Vote according to your conscience, Ndume tells Senators in pre-election address -

Senator Ali Ndume has charged his colleagues at the Senate to vote according to their conscience in the polls to choose leaders of the 9th National Assembly today.

He spoke shortly before the voting commenced, while accepting his nomination to run for the nation’s third seat.

Earlier, his nomination was moved by Adamawa-North Senator-elect, Ishaku Abbo of the Peoples Democratic Party and seconded by Rivers South-East senator-elect Barinada Mpigi.

Ndume said his decision to run was a tough one, but insisted that there was a need for the Senate to be inter-dependent from the executive arm of government.

He added that his leadership will make a legal framework for constituency project which usually causes controversy.

The Borno lawmaker also promised that he would ensure the swift passage of the budget and help President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve his agenda for the good of Nigerians.

Meanwhile, Herald Nigeria learnt that voting has commenced at the red chamber. Ahmad Lawan and Ali Ndume were the only two nominated by their colleagues.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, subsequently announced the procedure of the election, and the use of secret ballot.