Fierce battle has continued for the principal offices of the 10th National Assembly as about 37 senators-elect of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have vehemently rejected the advanced choice of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jubrin Barau for Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.

The choice of the pair, according to Vanguard report, was communicated to the senators-elect by the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at a meeting of the leadership of the APC on Friday night in Abuja.

The meeting also had the leadership of the National Assembly in attendance.

Akpabio, who is the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, hails from Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district while Barau represents Kano North.

According to reports, the president-elect also told the gathering that his choice for speakership of the House of Representatives was Hon. Tajudeen Abbas who represents Zaria federal constituency of Kaduna State.

A source, who was privy to the meeting and preferred not to be mentioned, told Sunday Vanguard that many of the senators-elect at the occasion, numbering about 37, said no to the choice of Akpabio, citing national unity and cohesion as their reason.

In the alternative, the senators reportedly pointed to the direction of the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and a former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdulaziz Yari for Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.

While Kalu represents Abia North Senatorial District, Yari was recently voted to represent Zamfara West.

The source added that the APC senators, who visibly showed their disapproval of the preferred choices, demanded the neutrality of the president-elect in the elections of the presiding and principal officers of the 10th National Assembly.

Akpabio’s choice, it was learnt, came after Tinubu had given Akpabio the condition that he must have about 60 senators-elect backing his bid a development which had made the camp of the president-elect to ask for the list of his backers.

In essence, for any senator to emerge Senate President, he needs to have 60 votes on the floor of the Senate in June when the election of the presiding and principal officers holds.

Recall that that APC has 59 senators-elect while opposition parties put together have 50 senators-elect, making it a total of 109 after the February 25 general elections.

The breakdown of the opposition parties standing are as follows: PDP 36; LP 8; NNPP 2; YPP 1; APGA 1 and SDP 2.

“About 37 APC senators-elect have rejected the choice of Akpabio as the Senate President. He was introduced alongside Senator Barau as Deputy Senate President”, one source told Sunday Vanguard.

“But the senators-elect cited national unity and said they would rather vote for Orji Kalu and Yari as Senate President and Deputy.Senate President.

“They also appealed to the president-elect who also chose Tajudeen Abbas for Speaker not to interfere in the elections of the presiding officers of bath chambres of the National Assembly. This is the situation now.”

On the choice of Abbas, the gathering, according to the source, expressed concern that Abbas may not be accepted by the generality of the House members, saying it would be difficult to market him.

The source said that the Reps-elect present at the occasion were rooting for the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, from Borno State to be Speaker.

Abbas is said to have the support of the outgoing Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, although he has since denied it, saying he was waiting for the party’s zoning formula before throwing his weight behind the growing list of contestants for speakership of the incoming Assembly.

GeneralPula:
Fake news..

Kalu been using all these made in Aba Blog to peddle fake news..

Penguin2:


Lol!

I can see that you people have been directed from your headquarters to try to downplay report of Kalu’s chances as Made in Aba blog posts. Okay o!

Let’s see how far Akpabio goes.

GeneralPula:

I actually know Ogochwuku..

Akpabio is the God’s will for president of senate..

Penguin2:


Good to see that you know him.

Now, which of the things on his profile suggests that this report he wrote is false?

Or because he’s Igbo?

SpecialAdviser:
Useless Kalu, Useless Akpabio with Useless Tinubu. All I see is useless corrupt old fuuls fighting to loot more.

God bless Obidients all over the world

press9jatv:
Orji Uzor Kalu will still wins the 10th Senate President seat 💺. Congratulations 🎉 to you in advance.

ProudImolite:
God bless you too, our time is coming. We will save this country by fire or by force

Okwyjesus:


It's battle to finish. Senators are not APC delegates that can easily be bought over

Orji has northern alliance than Akpabio
Orji has support of his friend and former room mate - Lawal
Orji win win SE votes irrespective of party
and many rebel votes of APC
Akpabio disgraced Senators during NDDC probe and they have not forgiven him


Unless ORJI step down. I don't see Akpabio having easy ride

BleedingPen:


https://metrowatchxtra.com/2023/05/07/senate-presidency-37-apc-senators-reject-akpabio-back-orji-kalu-metrowatch/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd4

SpecialAdviser:
Useless Kalu, Useless Akpabio with Useless Tinubu. All I see is useless corrupt old fuuls fighting to loot more.

God bless Obidients all over the world

press9jatv:
seriously it’s fight to finish in the Senate and the House Of representatives too

Parachoko:
I remember when una dey talk say nah Obi go win the Presidential Election

press9jatv:
37 APC senators back kalu, yari for Senate President and deputy Senate President seats 💺

UKEMY:
Kalu messed up for him to have Openly support Lawan for APC ticket,BAT doesn't forget or forgive easily.
He should just relax for Akpabio

ruggedtimi:
bt Akpabio even went ahead to contest the same primary with Tinubu. So this your basis doesn't hold water. Tinubu might have picked Akpabio for other reasons or Akpabio is just a better lobbyist with enough money in his hands.

UKEMY:

He backed down but Lawan still went ahead.
Lawan is a greedy Politician .
As for Kalu,he is a disgrace to ndigbo,why didnt he support Umahi but was following Lawan just for VP or SP slot.
BAT will deal with him