Abdul-Azeez Yari, the former governor of Zamfara State, received 46 votes, while Akpabio received 63.
In May, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee backed the former governor of Akwa-Ibom State to be the next Senate President.
Tajudeen Abass was also favored by the party to be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The vote session, which finished at 9:15 a.m., drew 109 senators.

Under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, Akpabio served as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.