Senators from Southern Nigeria on Wednesday revived the Southern Senators’ Forum and elected Senator Adetokunbo Abiru representing Lagos East as the forum’s chairman. 

The development came a day after the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, was suspended for three months.

Senator Ningi, was suspended for claiming in a BBC Hausa interview, that the 2024 budget was padded from N25 trillion to N28.7 trillion and that the executive was implementing the inflated budget.

His claim was perceived as an alleged plot to instigate the impeachment of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, representing Akwa-Ibom North-West of the South-South. 

Senator Abiru on Wednesday, emerged chairman of the forum after 51 Senators from the 17 southern states, elected its six executives.

He now replaces the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, as chairman of the group.

In his acceptance speech after the election, Mr Abiru said, “This forum, the Southern Senators Forum is to champion the course of Nigeria and Nigerians. We have our northern brothers with the Northern Senators Forum. We will work together with the Northern Senators Forum to move the country forward. 

“We will swing into action and roll out our plans for the betterment of the region and Nigeria. We will map out our plans and work on them for the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians generally.’’ 

Other executive members include: Vice Chairman, Senator Victor Umeh (Labour Party, Anambra Central), Secretary, Senator Mpigi Barinada (PDP, Rivers South East), Publicity Secretary, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River North) and Treasurer, Senator Kenneth Eze (APC Ebonyi Central).