the resolve to back the senator was taken at an emergency gathering held in Bauchi on Wednesday.

The remaining groups that endorsed Goje were the North- East Elders Mobilization Forum, the APC National Youth Caucus, Borno Discussion Circle, Gombe Political Associations and North-East Youth Awareness for Good Governance.

All the groups pleaded with the former Gombe State governor to quickly declare his intention.

The letter read, “Following very wide consultations among stakeholders, party members and the North- East Consultative Forum and after careful assessment of his contribution to the party and the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, we hereby present to you Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje as the choice of the people of the North-East as the Senate President of the 9th Assembly.

“Senator Goje is respected among members of the National Assembly for his immense contributions to the success of the APC in 2015 and 2019 general elections.

“The landslide victory of the APC in Gombe State in the just-concluded general elections is a testimony of his loyalty and commitment to the APC.

“It will serve the best interest of the party if Your Excellency and the party review your stance on the choice of Senator Ahmad Lawan and allow a level playing field for all aspirants from the North-East to showcase themselves to their colleagues.

“We, therefore, urge Senator Danjuma Goje to come forward and declare his interest to vie for the position of the President of the Senate in the 9th National Assembly.”