Untold Reason APC, Tinubu Snubbed Southeast For Akpabio In Senate President Race

Opposition to Senator Osita Izunaso from within Imo State was critical to the decision of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the National Working Committee, NWC of the APC to zone the office of Senate President to Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Izunaso, a former National Organising Sercretary of the party is considered about the most credible of the candidates from the Southeast for the position of Senate President but he has faced critical opposition from elements within the Imo State chapter of the party and government who did not buy into his aspiration.

GWG.ng reports that the NWC on Monday announced its decision to zone the office of the Senate President to the South-South with Akpabio the only one in the race from the region.

The party also decided to zone the office of Speaker to Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, Zaria, Kaduna State. Abbas is an acolyte of Governor Nasir El-Rufai

Mr Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, announced the zoning arrangements on Monday in Abuja while addressing newsmen after a closed door meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Morka said the meeting considered reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.

“The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-elect and the leadership of the NWC.

“The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the party nationwide,” he said.

He added that the zoning arrangement reported to the party’s NWC was is as follows:

Senate President – South South Sen. Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

Deputy Senate President – North West-Sen. Barau Jubrin (Kano).

Speaker. House of Representatives North West- Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna) and Deputy Speaker South East- Ben Kalu (Abia).

Besides the failure of the Southeast to produce required votes for the party during the presidential election, it was gathered that elements of the Imo State Government were strongly opposed to the emergence of a Senate President from the state.

“The Uzodimma factor worked against Izunaso who is about the most credible candidate from the Southeast as compared to others in the race,” one source privy to the development said.

It was gathered that elements in the Imo State APC aligned to Uzodimma were afraid of producing a Senate President who could come out to outshine the sitting governor.

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