Nigerian Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, has warned senators-elect to desist from corruption, especially not to accept bribes from any of the candidates running for key positions in the National Assembly ahead of today’s vote.

The former Borno State governor gave the charge in his remarks at the valedictory session to celebrate the end of the ninth Senate on Saturday.

Shettima called on the senators-elect to vote wisely for the country’s progress while urging them to look beyond what will go into their pockets.

“The stability of this nation is greater than the stability of your pocket. Let us vote wisely for the progress of our country.”

He further charged the senators-elect to work towards the development of the nation as they set for another legislative session.

“In the past four years, the debates, our differences and even our setbacks have been for the good of this nation.

“Whatever position you pursue after today, you should always remember that there’s an end to the road. The 9th Senate is a testament. As we bid farewell, let us remember that our journey has just begun,” he said.

Four candidates are vying for the senate president but Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, is the leading contender after he was anointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) is also enjoying their support for the deputy senate president.

Other candidates for senate president, including Abdul’aziz Yari, Orji Kalu, and Osita Izunaso, were advised to withdraw from the contest and support the president’s anointed candidates.

However, they resisted on the grounds that the All Progressives Congress and the president were unfair to other geopolitical regions in the formula for allocating the leadership positions in the National Assembly.