Akpabio, First Southern Senate President in 16 Years, Faces Uphill Battle to Keep Seat.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the first Southerner to occupy the Senate president’s seat in 16 years, is finding himself in a precarious position as he faces increasing opposition both within and outside the ruling party.
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa-Ibom State, has encountered resistance to his leadership style within the upper chamber, a place that some Nigerians have come to view as a “retirement home” for former governors.
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Many of the lawmakers openly opposing him are members of the ruling party, the APC.
Senator Ali Ndume, who previously coordinated Akpabio’s campaign, has engaged in a public battle with him. Meanwhile, Elisha Abbo led the anti-Akpabio movement until his removal from the House.
While Ndume has challenged Akpabio openly on two occasions, he is not seen by many as a formidable opponent due to his history of opposing Senate Presidents without any notable victories.
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In 2015, he supported Bukola Saraki but was subsequently removed as the Leader of the Senate after challenging the former Kwara State Governor.
Abbo has been expelled from the Senate following a Court of Appeal ruling.
However, the danger is not over for Akpabio. Unlike some Senate Presidents, Akpabio did not secure an overwhelming majority in his election. Despite endorsements from the president and the party, he received 63 votes, while Abdulaziz Yari garnered 46 votes.
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Insiders in the Senate have revealed that some senators see Yari as a viable alternative in light of the opposition to Akpabio, who now faces challenges similar to those experienced by Southern Senate presidents.
From 1999 to 2007, five Southerners held the Senate President seat – Evans Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolphus Wabara, and Ken Nnamani. Three of them were removed from office for various reasons. In contrast, Northern Senate Presidents have had relatively stable tenures.
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Senator David Mark served as Senate President for eight uninterrupted years, Bukola Saraki for four years, and Ahmad Lawan’s tenure was largely untroubled.
Some believe that the difficulties faced by Southern Senate Presidents are related to the Senate’s distribution. The South has 51 Senators, while the North has 58 Senators, and the majority of Southern Senators belong to opposition parties.
“Akpabio just needs to be cautious in managing the Senators, many of whom are also former Governors themselves,” said a senior legislative aide who preferred not to be named.
Additionally, the distribution of appointments by President Tinubu has not been particularly favorable to Akpabio, as many Northern Senators have voiced concerns about the perceived dominance of Yoruba appointments in the government. Akpabio has supported these appointments, which has raised objections from Northern Senators.
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However, many Senators are reluctant to challenge the Senate President out of fear of offending President Tinubu, as they hope for increased funding for the National Assembly, especially with the impending 2024 budget presentation.
It is worth noting that President Tinubu allocated N70 billion to lawmakers at the beginning of this Assembly, and for the first time, all National Assembly members will receive SUVs instead of the usual Toyota Camrys.
For now, Akpabio has the support of the President and key figures like Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Opeyemi Bamidele, and Solomon Olamilekan, who are working to protect his position.
