Ahead of next Tuesday’s inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the Senate Presidency bid of former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, has received a major boost following President Bola Tinubu’s refusal to impose a leadership on the two chambers of the next National Assembly.

Senators-elect including those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who hitherto were in support of the party’s preferred candidate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, were said to have now gravitated to Senator-elect Yari’s camp after the meeting between President Tinubu and the federal lawmakers-elect on Thursday.

Already, Senators-elect of the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other minor opposition parties, were said to have made up their mind to support Senator-elect Yari, putting the former Zamfara State governor in clear lead having secured the support of a majority number of the Senators-elect ahead of the June 13, 2023 inauguration date.

Further facts emerged at the weekend that President Tinubu did not at the Thursday meeting with Senators-elect and Members-elect of the House of Representatives, endorsed the APC zoning formula but only charged the incoming legislators to vote for candidates of their choice as Senate President and House Speaker in line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Rules of the National Assembly.

President Tinubu was said to have expressed serious concerns over undermining the independence of the legislature and charged the lawmakers to agree among themselves as provided by the Rules of the Senate.

An APC Senator-elect, who is close to the ruling party’s leadership said that President Tinubu’s action has further showcased him as a true democrat and believer in the Rule of Law, adding that his position was well-received by lawmakers-elect across party lines.

“President Tinubu has shown that he is a true democrat and firm believer in the Rule of Law. He is a Senator of the Federal Republic and a very experienced politician.

“He understands the workings of democracy in respecting the independence of the legislature and we assured him that no matter who emerged as Senate President and House Speaker, he can always count on our full cooperation.

“The majority of the Senators-elect are supporting Senator Yari. That does not mean that we are in confrontation with President Tinubu or the party. No! Far from that. We are rather deepening our democracy to even help the executive to function well under a stable democratic atmosphere. We are not in confrontation with anybody and I can assure you that we are all on the same page now,” he stated.

The lawmaker-elect, who is from the South-South, however, confirmed that leaders of the APC have started backtracking on Senator Akpabio’s choice in the face of new realities, which have been worsened by Akpabio’s alleged cold relationship with many lawmakers of the 9th Assembly.

According to him, many of the Senators-elect are not at home with Akpabio for accusing National Assembly members of hugely benefiting from large contracts in the NDDC without a proof.

A Senator-elect was recently reported to have queried how an individual, who denigrated the National Assembly can preside over the same institution.

“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,” the Senator-elect was reported to have said.

Meanwhile parliamentary watch groups including the Coalition for Parliamentary Democracy (CPD), have asked Senator Akpabio to withdraw from the Senate Presidency race if he has no capacity to show but only rely on zoning and external endorsement, which offer nothing to the demand of the office of the Senate President.

MisterBanny:
I thought Akpabio was TInubu's choice?

richie240:

Yes, but he can't impose him on 107 senators.
Las-las it's still d senators dt will choose their preference.

Baba is playing safe so as not to create unnecessary enemies peradventure akpabio doesn't win.

Ruggedniggaone:
Tinubu want to avoid humiliation, he knew for sure that the opposition candidate will win. Akpabio is a betrayal and corruption personified he is not different from the rubber stamp Senate president Ahmed Lawan we don't need bow and go Senate president like Ahmed Lawan again

gabbytabby:
PBAT will support and work with anyone that the Legislators choose.

JASONjnr:


The same man that talked to Buhari on ensuring that he picks a SP to work with and Buhari gave deaf ears to it.?

Tinubu will definitely select his SP to work with....

Tinubu is a politician and ever8is politics to him.


People really can't tell his next moves.... He's not Buhari that can easily be predicted.

Ruggedniggaone:
Tinubu want to avoid humiliation,he knew for sure that the opposition candidate will win. Akpabio is a betrayal and corruption personified he is not different from the rubber stamp Senate president Ahmed Lawan we don't need bow and go Senate president like Ahmed Lawan again

gabbytabby:
After the total disaster of Saraki anyone would try to influence if they can.

The country loses if the Executive and Legislature are at loggerheads.

MisterBanny:
I thought Akpabio was TInubu's choice?

gabbytabby:
After the total disaster of Saraki anyone would try to influence if they can.

The country loses if the Executive and Legislature are at loggerheads.

gabbytabby:
War and Nzogbu Nzogbu is not how to run a country they must try to find a common ground.

Tflex01:
Let them collect his money.
Tinubu is not Buhari

slivertongue:
All na game. If the South South doesn't get it blame Tinubu supporters who kept boosting power is for them and far north. With such anti people's statement anything can happen as no one is willing to trust them

YinkaOlusesi16:
President Tinubu has shown that he is a true democrat and firm believer in the Rule of Law, I respect him so much. Baba get brain 🧠