Following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu last week, reports that surfaced ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday indicated that certain senators had withdrawn their support for Godswill Apkabio and lined up behind Abdulaziz Yari for the position of 10th Senate President.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) senators and senators from the opposition parties disagree on some of the assembly’s most important issues, according to news sources.
It was reported that Tinubu had earlier endorsed the APC zoning formula but had only urged the incoming lawmakers to vote for the candidates of their choice for Senate President and House Speaker in accordance with the 1999 Constitution’s provisions and the National Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.
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The head of state of Nigeria reportedly raised grave worries about weakening the independence of the legislative and commanded the legislators to reach consensus as specified by the Rules of the Senate.
But according to reports that surfaced two days before the 10th National Assembly was formally inaugurated, Yari’s campaign for Senate President has gained significant momentum.
Senators-elect are alleged to have moved toward the former governor of Zamfara State, Yari, including some from the APC who previously supported the party’s favoured choice, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
According to the most recent choice, Yari is now in a clear lead after securing the backing of the majority of senators-to-be ahead of the June 13, 2023 inauguration date.
President Tinubu’s move has further demonstrated him as a true democrat and believer in the Rule of Law, according to leadership, who also noted that his position was well-received by lawmakers-elect across party lines.
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“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,” the APC chieftain reportedly stated.
The South-South representative-elect did, however, disclose that APC leaders had begun to change their minds about Senator Akpabio’s selection in light of the new circumstances, which have been made worse by Akpabio’s allegedly chilly relationship with many members of the 9th Assembly.
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He claims that many of the senators-to-be disagree with Akpabio since the senator accused National Assembly members of greatly profiting from significant contracts with the NDDC without providing any evidence.
It was recently reported that a senator-elect questioned how someone who disparaged the National Assembly could lead 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.
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In the meantime, parliamentary watch organizations like the Coalition for Parliamentary Democracy (CPD) have urged Senator Akpabio to drop out of the Senate Presidency race if he is unable to demonstrate his qualifications and must instead rely solely on zoning and outside endorsement, which do not meet the requirements of the Senate President’s position.
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