Senator Godswill Akpabio, who will return to the upper legislative chamber when the 10th National Assembly is inaugurated early next month, has received more endorsements to lead the red chamber as President.
The outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi said on Friday that he has dropped his ambition to be Senate President in support of the former Akwa Ibom State governor and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
Umahi might not have been one of the strong contenders in the race, as he will be a first term Senator upon swearing-in, but the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reported backed Akpabio, the returning Senator from Akwa Ibom North West district.
After meeting with Akpabio on Friday, Umahi, who will be representing Ebonyi South senatorial district, said that he had met with Tinubu, who asked him not to contest the position in the Green Chamber.
He said: “My brother (Akpabio) came to consult with me. Yesterday, I saw the President-elect on his invitation and he told me that he is already committed, and that please ‘don’t run’ I accepted and stepped down for my brother, Senator Akpabio. He is my consensus candidate”.
Umahi’s position was corroborated by Senator Ali Ndume from Borno South, who said Akpabio is President’s preferred choice but was unclear on which President he was referring to. While President Muhammadu Buhari remains in office until the midnight of 29th May, Tinubu, the President-elect, takes over that same day.
“As you can see, I am leading the campaign for Akpabio because he is the President’s preferred candidate and we have to put the interest of the country, the party above any other interest”, Ndume said.
The endorsement may have also been backed by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The top echelon of the party have also reportedly endorsed a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, representing Zaria federal constituency, as Speaker.
A credible source in the National Assembly disclosed that the positions of the Deputy President of the Senate and Deputy Speaker had not been decided, an indication that they might be contested by aspirants.
But some other sources said Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano North Senatorial District) is the choice for Deputy Senate President, in which case one of either Abbas of Jubrin will be dropped as they are from the same zone – North West.
A message sent to Saturday PUNCH‘s correspondent by one of the sources read: “President-elect, APC endorse North-West – Speaker; South-South – Senate President…settle for Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Rt. Hon. TJ Abass, Ph.D, as Senate President, Speaker.
“Zoning for Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker.
“North-West –Deputy Senate President. South-East – Deputy Speaker
“Decision taken at the meeting held at the Defence House today (Friday)”.
Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje had said that Akpabio would be the next President of the Senate. During a meeting with Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari in Calabar on Thursday, Ganduje said: “The Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will come from the South-South and it is no other person than the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
“The uncommon governor, the uncommon minister, who is going to be the uncommon President of the Senate. So, we have resolved that. I am giving you assurances; we are waiting for the D-Day that he will be the Senate President of Nigeria”.
Ayade said: “I want to thank you so much for zoning the Senate presidency to the South-South and to our brother from a neighbouring state, who is also part of Cross River State.
“We want to thank you for this great opportunity because our dream of a Bakassi seaport is becoming very real”.
