Deal that fetched Akpabio Tinubu’s endorsement for the 10th National Assembly
President Bola Tinubu endorsed a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for the presidency of the senate, according to new information.
A source close to the president told one of our correspondents on Saturday that the deal to appoint Akpabio as senate president was finalised the day before the All Progressives Congress presidential primary.
Tinubu, Akpabio, and others ran in the primary, which was held at the Eagles Square in Abuja between June 6 and 8, 2022.
“A day before the primary, Asiwaju (Tinubu) met with Akpabio and asked him to step down for him. Tinubu stated that if the former governor agreed, it would send a positive signal to the audience and other aspirants, as Akpabio would be the first aspirant invited to the podium.
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According to the source, who did not wish to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the press about the matter, Akpabio agreed but asked what his ‘gain’ would be, given that he had resigned as a minister and was not a senatorial candidate.
“Asiwaju (Tinubu) assured him that he would receive support if he ran for Senate president. During their conversation, an influential woman (name withheld) entered. That was how the agreement was finalised, according to another source.
Ahmad Lawan, the outgoing Senate president, reportedly met with Akpabio on the day of the primary to solicit his support.
Lawan reportedly informed the former minister that he had been selected as the candidate of both the party and the ‘northern caucus’, according to reports.
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According to one of the sources, Akpabio stated that he had given his word to Tinubu and would not be able to support Lawan’s candidature.
According to other credible sources close to the situation, Lawan had not forgiven Akpabio for allegedly snubbing him and therefore accused him of ‘bringing the senate into disrepute’ while serving as the minister in charge of the Niger Delta Ministry.
In July 2020, as Minister of Niger Delta, Akpabio disclosed that some contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission were awarded to federal legislators, despite the chairman of the investigation panel pleading with him to keep quiet.
In the meantime, ahead of the June 13 inauguration of the tenth National Assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the ruling APC of plotting to intimidate and arrest lawmakers-elect viewed as defenders of the legislature’s independence.
This statement was made less than twenty-four hours after the party boasted that it would determine the leadership of both houses based on the number of lawmakers elected on the platform of opposition parties.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and a leading candidate for the senate presidency, is believed to be one of those targeted for arrest.
Yari had petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja for a restraining order against his arrest by security agencies. On Monday, the court enjoined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practises and other related offences Commission, and the Department of State Services from detaining the former governor pending the hearing and determination of a notice motion.
Yari, who boasted that over sixty-five senators supported his candidature, refused to endorse Akpabio, who had been announced as the President’s and the ruling party’s candidate.
Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, addressed journalists at the party’s national secretariat on Saturday. He stated, “There are attempts by some APC elements to intimidate, harass, and threaten lawmakers-elect in an effort to influence the outcome of Tuesday’s election on the floor of both chambers to determine who will become the Speaker and President of the Senate.
That is the latest naija news today on Deal that fetched Akpabio Tinubu’s endorsement for the 10th National Assembly
