ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The race for the Senate Presidency seems to have turned tougher as two top contenders, Godswill Akpabio and Abdulaziz Yari are battling over the number of lawmakers loyal to their camps.
On 13 June, 2023 at the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, Senators-elect will elect a new Senate President to pilot the affairs of the Senate for the next four years.
According to sources in the Yari’s camp, about 65 senators are already in their camp over the last-minute exit of lawmakers from the opposition’s camp.
The Deputy Director-General of Akpabio/Barau Campaign Organisation, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central, was quoted to have told the journalists on Monday that the campaign is appealing to senators-elect to support Akpabio’s bid.
Some of the senators-elect said that they are having a rethink on Akpabio’s Senate Presidency over accusations that he was disrespectful to the institution of the legislature when he, as the Minister of Niger Delta, openly accused National Assembly members of hugely benefiting from large contracts in the NDDC without a proof.
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Suleiman Kawu, a senator-elect representing the New Nigeria People’s Party in Kano South, stated that the Northern caucus led by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan was pulling their weight behind Senator Yari.
“This 10th Assembly is different, the lawmakers will choose their leaders and the person, we are supporting as Senate President is Senator Yari,” he said.
Also, another senator-elect who pleaded anonymity noted that he has withdrawn his support from the Akpabio’s camp because of an issue he once had with the lawmakers.
According to him: “I have withdrawn support for Senator Akpabio. It’s not only me. Many of us have withdrawn our support and it will show on the floor.
“I used to have very high regard for Senator Akpabio as a person but I can’t support him to be the Senate President.
“How can he (Akpabio) come and preside over an institution which he once described as a cesspit of corruption after benefitting from the same institution.”
Meanwhile, the Akpabio camp said it was seriously mobilizing Senators-elect across the three major parties: the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party.
In a Newspaper publication, the group listed the names of 71 senators who were on their team.
Among others, the 25 Pro-Akpabio Governors include the Governors of Kwara, Nasarawa, Benue, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Kaduna, Borno, Ebonyi and Ondo States.
These Governors, majority of whom are of the APC-controlled States maintained that they are vehemently upholding the unanimous decision of the National Working of the party, Punch reports.
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The Governors said the NWC has made the most profound decision that will promote institutional stability and the peaceful conduct of legislative proceedings in the 10th Assembly in the next four years.
Meanwhile, when Akpabio visited Governor Yahaya Bello in Kogi State, Bello described the aspirations of Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau for the positions of the Senate President and Deputy of the 10th Senate as his personal project.
Governor Bello also stated that Senator Akpabio, was his role model, adding that the senator’s uncommon style of governance as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, endeared him to want to be like the former governor.
The Governor said he will work to achieve stability for President Bola Tinubu Presidency.
On his part, the Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, said senators-elect and other stakeholders in the state were behind the candidacy of Senator Godswill Akpabio to succeed Ahmad Lawan as the next Senate President.
He said: “In Ekiti State, we are committed to a united National Assembly and we are also committed to the decision of the National Working Committee of the APC with respect to the zoning and you can attest to the fact that all the senators are here with me just to have dinner with Akpabio.
“We are supporting his aspiration as directed by the national body of the party. We are in this together, we are not only supporting, we will identify with him publicly and that is what I have done.
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“All Ekiti senators and the leaders, all the former governors – we are in the same boat. We respect the sanctity of the party and we appeal to all contenders to also follow the advice of the National Working Committee.”
Also, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule had said that APC Governors from the North have resolved to support President-elect Bola Tinubu’s choice of National Assembly presiding officers.
Sule told the aspirants: “We cannot in any way fight the choice of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We cannot in any way fight the choice of our party.”