10th Senate Presidency, Akpabio inches closer to seat

…Tinubu asked me to lead the campaign says Ndume
…Orji Kalu’s camp insists on zoning position to South East

By Tunde Opalana

Feelers from different nocturnal meetings across party lines, particularly among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the weekend indicates that former governor of Akwa- Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio is inching closer to becoming Senate President of the 10th Senate.

The Daily Times learnt that at a meeting of APC elected lawmakers, it was hinted that Akpabio from the South South is the choice of the President – Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s camp as Senate President and the current Chairman, Senate Committee in Appropriation, Jubrin Barau from Kano (North West) as preferred Deputy Senate President.

According to Mr. Jackson Udom, an aide to Akpabio, the aspirant did not wait for an endorsement as he has been following a laid down strategy to drive home his ambition through consultations of opinion moulders and party chieftains across geo- political zones.

He said Akpabio has visited more than 80 distinguished senators and senators- elect to sell his leadership qualities while trying to form alliances for the unity and stability of the 10th Senate .

The immediate past minister of Niger Delta Affairs broke some political ice when two of the touted aspirants for the coveted parliamentary seat not only stepped down for him but agreed to mobilize other lawmakers for his emergence.

One of the contenders from the South East zone and outgoing governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi did not only stepped down for Akpabio but accepted to campaign for him.

In the same vein, one of the contenders from the north, Senator Ali Ndume from North East openly declared that Akpabio is the choice of party leadership, though APC national body is yet to announce a clear cut zoning of principal offices in the coming National Assembly.

On why he is supporting Akpabio, Ndume said “I am not only stepping down, I will be leading the campaign for Akpabio because he is the president’s preferred candidate and we have to surrender to the interest of the party that is above any other interest.

“The President- elect has said I should lead this campaign. So, you can see how popular Akpabio is. We are running a combined ticket, Akpabio-Barau ticket”

Governor Umahi on the other hand thumped up for the consultative drive, which he said is for the best interest of our country.

He said “we are all supporting Senator Godswill, remember the word God’s will . Governor Godswill Akpabio is a man of grace and I know that every man, every woman has the purpose of God to fulfill and we’ve all the grace upon his life and we think we must support him to achieve that God’s will for his life I am at the forefront of this campaign because I believe in him.

Akpabio’s consultation train berthed at the weekend at the Abuja residence of former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who played host to Akpabio, Umahi and senator – elects of like minds to seek his support, even though Oshiomhole’s name is also being linked to the race.

After meeting with Oshiomhole, Akpabio told journalists that himself, Governor Umahi and other distinguished senators and senators elect are on nationwide consultation to leaders across party line.

On the need for consultation, he said “It is normal, we are going to visit all the 108 senators, including me making it 109 senators. I think we have tried so far, we have covered 85 and we will continue to do so.

“It is not a strange one, it is a way to build blocks because the 10th Senate we are going into is a multiplicity of political parties and we have to understand ourselves and ensure that in the chamber we must pursue Nigerian project and not individual or party project . We must be able to work together for the interest of Nigerians.”

Senator – elect Adams Oshiomhole who will be representing Edo North in the 10th Senate also spoke briefly after the meeting saying, “we had a meeting of senators and senators – elect. Am honoured to receive my big brothers here. Some of them are colleagues as governors and even those who are not former governors, they are ranking senators. Some of them are personal friends, they’ve come to see me and we had conversations. That is important.”

However, the struggle may not be over yet for Akpabio as loyalists of one of the major contenders for Senate President seat, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu from Abia State insisted that for equity, fairness and justice, the number three political position in the country should go to the South East, where Kalu comes from, for ethnic balancing in the polity.

Kalu’s supporters majority of whom are also either distinguished senators or senator – elect wanted both Tinubu and APC national leadership hands off partial or total endorsement of any aspirant but allow interested lawmakers from the South East jostle for the position.

They seems adamant not to back down on their insistence for Kalu and are also banking on possible support from elected lawmakers from the opposition parties to shore up needed 60 senators votes for Kalu.

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The composition of the Senate placed the APC presently on the lead with 59 members with the PDP having 36 and the renaibing parties having 14 members combined.

The Kalu’s camp are proposing a joint ticket with firmer Zamfara State governor, Abdul Aziz Yari from the North West as Deputy Senate President .

While individual campaign and consultation continues, the ruling party is facing the uphill task if managing the situation to avoid playing into the hands of the opposition.