...Akapabio for Senate President, Barau Jibrin Deputy Senate President, Tajudeen Abbas Reps Speaker
The battle for the Senate Presidential position and the Speakership seat in the House of Representatives seemed to have been concluded as the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has arrived at a consensus on candidates for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.
Senator Ali Ndume and Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Friday night confirmed that former Senate Minority Leader and immediate past minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has been selected by the APC to emerge the next President of the Senate.
The APC caucus, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and the President–elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu met at the Defence House to fine-tune activities for the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on Friday night.
Both Ndume and Umahi had earlier announced their bid for the top seat of the National Assembly.
However, speaking to journalists after the Friday night’s meeting Both Umahi and Akpabio stated that they have stepped down for Akpabio to lead the 10th Senate.
According to Umahi, “I saw the President-elect, on his invitation and he told me that he is already committed and he said please hold on, I accepted and I've stepped down for my brother, Senator Akpabio…. I also stepped down for (Senator Jibrin Barau) as Deputy Senate President. So I stepped down for the two of them.”
On his part, Sen. Ali Ndume simply said, “ I’ve not only stepped down for Senator Akpabio, but I am also his chief campaigner because he is the President’s preferred candidate.”
Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives who was at the meeting told FACTSHEET that “the party has decided to endorse Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as the next Speaker.”
Hon Tajudeen Abbas is a 3rd term member of the House who represents Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State and is expected to pair with a member from the Southeast zone.
It is not however clear, if the current Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase who has been campaigning seriously for the Speakership seat has stepped down in line with the resolution of the party.
Also, the Chairman House Committee on Public Affairs, Hon. Benjamin Kalu is being touted as the preferred candidate for the Deputy Speaker. FACTSHEET source, however, revealed that the Southeast caucus had not concluded on the Deputy Speakership seat at the time the meeting ended on Friday night.
Prominent members of the APC present at the meeting include the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Deputy National Chairman, South, Emma Eneukwu and the National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
